Hi there,

Welcome to Che Bello Design’s second half of the article about peaceful rooms. I hope you were inspired by the first part of, and that the article has formed some thoughts on how to create balance and harmony in your home.

This time we are going to create peace in the bathroom, the office and on your terrace, balcony or garden.

Happy reading....

Peaceful rooms - Part two

In this second part of the article about the peaceful room, you can read about:

Shape and balance

Bathing – bathroom

Working – office

Outdoor living – garden and terrace

Shape and balance

To create a peaceful and calm atmosphere in your home, you need to think ‘balance’. You will reach balance and good energy by creating harmony through the colors, furniture and accessory used in the room.

The energies found in your home are in constant change and movement. To achieve a perfect balance, you have to ensure visual balance in the room.

This means that you cannot have too many heavy pieces of furniture in one end of the room, and all the light and small pieces in the other end.

Avoid too many squared and sharp elements and furniture as they will hinder the flow of good energies.

If, for example, your coffee table and your pillows are squared, add some round shapes such as a round bowl or pot, or perhaps a picture or painting illustrating round shapes in beautiful colors.

Be careful not to use too many dark and gloomy colors in the room – break with lighter nuances, and mix the feminine with the masculine.

Do you know the feeling of a finding a room too sterile and too impersonal, almost striving for a colorful flower bouquet, or a stack of magazines to soften of the room?

Think Ying & Yang and you are well on you way in creating balance and a good atmosphere that both you and your family will enjoy.

Tips:

·         Large mirrors make small rooms bigger. However, remember never to place a mirror so it reflects the door. This will drive the energy out of the house

 

·         Open two windows in two different rooms at least twice a week. This way you change the old energies with new and fresh ones.

 

·         Fresh flowers give fresh energy to a room. However, remember to renew them as soon as they start to fade. Dead and faded flowers are extremely bad energy.

The Bathroom

The bathroom has developed a lot throughout time.

The 50’ies’ thriftily bathrooms are now replaced by spa, wellness and nice designs. As I have previously described, the bathroom is our well-being with focus on water therapy and conditioner for the soul.

To create a peaceful bathroom, you must keep a simple style with a touch of minimalism.

Taps are passed through the walls and shelves with products as toothpaste, lotions, etc., are replaced by cabinets and drawers.

Decorative accessories should be kept on an absolute minimum; use perhaps a simple picture, a nice pot or a couple of exquisite skin products to decorate a peaceful bathroom.

If you want to give the room a personal touch, choose to use things of nature materials. Look at natural shapes and contrasts, instead of rough and colorful things.

This will support the feeling of peace, nature and good energies.

Crème and white nuances on the tiles and walls give a clean and untouched look.

Keep your choice of colors to two color nuances – this creates peace. Add a simple colorful flower or a beautiful colorful bowl or pot – this adds life to the calm, untouched look.

You can, for example, use a wooden bowl with nice stones in many nuances, such as granite, round light stones or marble stones.

You can also choose sisal baskets, nature sponges, nature soap, shells and matching towels.

Plants are also nice in a bathroom. They absorb moisture and add a feeling of life and freshness.

Preferably, choose very simple plants, for example, a beautiful orchid.

Orchids are well-suited for moist rooms and add a mysterious and exotic touch to the room.

Most importantly, the bathroom must be clean and hygienic. Your bathroom is the place where:

• You clean and wash you body

• Your body and soul recharges

• You should feel wellness and care

• The water is a symbol of cleanliness

If any places, this is where it should be clean.

The office

Whether you want to have a home office, or you simply want a small ’administrative corner’ where you can write letters and do paperwork, it is essential that you make sure that this area is organised and tidy so you can concentrate and think freely.

Your work area has to be arranged in a functional way and help you get the desired work done, whether it is business conditional or private.

You will, without a doubt, achieve the most and have the best outcome if you work in a functional, well-organised and relaxed area.

With the contemporary technological benefits, as the internet and telephony – for communication across the world, it is a must in most offices or work areas that there is room for a computer, printer, scanner, telephone etc.

These technological aids and necessities obviously take up a lot of room, especially if you only have a corner available for work area.

However, you should try to screen for various hardware and devices, so your work area will not look as a ‘machine park’ with tons of wires tangled up.

