Destress your home 
This article appeared in the February-March 2018 issue of Nature & Health, Australia’s original and best natural health magazine, www.natureandhealth.com.au #naturalhealth #bestnaturalhealthmag.

Stress is an integral part of modern life – and we know that for the sake of our health, we must manage this stress, something we do well sometimes, less successfully at other times.
One potential stressor we may not be aware of, but which can be managed relatively easily, is the energy of our living space. While our homes should be our haven from stress and anxiety, residual energy – and bad energy especially – from people, discussions, and emotions tends to take up permanent residence, an invisible houseguest whose influence is all-pervading. The colours, furnishings and art that decorate our home can also affect its energy.
The right feng shui combinations can help reduce stress. A qualified feng shui consultant (Association of Feng Shui Consultants (International) http://afsc.org.au/) can review your entire home, but sometimes small adjustments in key areas is enough to settle the energy.

CLEAR THE CLUTTER
First, look for clutter, something we can become so accustomed to we stop seeing it. However, it can leave us feeling claustrophobic distracted, disorganised – and guilty for not doing anything about it.
Start with the area around the entrance to your home: the front door is known as the “mouth of chi” through which all positive energy enters and – ideally – drifts throughout the house. Clutter in this area will halt or slow this energy. If possible have closed storage for items such as bags, briefcases, and shoes that family members like to keep near the entrance; alternatively, get them into the habit of taking these items to their rooms.
Extend the declutter and tidy up to the exterior: keep garden beds weed-free, paths swept, and the entrance cobweb-free; plant pots of colourful bulbs or annuals, touch up paint where necessary, have a welcoming door mat.
If the entrance to your home is via a garage, the same applies: keep the area clean and clutter free.
From there, gradually work at decluttering the rest of your home and sell, donate, gift or – as a last resort – toss all items that are no longer used, wanted, or loved. Just putting the clutter out of sight doesn’t work: it needs to be removed from your home.

THE BEDROOM
Bedrooms are strictly for R&R (rest and romance), which means work-related items really have no place there. However, the reality of small-space city living means many of us must work in our bedrooms. Ideally, screen off the work area with a folding screen or a tall plant. Limit electronics as much as possible.
The best position for the bed is against a solid wall for security and grounding. It should be easily approachable from both sides. Ideally avoid storing anything under the bed so the energy can freely circulate, thereby ensuring a sound sleep. If under-bed storage is essential, store only soft items such as clothes.
Close the door of an ensuite bathroom at night to keep the rooms’ respective functions and energies separate.

GENTLE CURVES
For a calmer, more relaxed home, where possible choose furniture with rounded corners rather than sharp right angles, as sharp points and corners can leave us feeling tense and defensive. Indoor plants are a great addition as they exert a positive effect on mood, productivity and blood pressure, but choose plants that are free of thorns and spikes and have soft leaves.

ADD TEXTURE
An excess of smooth surfaces in a room – glass, metal, stone, polished wood, silky furnishings – can leave it feeling cold and unfriendly, which in turn makes relaxation difficult. This is something never seen in nature with its endless variety of textures: rough tree bark, gritty beach sand, rocky landscapes, grassy fields. Adding texture to the room with rugs, natural fabrics, distressed wood, and unpolished stone warms it and creates a more comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.