Just about every one of us can vouch for the fact that your surroundings can affect your mood. Many people spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars enlisting the help of an interior designer. With a little bit of insight into the human mind, most can achieve an uplifting effect in their own home without the help of a professional.
Eastern cultures have developed whole, sophisticated systems of decoration, each with their own attendant philosophy. The most commonly discussed of these is Feng Shui. This traditional Chinese philosophy is based upon the idea that changing the way you perceive the world around you is a quicker, more effective way of changing your emotional state than changing your inner attitudes and behavior. Changing your house, office or other area you frequent to reflect good energy traits encourages you to take on these traits yourself.
At its most basic, Feng Shui philosophy encourages the potential home designer to use themes from the five Chinese elements as inspiration. These elements are: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each element lends specific characteristics that, when taken together, help create positive energy.
Science seconds the claims made by Feng Shui proponents. Time and again, studies have shown people respond emotionally to different colors. Red intensifies energy, but can cause anxiety. Green is a creative, relaxed color. Blue is also a relaxed color, but can increase depressed states…
Also, we have found that humans are drawn to patterns that are reminiscent of the fractal patterns found in nature. For an example of a fractal pattern, look the arms of a snowflake or the branches of a tree. They all follow a similar, ordered pattern, but each one is uniquely different. An environment that is too chaotic will elicit a chaotic emotional state. An environment that is too ordered is oppressive.
Changing the layout of your house or workspace could potentially increase your productivity and improve your mood. Under the right circumstances, a little redecorating could be more effective and less expensive than seeing a therapist or taking Prozac.
Public Domain Photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carworld/3902562540/
Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at onlinedegrees.org, researching areas of online college degrees: http://www.onlinedegrees.org/blog/
In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