Messy wires and too many visible devices in a small area give bad energy and make the room appear messy and compact.

Invest time and money in a work area that works for you and that is worth the effort.

Make sure that piles of paper, books and folders are off the desk. Cabinets and drawers are the perfect solutions for this.

By keeping the desk and other surfaces tidy, you maintain overview and concentration. Remember that mess and piles of unsorted work drain the energy surrounding your work area.

Your office, or work area, also needs to be a comfortable and relaxed place to be. Make sure that the colors on the walls are not too strong, neither too neutral.

Instead, emphasize interesting colors on accessories, such as the chair, folders, pictures, etc.

A green plant freshens up the air and so does fresh flowers which, with a great advantage, can be placed on your desk. The green plan will advance the development of your work and the flowers are beautiful to look at.

Make sure to have good lightning. This will be beneficial to your concentration.

It is important to sit well. Invest in a good chair in which you feel comfortable.

When you choose a desk, make sure it is big enough for the expected work. Remember to think about room for computer etc., and choose a desk that matches the style and atmosphere you wish to produce in the room.

Think about this:

• If you work with creativity, choose a round table. This advance original thoughts and ideas.

• If you, on the contrary, work with figures and numbers, choose a squared desk. Thst helps your logical thinking.

Garden/terrace

Feel the earth – Feel the air

Nature has a healing power and affects our mentality more than we know. Plants provide us with growth, the sun provides us with vital light and the ocean inspires and provides us with energy.

If we do not get enough light, we get depressed and feel unsafe. Grey and rainy weather makes us irritable and negative. The cold makes us lock up, literally, but also in the sense that we become encapsulated.

The cold weather makes us more withdrawn whereas the sun does the opposite.

Try to think about which part of the world you live in, and how the weather in your country affects you and your fellow countrymen positively or negatively.

In your home, you can make use of nature’s power and effects. You do not have to live in a magnificent country house with a park-like garden to achieve peace, happiness and life outside your home.

Whether you live in a house or an apartment, have much or little space – always try to let the nature in.

Make sure to let as much light in as possible, especially if you live in a part of the world where there are more dark hours than light hours.

Invest in large windows or glass parts. If possible, make roof light in your living room or bedroom. This way, you have a direct view to the sky and nature.

The connection between our home and nature is important. You can create a unifying principle from your house to your terrace or balcony. A large glass part with sliding doors will combine your living room with your garden or terrace.

Do not feel disconsolate or isolated if you do not have any kind of garden or terrace.

In such a case, you can bring in nature by using some kind of light incident, beautiful plants, stones and nature materials. I recommend that you buy some fountains which are available in many different varieties and price levels.

By creating a coherent link between indoor and outdoor, you obtain connection with nature. Nature’s life and calmness enter your home and create a peaceful contrast to a hectic workday.

Plants:

The Japanese look and Zen style are good starting points when creating peace and balance.

If you wish to achieve this, you have to minimize flowers and make more room for the green finically shaped plants and grasses. Use plenty of wood materials and stones.

Water:

Use water on you terrace, window frame or in your garden. If you only have room for a tub or a bowl of water, floating candles and flowers, that is also fine.

Water in movement creates dynamic, life and it is witty and at the same time peaceful. The sound of purled water advances creativity and makes us think more spontaneously and freely.

The Zen philosophy says that water carries the energy – the power of the energy is necessary for life.

Calm water strengthens peace and helps us expand horizons.

The depth of the water helps us with meditation and self-communion.

Let in the light and nature. Add some water in your in/outdoor area. Use a lot of plants and nature materials. Go into the garden, feel the earth – see the plants – listen to the water and breathe deeply. Feel the life, peace and happiness which live right inside your own heart.

I hope to have inspired you to bring peace into your rooms, your garden and in yourself.

Have a wonderful day.

Best regards,

Jane Isabelle
Che Bello Academy

If you have any comments or questions please email us at: info@che-bello.com

Links to the previous newsletters:

Your bathroom - Your wellness room Part one

Your bathroom - Your wellness room Part two

Peaceful rooms part one

PS:

If you think that what I’m writing in these newsletters is exciting and inspirational, then forward it to your friends, colleagues and family.

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Che Bello Design

Postbox 235

DK-9100 Aalborg   Denmark

E-mail: info@che-bello.com