Feng Shui in the Nursery

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art and science which reveals to us how to balance the energies of a space to assure health and good fortune to those inhabiting it. Feng meaning wind, Shui meaning water, 2 basic elements which come together creating yin and yang with the flow of chi. Admit it, we can use all the help we can get!

Feng shui your way to a positive environment for you and your baby. Using feng shui helps make baby less fussy, more comfortable, healthy and happy. Let’s face it, a happy baby makes a happy mommy, a happy mommy makes a happy daddy. The wonders of feng shui!

Tips for feng shui – ing your way to positive flowing energy. Don’t put the bed against a window rather line it up so that the breeze from the open window creates a flow of soft wind which will stimulate a mobile or gentle caress baby creating soft energy and positive movement. The crib should not be put directly in line with the door as positive energy will flow out rather than in. Have a solid wall behind the crib and the bottom of the crib should be at least 20 cm above the ground with a clear space underneath. No mirror or highly reflective surfaces should be facing the crib.

When painting the nursery keep in mind these colors:

Blue – water, ease, freshness and abundance

Pink – Fire and passion, the universal color of love it is the perfect color to soothe the energy, pink soothes the heart and fills it with love.

Strong Yellow – Fire, associated with the rising sun always uplifting and cheery, as well as creating a coze space, an excellent choice for a nursery

Use the Baby Spaces templates to assist you in positioning the nursery furniture. The templates take the back breaking work out of moving around heavy cribs, change tables and dressers.

Need a little extra feng shui in the nursery? Consider the feng shui line of plush toys from Kaloo.

Bunk beds are one of the best ways to make best use of childrens bedroom space. Kids love bunk beds, they’re so much fun, and parents love them because it allows them to house 2 kids in one bedroom, and the kids are happy.

But although bunk beds are some of the best things you can do for a childrens bedroom, there are some bunk bed safety issues. You need to be aware that, if used improperly, or set up improperly, kids can hurt themselves. Do it right and you should have years of safe fun for your kids who will love their bunk beds, both for sleeping and playing.

Bunks are a great choice when looking for great childrens bedroom furniture. Kids adore bunk beds, they can have so much fun. Hang a sheet from the top bunk and you’ve got so many options for fun for kids.

And for parents buying bunk beds there are some huge advantages, they give you multiple options for best use of space in kids bedrooms. Bunks take up far less space than 2 single beds, and kids are much happier if you put 2 in a bedroom using bunks than if you put 2 kids in a bedroom with less room because of the 2 beds and they sleep in single beds.

Here’s a few things to remember about bunk beds.

1. Make sure that the top bunk has a railing right around the top. Ideally it should have a railing around the entire top of the bunk, however it is essential to at the least have a railing around the open sides. If there are to be 3 open sides then you need a railing around 3.

The railing should be fixed and not removeable. It’s possible if a railing can be removed that kids can remove it, and if they do then they can fall off. It should be solid and fixed.

There should be no gap wider than about 3 inches between the top of the mattress and the bottom of the railing, because it has been known for kids to fall through the gap between the bottom of the railing and the mattress. So make sure there is very little gap.

And the top of the railing should be reasonably high, I would prefer 10 inches at least, above the top of the mattress. A railing that’s 2 or 3 inches high isn’t good enough. You can get double railings which are great.

Make sure the mattress is the right size for the bed, mattresses come in different sizes and should fit the bed correctly so that there are no gaps for kids to fall through.

Don’t get a bed with a corner post (or anything else) that sticks up on it’s own. It’s possible for kids to catch clothing on anything that sticks up and fall off, hanging from the post.

Don’t get a bunk bed with loose slats for the mattress to sit on for the top bunk. It’s perfectly possible for some bunk beds that can be taken apart easily and put together easily to have loose slats that are put in place for the mattress to rest on. However if there is a child underneath who pushes on the slats and moves them then the mattress, and all the bedding above, can fall onto the child below.

And even better, get online and search a little bit more about bunk bed safety, and learn more before you buy, and you, and your kids will absolutely love their bunks to sleep in.

Does your household include young children with piles of toys or teenagers who always seem to be complaining about having no room for their clothes? Save yourself a lot of aggravation, as well as time and money, by arranging rooms and furniture in ways that create a family-friendly living space.

