Like many of you I suspect, l long for the days where all the family used to sit round the dining table chit chatting and enjoying our meal… With our busy schedules, unwelcoming dining rooms and eating in-front of the TV routine, I feel we are really missing out on a once-sacred aspect of life.

So last week, I vowed to put aside one day of the week to properly enjoy my meal without any distractions… Taking inspiration from Feng Shui practices, I created a comfortable, welcoming environment, switched off my phone, put on some soft background music and in the end had a wonderful evening which will be definitely be repeated!

For those who want to try, here are some pictures and tips for inspiration…

In this dining room, the fire generates warmth and love, whilst fresh flowers add vitality and colour. Flowers or plants, especially when worked into a centerpiece, will encourage harmony, energise the room and promote health. The red cushions not only bring life to the room but also ensure diners’ comfort.

For a romantic evening, make sure you dim the lights down and light up some candles.

Crystal chandeliers over the center of a dining table will help to balance chi in the room and also help people with eating disorders embrace healthier habits. Crystal looks especially magical by candlelight and spreads energy throughout the space, so crystal candlesticks, bowls and vases are perfect for decorating dining tables and bringing beauty, grandeur and iridescence to the room.

Mirrors are also very helpful for improving chi flow but make sure that the mirror reflects something attractive like a view out a window, a painting or even your food (doubling your food symbolically means doubling your money).

The dining room should be a calm and peaceful place. Here, minimal clutter and warm, soothing earth tones such as soft yellow and green keep the atmosphere of this room tranquil.

Candles, vases with fresh flowers, plants, bowls of fruit, and floating flowers create wonderful dining table energy, whilst art or murals depicting landscapes or seascapes provide an escape from stresses and worries.

Images & tips from “Feng Shui Your Life” by Jayme Barrett.

You might also like: