Why most of us don’t get the relaxation we really need in a typical family room.

An open plan family area is where most of us spend our time when at home. This is where we hang out, eat, work, play, do social media, surf the net or watch TV. Most family areas function well that way. They have plenty of energy, light and space, and families can spend time together without necessarily doing things together. The family area is predominantly Yang – active. 

What is more rare, is for us to spend quiet times in the family area. It is much harder to curl up there with a good book, listen to soft music or relax without external stimulation. While we may feel that we don’t have time for this’, we often actually are just too restless. A contributing reason for this can be that family room is not designed for quiet Yin activities. It is generally too open, lacking  cosiness and protection. 

After being on the go all day, there is really only our bed where we can (hopefully) recharge. It may restore our body’s energies, but when we fall into it at the end of a long day, we are often too exhausted to give our soul the downtime to reflect, daydream or just be.

Excess Yang

From a Feng Shui perspective, a typical family room has an excess of Yang – excess activity, light, noise and space, without being balanced by quiet features. There is a deficiency of Yin, nurturance and personal support, meaning we cannot get the relaxation we really need.

With excess Yang we can be quite hyper and agitated. Our nervous system habitually stays in a ‘fight-flight’ mode, with little energy for ‘rest and digest’. It is a chronic stress condition that can lead to exhaustion and burn-out, disease arising from oxidative stress and inflammation, and sleep problems. We may feel irritated, anxious, drained and can’t think clearly. 

Bottomline is that with a lack of Yin we cannot recharge or repair the body or mind. Such imbalance, while familiar to many of us, is not sustainable.

A balanced Family Room

A busy family room is a reflection of modern life. 

In Feng Shui we have ways to make it more balanced. This, in turn, will have a feedback effect on us and help balance our lives. Ideally Feng Shui principles are applied in the design, but we can also create more balance in an existing room with strategic furniture placement. The aim is to make space for both, Yin and Yang.

A balanced family room is open and supports dynamic activities and has some cosy corner or sofa, allowing us to reflect and recharge. It facilitates activity and togetherness as well as downtime and relaxation.

This is not all. With Feng Shui we can take the creation of Yin spaces to an even deeper level. By assessing the quality of energy in each area of the room, we can ensure that the energy in the Yin corner is positive. With positive Yin, it will feel good and relaxation can be profound. If the Yin energy however is negative, we still cannot really relax and may even feel irritated there. 

For this reason, in any design, renovation or placement of furniture, traditional Feng Shui provides us with essential information that should be taken into consideration, particularly in a sitting area or bedroom. Please contact me if you have any questions or want some help in creating a comfortable Yin area.

Brigitte Seum, 0403 366 100.

Image Alexander Dummer on unsplash.