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Make room for love in your home this Valentine's Day by ensuring your
bedroom sets the scene for close encounters of the romantic kind. From
maximizing your ch'i (universal life force energy), to picking the right
colour of bedding, to making sure your male yang does not overpower your
female yin, you can use a few simple ideas to set the scene for amour
with aphrodisiac decor.
"Preparing the space is paramount," says Helen Williams, Toronto
feng shui consultant, teacher and author, and owner of Place Right.
Her advice is for partners to take turns decorating the bedroom: Try
to recreate the setting of a previous sensual encounter. "Plan for
a special night and set up as though preparing a stage production," she
says.
There appears to be no such thing, as trying too hard when it comes to
making the bedroom ready for love. Appeal to all the senses, Ms. Williams
advises, T hat means using essential oils, incense or cut flowers, stimulating
colours- especially reds - touchable fabrics, sensuous music with drumming
to move stress, and a champagne bucket or plate of chocolates by the
bed.
Itis also ideal to banish business-like materials from the bedroom, from
paperwork and computers to televisions, says Judy Reynolds, a fientg
shui teacher and consultant with Mystic Bear, a store on Carlaw Avenue-
that
in custom bedding and furniture.
Get rid of negative energies such as photos of an old partner or your
mother-in-law. Ms. Reynolds advises. instead, use pictures of you and
your mate or artwork featuring sensual nudes or inspiring landscapes
or flowers. And above all, no mirrors facing the bed. They promote way
too much male dominated yang.
Mystic' Bear often twins clients with experts such as Ms. Reynolds and
Tantric consultant Tina Tara Petrova to help them maximize the good vibrations
in their living space:
For Valentine's Day, Ms. Petrova says she can help you make your boudoir "a
sacred space to take you to the erotic throes of passion.
Among the things she recommends from Mystic Beat's shelves are jasmine,
rose, patchouli or ylang- yang essential oils to promote romance. Heat
them in a shallow, water-filled candle burner that features the Chinese
symbols for earth signs - all sure passion prompters. (The burner is
$35 and essential oils are $9.95 and up.)
Or, to really pump up the volume, burn Nag Champa, the incense used in
Buddhist temples. At $3.95 a box, it is an inexpensive way to "arouse
intoxication; Ms. Petrova says.
Uncluttering the bedroom is also im- portent, both feng shui experts,'
stress. Glean out bulging drawers and closets; get rid of stuff jammed
under the bed. Make sure both, sides ofthe bed' and the
area all around it is clear to maximize the flow of energy.
Placing pairs of things in the room also promotes love Try a pair of
candles or two heart-shaped pillows for the bed. A: picture featuring
a pair of mandarin ducks, which, according to Chinese folklore, mate
for life, will really work on love's behalf And if crystals are your
thing, pink quartz, especially under the bed, enhances heart energy,
says Ms. William.
As for bed placement, Ms. Reynolds says southwest is best. That is he
area linked to romance and partnership. For Valentine's Day, everybody
seems to agree red is the key. But how much and what shade? Ms. Reynolds
warns not to go overboard Think of a bordello with every surface painted
lurid red and mirrors. on the ceiling. "Bordellos have tons of yang.
It's like a fast-food restaurant. You're In, you're out:"
Jane Hall, a colour expert and designer who runs Jane Hall The Voice
of Color custom decor showroom on Pape Avenue, says while cool colours
such as lavenders and blues are
just fine for kitchens; they are passion killers in the bedroom. As for
beige, ` youmight as well take a cold shower. "If you want to bring
passion into the bedroom, bring in warm colours; Ms. Hall says. "They
raise the blood pressure. Use golds and reds - hot reds." A classic
example is the Moulin Rouge bedroom display Ms. Hall created for her
store and the- recent Metro Home Show In paying homage to the sensual
digs enjoyed by the film's leading lady, Ms. Hall created a jewel-like
gold and warm red room accented by flashes of orange, yellow and red-brown.
The bed cushions layer textures - shiny, matte, fuzzy and nubby - all
of which appeal to touch, Ms. Hall points out.' She agrees that all the
senses must be catered: to in order to make a room ready for love. And
yes, chocolates by the bed are a big part of that.
Lighting is also important for setting the scene, says Jarred Meshwork
of Royal Lighting on Avenue Road.
To shed a light on romance, think dimming control, he says. "If
anything, that enhances a room. You can create moods with it," he
explains. You can even get the ultimate in `smooth boudoir moves - a
remote~control dimmerfor $79:
Rill overhead lights and use small table lamps to give soft downward
lighting. For an added touch of bedroom drama, try a small can light
- $20 to $60 - tucked behind a large plant in a corner and pointed to
the ceiling.
To create atmosphere, go for a coloured shade instead of a coloured light
bulb, which can make skin tones look dreadful, Mr. Meshwork says. And
never do the old scarf-over-the-lamp trick "That's dangerous."
All this lighting advice seems to have paid off in the romance department
for - Mr. Meshwork. "I'm getting married. That's because I got one
of those remote-control dimmers. It works."
National Post
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