The first step is finding room for the stuff. Kids come with a lot of gear, from the time they’re babies until they’re out the door and into their own place. In the meantime, you have to find ways to accommodate everything from strollers and building blocks to hockey sticks and Barbie collections. When there’s a place for everything, there’s a better chance that the stuff will get put away. Don’t waste closet space. Add a shelving unit and storage bins, and put up hooks on the back of the closet door wherever possible. The small dresser that served your young child can be put into the closet at a later age.

Children’s beds often come with storage compartments underneath, and nightstands can have either drawers or shelves. When children share a room, bunk beds and sleeping lofts are obvious choices for saving space. Teenagers, especially those 6-footers, may very well need a full size bed rather than the standard twin. Again, think storage space underneath or headboards that incorporate storage space.

Even if your school-age child has a computer desk, he or she may still not have enough room for spreading out books and binders at homework time. Consider a large desk if there’s room, or maintain an open policy about using the kitchen or dining room table for homework. But remember that a young child’s feet should touch the floor to prevent restlessness, so if the dining room chair is too tall, use a box or stool under their feet.

Toys and sports equipment can be kept under control by using storage chests, large plastic cubes, or shelving units with bins. Hall trees often come with a storage bench, and are a great solution for coats and boots and skates.

Save yourself a lot of trouble by painting children’s rooms rather than using wallpaper. Children quickly grow out of cute prints, and new paint is a simple solution for changing tastes.

Keep living room and family room furniture looking good by choosing fabrics with a high thread count and tight weave that clean easily and hold up to hard use. Flat weaves are better than textured fabrics for durability. The new microfibers are a good choice for surviving kids and pets, and nothing is easier than slipcovers that can be removed and washed. By the way, sectional sofas are very versatile, able to adapt to any room and comfortable for everyone in the family. Add a set of nesting tables that can be handily moved from room to room for games and projects.

Don’t trip over the stuff of family life. There’s a way to make everyone happy . . . especially Mom.

Having a fairytale inspired room is probably every little girl’s dream. You can make this happen right at the comfort of your own home without fussing too much with the budget. Here are some creative ideas which you might want to consider and will make the fairytale-themed room easier for you to accomplish:

1. Have a royalty inspired dressing area for the girls.

2. Consider getting a Victorian bed complete with the curtains.

3. Ask the kids who their favorite fairytale characters are and try to see if you can find wallpapers of such characters.

4. Throw in a lot of royalty colors such as purple, pink, gold, and silver.

5. Play up on the idea of a princess crown–turn it into a mirror or have a specialized drawer made out of its shape.

6. Consider getting fairytale-inspired beddings and blankets.

7. Pepper some fairies on the walls of the kids room.

Preparing for the Fairytale Inspired Bedroom

As you have all these ideas in place, it would be a good idea to include the kids during the planning process. This way, you can be sure that you are creating things that they would actually like. The last thing you want to happen is to completely have them disappointed or looking at other things that could have also been included inside their room. So to take that problem off your shoulders, you should already have them involved in the project right at the very start.

Eventually you will end up with a list of the things that you will have to get. You can start by listing down first the choices and making a rough plan of the room. You can create an actual floor plan based on the dimensions you already have. Then make a list of the important things that should be included so you can go off and canvass for prices. This would help you create a more feasible budget for the entire project.

DIY or Contract Someone Else?

This question will come in as you start deciding on a budget. You might want to look at quotes from various construction companies. Don’t hesitate to ask for quotes too and tell them your requirements since most of them would be more than happy to accommodate making a free quote just for you. This will give you a better idea of how much you can spend on the said project should you decide to have someone else do it for you. Make sure you also note how long it’ll take for the said contractors to finish the fairytale themed room.

Should you decide to DIY or Do It Yourself the entire room, it would be helpful to have someone around who knows how to make repairs should you be altering some fixtures. However, if you already have an existing decoration for your kids room you might not really need to do some big repairs. You will only end up moving around some furniture, adding new things, and removing the old ones which do not relate with your new theme.

