A study at Harvard claims that flowers in the home are mood enchancing.
The home, like the clothes we wear and the food
we eat, is an intensely personal expression of our lives, experience
and values. Although the home may be expressive of your own personal
lifestyle, it is more often the combined result of several family
members who all need to define their personality. Personal spaces
are also those favourite spots where, for some reason, we feel totally
happy and at ease. Although interior design is a matter of personal
preference, there can be little doubt that employing the services
of a professional can be invaluable. Working together with an interior
designer can help the new homeowner decide what furniture style,
colour scheme, upholstery fabric, decoration and, even plants, to
introduce in order to achieve the ideal overall 'look'.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of excellent interior
designers in southern Spain, designers with both the experience
and expertise to guide and advise. Another advantage of employing
a professional interior designer is that he/she can operate within
a strict budget which saves you the frustration of constantly comparing
prices.
Many of the interior designers here, particularly
those working in the tourist resorts, are fluent in several languages
which can be invaluable when you are trying to explain exactly
what
you are looking for. Likewise, it is very important for newcomers
to understand that living in a Mediterranean climate can, and
should,
have considerable impact on the interior and it is clearly unwise
to merely repeat decorating styles and themes you were familiar
with 'back home'. Ideally, a home should be decorated to feel
cool
in the summer and cozy in the winter which is yet another reason
why employing an expert is often the best idea.
Feng Shui
The Chinese exponents of Feng Shui claim that where
you live and how you allocate and arrange the rooms of your home
can significantly influence the harmony of your life and your health,
wealth and happiness. By taking advantage of the 'life energy' they
call Chi, which flows everywhere, you can affect the whole tenor
of your well-being. These exponents believe that the orientation
and design of your home has a major influence on the lives of all
who live in it. The positioning of furniture, the direction in which
a bed faces, the colour schemes and ornaments - all have a part
to play in creating an environment that relaxes as well as stimulates
the occupants. The simple act of rearranging a few chairs or changing
a colour scheme is thought to be highly beneficial - indeed, any
number of misfortunes, from ill-health to financial problems and
even marital breakups, can be attributed to a house in which the
principles of Feng Shui have been ignored or overlooked.
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