Your furniture, your lighting, the shapes of your accessories and even the colors should enable the flow of chi, the energy of life that, according to feng shui, supports harmony and well-being in one's home.

Obstacle-free furniture plans are necessary. Furniture placement should ensure that all access points lead to ample pathways, avoiding obstacles, sharp corners and furniture edges, and furniture that could hinder the flow of chi. Allow enough space to open doors and windows freely. Place accessories and works of art to break straight lines between doors and windows. Hanging plant baskets, lamps and tall sculptures are great to promote harmony.

Your furniture and its placement should help you create spaces that offer a sense of security and balance. This is why chairs and other seating should have high backs and unobstructed views of the door or entry to the room. Never face the back of a chair to the entrance of a room. Round tables facilitate a flow of energy, especially if overlooking an open view, and are the best shape for communication.

It's a design basic to place your sofas, chairs and ottomans around a cocktail or coffee table, which should be a bit lower than the seating at the center and with reference to a focal point. Another idea is to anchor a freestanding or floating sofa with a console or sofa table for a secure feeling. Those who believe in feng shui also believe that a television should not be the focal point of a room. Even with today's slim TV screens, it is best to place them inside a piece of furniture or frame the TV screens so they look like a work of art rather than just a technological amenity. Most households have TV screens, but they are found to be disruptive to conversation and family life.

Your home's windows are what control the amount of light and chi that enters your home. If your views are beautiful, it is best to use very lightweight window treatments that are sheer or translucent. You can always use another layer for room darkening in bedrooms.

Shapes and forms also contribute to the flow of harmony throughout your home. A room filled with sharp angles and edges is a no-no. According to the edicts of feng shui, the best rooms are a combination of rounded edges, oval shapes and straight angles. Each supports and balances the other for a harmonic ensemble.

Earth colors are both warm and welcoming and conducive to relaxation. Best of all, earth colors easily can be combined with stronger, more vibrant colors in decorative accents such as pillows, vases and candles. Try mixing neutral earth colors with pale rose for a delicate color scheme. The color orange is a wonderful hue that inspires happiness and adds a punch to somber combinations. Likewise, red is a powerful color that symbolizes dynamism and can be used to improve the flow of chi within your home.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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