For those who have no idea, or are only replacing their bedroom furniture for the first time, know that you’re going down a very tedious and challenging path. Buying the right bedroom furniture is not just about getting the colors right. It’s about getting the best excellent value.

naturally, the central piece of the bedroom is, first and most important, the bed. For health purposes, it must support the body the proper way – otherwise, you will surely be uncomfortable and won’t sleep well. Choose from several types of hardwood – such as cherry, maple, oak, and walnut – and pick one that is most suited to your taste. This will outline how the remainder of your bedroom will look like.

Dressers. While dressers are not truly the top priority when it comes to picking out bedroom furniture, they can actually do a lot in changing the atmosphere of the room. Firstly, your dresser should be spacious enough to accommodate all your private things. The better part about dressers is they are completely customizable, giving you the opportunity to be creative, and at the same time, design your dresser to fit your own private wishes.

Armoires. An alternative to your normal everyday bedroom dresser, armoires give you a lot more space by also providing room for your clothes to remain in. Take note that these are tall pieces of furniture, so you’ll have to distribute space in your room where it’ll stand – where it won’t block out the sun or stand in the way of a walking or moving area.

Nightstands. These are often accessories for your bed, and serve as great dcor.

Cedar Chests. Another great piece of furniture to add to your bedroom, cedar chests provide additional room to store some of your dear belongings in. Again, choose a cedar chest according to its style and size specifications – ensure that you have enough space in your room to accommodate it. Don’t clutter your room with so much pieces of furniture as you will find it tricky to live with in the long run.

There are places that you can go to in order to find the perfect bedroom furniture. The one that you do have to do to ensure that you can find great pieces for your bedroom, is to perform a little research and planning previously.

Look through your local Yellow Pages to extract a list of furniture shops that you have access to, and write down their numbers. You can gauge how great their customer service is incidentally they chat with you over the phone. If they appear disinterested or bored, probabilities are they’ll act the same way when you go over and pay the store a visit.

the web is also a good place to search for bedroom furniture. You can either go through company web sites, or find a bargain in auction websites like eBay or Amazon. Sometimes, you’ll find secondhand bedroom furniture that looks mint or mint bedroom furniture being offered at much lower prices than you will find in-store.

If you do your analysis punctiliously and have your list prepared, you should not have any problem finding the proper bedroom furniture for your room, and the method should be smoother and less unpleasant. Good luck on your hunt, and satisfied searching!

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It is unfortunate fact of many people’s lives that infertility strikes where and when it wants. The desire to have a child is a natural, normal progression in a couple’s relationship. While there are certainly individuals and couples who choose to not become parents, an overwhelming majority are happier with the idea of starting and raising a family. The reasons for infertility are wide and numerous. Some are focused on health issues for the potential mother, while others strike the would-be dad. Despite all of the amazing strides made by the medical community to battle infertility, many couples give up after long, expensive treatments make their lives miserable. It doesn’t have to be that way any longer. In addition to medical treatments, many couples are turning to Feng Shui and fertility suggestions to increase their odds of having a baby of their own.

The uninformed know that Feng Shui is related to decorating and arranging their homes. In actuality, this ancient practice is far more than that. It is a time honored Chinese philosophy that helps practitioners create an environment rich in harmony and balance in all areas of their lives. Modifying your home in this tradition may help you and your partner achieve your goal of becoming pregnant. Using Feng Shui and fertility friendly practices are less stressful ways improve your chances of having a baby.

As we have already mentioned, Feng Shui is intended to completely balance and regulate every aspect of existence. In terms of conception, this harmony is nothing short of a miracle. Doctors and other medical professionals will be the first to tell you that it is essential to be at peace and relaxed during the conception phase of creating life. Both potential parents will experience the positive influences of good chi if their environment is conducive to the Feng Shui philosophy. For this reason, if none other, Feng Shui and fertility are a powerful combination.

To begin using Feng Shui and fertility to improve your chances of having a child, start outside. Take a look at your front entrance. Is there anything blocking good energy from moving into your home? One couple struggled with infertility for years. When a Feng Shui consultant recommended removing the tree that blocked their front door, the couple finally experienced success and became parents. Make sure that the main entrance to your home is clear and open to the flow of positive energies.

With Feng Shui and fertility, the focus is a little different than what most of us are accustomed to. The focus is primarily on the man. All of you ladies out there can take a relaxing breath now. Feng Shui is guided by the Descendant’s Luck principle. This luck determines the success of a husband or partner will have starting a family with his significant other. Learning the best ways to stimulate this luck is a beneficial practice for the man in the relationship to aid in the conception process.

