Article about Total Illumination - The Importance of Lighting Your Home by the Great Writer Jessica Walter

Total Illumination: The Importance of Lighting Your Home

When decorating your home, lighting is often an afterthought. People tend to gravitate towards other things first - wallpaper, flooring, furniture, curtains - and then just pick out a light fixture afterwards which goes with the theme. Lighting is underestimated, but can be crucial for creating different atmospheres within the home. It is an adaptable and fluid design element, and one which can be used to your advantage.

Lighting Beyond the Physical

The importance of lighting is very ancient and symbolic, with many religious festivals and practices including the lighting of lamps or candles. In Telugu households, the month of Kaartheeka is very important. Starting on the day of Deepawali, oil lamps are lit every day for a month to promote an auspicious life. Light represents guidance, mental enlightenment, and joy, and is used to ‘ward off the darkness’ both physically and metaphorically.  Whatever your home and lifestyle, it is still worth keeping this in mind when you consider how to light the different spaces in your home. Light can make a small, cramped space feel larger and more open, which is better for your mental wellbeing.

Top Tips for Lighting Your Home

·         Start with a good base: when choosing a new home, try and find one with large windows to encourage lots of natural light. Consider which way your rooms are facing, and at what point during the day they will catch the sun.

·         If your natural lighting isn’t very favourable, try placing mirrors around your home to reflect the daylight and create a brighter feel.

·         Experiment with LED lights, which are very cheap to run as they use less electricity than traditional bulbs. They also have a longer lifespan, and come in a range of warm or cool colours, which can help to create atmosphere and mood in your home.

·         Make sure that areas where tasks are undertaken are well-lit, such as kitchen countertops or desks for homework and study. Table-top lamps or strip lights installed under your upper cupboards are ideal for this.

·         Use softer lighting and warmer colours in areas for relaxation and conversation, like the dining room and the living room. Consider candles - artificial or real - to give a gentle, cosy warmth to the space.

·         Think carefully about the direction of your lighting and the placement of your fixtures - uplighting, wall sconces, central pendant lamps, or strip lighting all have different advantages and disadvantages.

----  Jessica Walter  ----

Adding Flowing Water to a Home Can Bring in the Cash Flow - English Vasthu Tips

Adding Flowing Water to a Home Can Bring in the Cash Flow

Man is guided by fate and fate by Vastu. By designing a vastu home, it can create more positive outcomes in your life. The most important and strongest vastu element is jal. The water element of jal is the essence of life and placing it in your home or workplace mimics the flow of life, creating a good sinuous energy to appease the gods. Jal’s energy is particularly associated with prosperity and wealth so it is also a good addition in any workplace.  

Jal Decorating Tips to Create Powerful Positive Energy

When placed properly, water nourishes our aura and extends positive vibrations to the rest of our life. Flowing water is more powerful than stationary water, so the addition of water fountains in any home creates a commanding energy flow that increases good fortune and wealth. However, if not placed properly, fountains with reverse flows will create negative results for you and your residents. Here are some tips to correctly place water fountains and create a positive and prosperous environment.

·        According to Vasta Shastra, the best location for water is at the north-east side of any building. This sometimes provides design problems when the north-east side of the building is a place that seems awkward to place a water fountain, such as a bathroom. However, there are many ways to incorporate fountains in any room. Placing an indoor fountain in an unexpected place adds uniqueness and an interesting design touch. Although you may not typically think of putting a fountain in the bathroom, a small table fountain is a great focal point and helps you relax during a bubble bath after a hard day of work. The fountain also adds to the already powerful element of water that resides in bathrooms and multiplies your energy flow.

·        Another good location for a fountain is at the entranceway of a home or office, as placing water here prevents negative energy from entering the home.

·        The north-east is the location for fire, and water fountains should never be placed here as the fire element stuns the water’s energy.

·        The size of the fountain should be proportionate to the home or place of work. Otherwise it dominates the area and weakens the potential of the resident’s aura.

·        Water fountains that combine water and life are the most powerful energizers. If possible, install a water fountain with plant-life or fish in your home to increase your energy levels. Fish are especially powerful as they are associated with wealth and good luck. If you do not have the space for a fountain that can house fish, a fountain engraved with fish or other animals will also energize your home.

·        Water fountains should be accented with light yellow colors to increase the flow of energy. Yellow invites more wealth into your life and works well with the prosperity aspect of water.

--- Jessica walter