Did you know that there are things you can arrange in your home to encourage harmony in your grandchildren’s lives? The ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui (sounds like ‘fung shway’) has very specific methods for looking at the environment to create a place of balance in every area of life. Sounds a little unusual? But time and again, people who have tried it say it really does work. Let’s take a look at ways you can change your space to positively influence your grandchildren’s lives.
Feng Shui is based on the concept that there is a place for everything that will maximize the balance and positive energy in all areas of life. Your home is no exception. The Western method, based on how everything falls into place from your front door, has a specific location for grandchildren. This area falls in the center of the right side of your home-perhaps you already have their bedroom there? If not, consider making this their home away from home, or create a special play room for them when they visit you.
Using the ‘Classical’ method of Feng Shui, the Baqua area associated with grandchildren is the western portion of the home. Either method will produce positive results-the main idea is for you to create a place they can call their own.
The area that represents grandchildren can be further enhanced by the use of color. The color that supports this area is white-which may be a difficult color to use in an area made for all the fun things grandchildren want to do! You can, however, add white to any other color to tone it down or make it soft, and this will do the trick too.
Next, think about what you will put in this room and where you will place it. The ideal solution will include a place to sleep and a place to play. Giving them a space to sleep will make them feel grown up. When you walk in the door to this room, look at the corner opposite the door-this is the ideal place for the bed. Be sure to get a headboard-it will help your grandchildren feel secure and connected to you and your home. Make sure that they can see the door while in bed, but don’t put them directly in front of the door-that is very bad Feng Shui!
Clutter is an issue, so you will want to find a nice chest to put toys in, and perhaps a small table or desk and all of this would be wonderful in the grandchildren location within their bedroom. The room has the same Bagua as the house on a smaller scale! Try placing it in the center of the right side of this room. They will love you!
You are, no doubt, concerned about your grandchildren’s health, too. You can create both a place of harmony for them and a place that is healthy for them. Think natural when buying furniture. Do not buy anything made of particle board as this contains formaldehyde and off gasses the chemicals into the air, creating a harmful situation for developing lungs. Wood is best, and you can search the second-hand shops for good buys-older furniture has had a chance to off gas any lingering chemicals.
When you paint this room, be sure to consider ‘No VOC’ (volatile organic compounds) paint. Almost every brand has a line of paint to help you here-and again, you will be creating a place of health for your grandchild’s sensitive body! Consider natural flooring like wood, bamboo, cork, Marmoleum or natural fiber carpet (wool, cotton, sisal) with natural jute padding. Synthetic carpeting contains chemicals, including formaldehyde, which is often in the padding too. Remember, you are creating a place of happiness and good health for your little loved ones.
Another item to consider is what is on the other side of the wall of the bed. Electromagnetic fields are a dangerous threat to young children’s health. They interfere with the body’s ability to fully rest, and over time can break down the immune system. Be sure there is nothing that emits high electromagnetic fields on the other side of the bedroom wall.
That brings us to a final point-try not to succumb to placing a TV in this room. Have a nice TV placed a safe distance from seating in your family room (center of the left side of your home- or the east section). Here you can watch healthy shows, while sitting together with your grandchild. Enjoy the time you have now with them – it will fly by and it won’t very be long before you will be helping them create their healthy and harmonious university dorm room!
Originally Published on Grand Magazine in July-August 2006 Issue