This won’t come as any surprise, but the bedroom is instrumental in combining the forces of Feng Shui and fertility. The first step in the master bedroom is to make sure it is free from unwanted and unneeded clutter. Clutter stands in the way of good energy and makes it difficult to achieve a harmonious flow. This means to throw away the receipts on the dresser, pick the clothes up off of the floor, and arrange things neatly. Don’t forget about the closet either. It should be clear of any unused items.

Now that the bedroom is ready for Feng Shui and fertility, it’s time to add some decorations and furniture placement that is perfect for encouraging the production of children. When you think about it, it makes sense. Elephants symbolize pregnancy in the Feng Shui tradition. A couple trying to conceive should consider displaying elephant figurines in their sleeping space. Another animal reference that will help with fertility is fish. The symbol of two fish represents marital unity. As a matter of fact, any decoration you use in this room should involve the number two. Throwing the color red around is helpful as well. Place two red paper lanterns on either side of the bed. These represent the positive yang influence and will help increase fertility. A single piece of hollow bamboo is useful as well. Once again focusing on the potential father put a dragon on his side of the bed to flame his passion and add potency to the union. These well placed items are a good way to encourage the flow of energy through the room.

With the correct use of Feng Shui and fertility energies, a couple struggling with infertility can give themselves an edge in the conception process. The creation of a relaxing, loving home environment will improve the couple’s chance at starting a family of their own.

An attractive, inviting bedroom can play a big role in keeping the romance alive in your relationship. Whether you’re looking to completely redesign your bedroom or just add a few decorative touches, there are plenty of ways in which you can create a romantic haven where you and your other half can unwind after a busy day and rediscover your love and affection for each other.

If you want to keep the focus on romance in your bedroom, it’s important to eliminate other distractions. This means keeping the room clean and free of clutter. Links with the outside world such as telephones, TVs or computers should ideally be kept in another room or placed somewhere unobtrusive. Avoid bringing the stress of the workplace into your bedroom -keep office files and documents well out of sight!

You may not be able to change the size or location of your bedroom, but repositioning the furniture can dramatically change the appearance of your room. If your bedroom is smaller than you’d like, positioning the bed at an angle in a corner can make the room appear larger, while mirrors add depth. If your room looks bare, a plain wooden floor can be made more romantic with the addition of a richly patterned oriental rug or carpet.

Beds and romance

Your bed is obviously the key piece of furniture in your room when it comes to love and romance!

Certain styles of bed, such as four-poster, Victorian or canopy beds evoke old-fashioned romantic moods, while for some couples the playfulness and adventure of a waterbed does the trick. Generally speaking, large, soft, inviting beds of any type are romantic when everything else is right.

For a luxurious, sensual feel, sheets should be made of satin, silk or soft, high-quality cotton. Quilts and bedspreads decorated with lace or embroidered with floral designs are very romantic and feminine. Scattering a number of soft, fluffy pillows in different sizes and colours on your bed creates a charming effect. Curtains or valences with fringes, beads, or lace can complement the style of your bed and add detail and elegance to your windows.

Inspire romance using all the senses

The colour of the walls in a room is known to have an influence on our mood.

Your choice of colours will be determined by your personal taste, but be aware that softer colours are more relaxing and tend to inspire serenity. Red and pink are associated with love and passion, however too much of these colours could be overpowering, so combine touches of red or pink with a neutral background colour such as white or cream. Whatever colour scheme you choose, make sure you keep it consistent, as introducing too many colours or styles creates disharmony in your room.

Flowers are always romantic and instantly brighten up a room. For a classic romantic gesture, red roses are the obvious choice, though daisies and tulips are popular alternatives.

The artwork you hang on your walls can also be used to inspire romance. Display your artistic taste with beautiful prints, watercolours or oil paintings, or for something more personal to your relationship, hang a series of photographs of the two of you, or other mementos that have special meaning. Surrounding yourself with personal memories can inspire your relationship like nothing else.

We all know soft lighting is crucial for creating a romantic atmosphere, whether it’s in a dimly lit restaurant or at home in your bedroom. Candles are indelibly linked with romance, so light as many as you like, in all sizes, colours and scents. You could also install lights that can be dimmed or make use of bedside lamps with shades in a soft colour. Don’t allow external light to spoil the mood – If there’s a harsh streetlight outside your window, block it with curtains.

Scent can also have a significant effect on our emotions. To set the mood with scent, use perfumed candles, essential oils burned in an oil burner, or simply a splash of your favourite perfume on your sheets. Choose calming or sensual scents such as jasmine, ylang ylang, rose or vanilla and don’t overdo scent to the point where it becomes overpowering. In addition, bear in mind any allergies or sensitivities to scents your partner may have.

Finally, soft music is a key element in setting a romantic mood. Place a stereo in your bedroom with the speakers away from the head of the bed, so the sound is not too intrusive. Make a CD with a collection of romantic songs or music (bearing in mind again your partner’s taste). Be creative, be inspired, and revitalise the romance in your life!

Have you ever seen those spreads in magazines where a star invites the cameras into their bedroom? The photos are absolutely beautiful, and most of us wish that we had a bedroom that was half as beautiful as that one was. It is possible to have an absolutely gorgeous bedroom, whether you purchase a brand new bedroom set or discount bedroom furniture. All you need is a little imagination, a little time, and a few steps. Step 1: What’s Your Angle?

How do you want your bedroom to look? Are you going for a contemporary feel or for a more sedate, respectable feel? Do you want your bedroom to portray how sexy you are, or would you rather it have a hidden feel of seduction? The first thing you have to do before buying bedroom sets or any type of discount bedroom furniture is to figure out exactly what angle you want to take with your bedroom. The most successful parties are those that have a specific feel to them, and the most successful and beautiful bedrooms are those that have a theme of some sort running through them.

This is one of the trickiest parts because many of us pretend we want something that we truly want. Some believe that they want red lace and leather in their room, when what they’re truly craving is ivory and crisp lines. They believe that they will be more attractive if they have a “sexy” bedroom than if they have the type of room they truly want. Sexiness is in the eye of the beholder, and a cream and pastel room can be just as sexy as one that screams “do me now”!

Step 2: Start Browsing!

Browsing is the next step to conquer. Browsing does not mean shopping. Browsing means that you have to take your time looking around until you find pieces that look similar to the idea you have set in your mind. You may have to bend that idea a little, but eventually you should be able to find a piece of bedroom furniture that is a close match to what you had envisioned in your mind. Don’t forget to check out discount furniture stores as well, as you never know what you might find there!

Step 3: Buying!

Once you’ve figured out how you want the room to look and have done some browsing, it’s time to buy. Don’t think that your bedroom pieces have to be a perfect set. Some bedroom sets that look the best are mismatched pieces! You may have a canopy bed and a missionary style night table. Whatever suits your fancy is what you need to buy!

Don’t forget that you’ll need new linens and pillows. It’s always a hassle to make your bed in the morning, but it looks so much better to show a room that is fully made than to show a room with a mussed bed. With a little time and imagination, you can have a bedroom set beautiful enough to rival any spread in a magazine!

1. Choosing the right bedding for your style is very important because it partly portrays your own individuality. Luxury bedding personifies a successful and confident individual whereas Asian bedding will highlight a gentle or subtle personality!

2. Complementing the bed with a canopy will wonder! But make sure you select the right one. For that you need to prioritize your needs e.g. if you are looking for romance in your bed, a semi-transparent canopy will give you privacy without making you feel constricted.

3. Size of the bed is equally important. If you have a large bed room you can put in some luxury bedding along with embellishments and fixtures. But if you are a little down on space, you can still make your bed room look gorgeous by going for simple vintage style bedding, Asian bedding etc.

4. Creativity can take you a long way when it comes to decorating your bed room. Look for discarded things like glassware or metalwork can be very handy when it comes to adding a personal touch to your décor.

5. Paintings, framed family portraits, wall hangings etc. can add a new dimension to bed room and make the, seemingly inanimate, walls come to life. You could also use souvenirs from your travels to decorate the walls. I’ve even seen bed rooms decorated with turtle shells and believe me, they look good!

6. Don’t let the prospects of creating a larger-than-life bed room distract you from the primary aim. The bed room is a place for you to chill out. So make the atmosphere calm and serene. Use smooth textures and cool colours to help you do that.

7. Storage space is as important as anything else that you can think of! So use a dresser or armoire to help you organize. But make sure that this piece of furniture gels in well with the rest of the furniture and the general scheme of the bed room décor.

8. Did you know that you could actually make your bedroom look bigger! Well, it’s possible to give an illusion of depth to your room by using white or blue lights. These lights also have a smoothening effect. So it’s a must have if you want your room to be a real stress buster!

9. A full mirror placed directly opposite a light source can reflect the lights back to give a very vibrant illumination. The best layout would be to have the window directly opposite to the door and a light source on one the adjacent walls and a mirror on the other. You could place the bed against the wall having the light source and you dresser along side the full mirror. Use the rest of the space available on the wall having the door and window to mount your embellishments!

10. Accents – they are the best way to customize your personal space. Pick out drapes, pillow covers, bed sheets, carpets etc that supplement you attitude and use them to add the finer touches to you bed room. Even architectural accents like wall cabinets or fire place mantel can help you get that elegant look.

After my second child arrived, I held him in my arms and my husband and I looked at him lovingly as my daughter watched. My toddler then said, “I think we should stay a small family.” That’s when it hit me. We didn’t do enough to prepare my older child for her brother’s arrival.

The good news is I have some suggestions for you on how to make the addition of a new sibling a time of sharing and bonding between you and your first child.

Sibling Tummy Time

As you begin to show in your pregnancy, allow your child to feel the developing baby, and let them begin a relationship early on. Encourage your little one to sing songs, tell jokes, explain the rules of the house, talk about his or her day or express whatever comes to mind.

Family Ultrasound Visit

If possible, have your little one along for an ultrasound. Imagine the excitement you’ll all feel as you see the little addition develop! The miracle of birth is a celebration for the whole family to share.

Track the Baby’s Due Date

Get a special calendar and circle the new baby’s due date. Let your toddler make an X each day as they pass. This is a good way to spend a little time each day allowing your child to talk about how they are feeling and what they are thinking about this impending change to the family structure.

Books about a New Baby

There are great children’s books written to help in this transition. (These, by the way, make an excellent baby gift at a shower for a woman with one child at home.) Make a special date and take your child to the library and read them together. Your little one will feel important, and recognize the sometimes confusing feelings are universal.

Assist with Nursery Design

Are you setting up a nursery? If so, let your child help. I suggest color selection is best left to the adults. Don’t make the same mistake I did and suffer through years of Cotton Candy Yellow in your home. If the two of them will be sharing a bedroom, make sure the older sibling has a say in how the space is arranged, and where the baby’s equipment and clothes will be arranged.

Baby Doll Roll Play

Practice with a life-sized doll. Allow your child to change and bathe the doll, and tuck it into the crib. Explain this is what you’ll be doing when the new baby comes home. This is also a good opportunity to discuss how babies are totally dependent on others for their care, how time-consuming this is, and how big a help an older brother or sister can be!

Early Sibling Schedule Changes

If you’re planning a change of schedule when baby comes (day care, more time with Grandma, preschool, etc.) begin that BEFORE the baby’s arrival. This will allow the adjustment to be made before the Big Event. Your child won’t feel as if he or she is being shoved aside by the arrival of the baby.

Gift for the New Baby

The arrival of a new little one is often an occasion for a baby gift. It’s fun to go on a shopping trip to pick out a baby gift for the new brother or sister that is just from your older child. Make a play time out of wrapping it.

Gift for Big Brother or Sister

And as long as we are talking about a baby gift, make sure you pick out something wonderful and absorbing for your older child in celebration of the new role of Big Brother or Big Sister. Give it to them right before the baby comes, and it does double duty as a way to entertain during those first days when Baby is so time-consuming.

You have no doubt noted the recurring theme in these suggestions: Communication. Siblings feel many emotions as they prepare for an addition to the family. These may include excitement, fear, jealousy, uncertainty and anxiety. By introducing the concept early on, discussing it whenever possible, engaging the older sibling in the preparation and celebrating not only the baby but also the Older Sibling status, you go a long way to promoting positive feelings and attitudes conducive to a lifetime of love and loyalty among your children.