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If you're planning on redecorating, you will want to make sure that you have a good base to start from.  You spent the first few months tidying your home and cleaning the exterior, now you need to prepare the interior. Most homes have some cracks on the walls or the ceiling and around chimney flues.  Homes with a significant amount of plasterboard can have cracks or chips in the walls caused by previous DIY projects gone wrong.  Most of these problems are minor, however, and can be easily fixed.

I love wall decals; they're a quick and easy way to redecorate any room. I use them in the living room to add a splash of seasonal colour to the room, without having to go through the time consuming process of re-painting every few months. When my kids were younger, I used wall decals in their rooms as well. Children change their interests so rapidly, and decals are far easier to change than wallpaper! These are some of my favourites…. 1.       Vintage photo frames (Wall Sticker Outlet, $39) These creative stickers are designed to look like vintage photo frames, and are a great way to display your photos in your living room.  You just stick the vinyl photo frames to the wall, and then use blu-tack or double-sided tape to stick your photos onto the frames. These ones accept standard sized 5x7 photos. 2.       Deco Sea Horse Under The Sea (Icon Wall Stickers, £8.99) This stylish sea horse wall sticker is great because it comes in loads of colours and sizes, and is perfect for bathrooms. The material of this decal is non-toxic, so will be a perfect addition to a nautical themed child's bedroom too. 3.     Flags of The World (Abode Wall Art, £26) Travel is a passion of mine, but I was never particularly good at Geography when I was at school.  Learning about different cultures is interesting, but I’m terrible at remembering facts and trivia – like where a country is, or what their flag looks like, in my head. But hey, you're never too old to learn, so I’m thinking about investing in this one for my study. It features a map of the world, with the bigger countries decorated with their national flags. 4.     Kitty Cat (Dali Decals, $10)  My wife loves this Kitty Cat decal. It is cute, but abstract, and understated enough that it doesn't look too cartoony.  This wall decoration would look great in a large, open hallway - perhaps next to your coat rack, so that the cat is always there, ready to welcome you home after a hard day at work. 5.  Summer Sunflower (Wall Art, £9.27) We don’t seem to be able to grow anything in our garden except weeds, so the extent of our gardening involves potted plants and window boxes. I’d love to be able to grow six-foot tall sunflowers. This summer, I’m considering having a (synthetic) sunflower of my own to look at – I love this one; it’s so bright and inviting – bringing the outdoors indoors, with none of the work :)

Whether you're looking to sell your house quickly or just want to make sure that your home improvements will benefit you in the long run, this infographic will help you out! On each level of the house you'll find a different home improvement task, from building a loft conversion to landscaping the

A good sofa is far, far more than just a place to sit while you watch your favourite movies. If you make the right choice, your sofa can be a centrepiece of your living room. Here’s a few of my favourite sofas – ranging from simple, modern designs, to luxurious contemporary pieces. Polka – Contemporary Chesterfield Sofa The Polka Chesterfield Sofa is something of a chameleon.  It’s clean, simple design means that it fits well in both formal and relaxed settings.  Created by the Designers Guild, you can choose from a range of upholstery fabrics, or soft Italian leather.  There are 40 different colours to choose from.  Personally, I like the simplicity of cool blue and white. The wooden legs are available in a range of finishes, including natural, walnut, silver and anthracite. The small, simple design makes this a good choice for any modern apartment or loft. Lino – Ultra Modern Sofa The Lino is another Designers Guild upholstered sofa.  Once again, this sofa is available in the full range of colours and can be upholstered in soft Italian leather, or your choice of upholstery fabric. There are three arm styles to choose from.  My favourite is the narrow arm. The beauty of this sofa is the bespoke seam detail on the cushions.  It’s a small touch, but it makes all the difference to the quality of the design.  This sofa is quite low and deceptively simple in its styling.  It would add a nice touch of luxury to an otherwise minimalistic Scandinavian style living room. Shoreditch Sofa by Paul Smith This luxurious contemporary sofa is worlds apart from the first two on the list.  It is available in a range of fabrics and leather.  The bold, bright stripes and contrasting seat cushions make sure that this sofa will stand out in any living room.  You can alter the directions of the stripes if you wish, but personally I think that horizontal stripes look far better than vertical ones would. This sofa is designed for ultramodern living rooms, but if you’re feeling bold it would fit more classically styled rooms as well.  You can choose from two or three seater sofa designs, as well as add optional chairs or footstools. Mayfair Fabric Sofa The Mayfair Fabric Sofa is upholstered in Ombrion Peyony Designers Guild fabric.  It has a smooth fixed back, and elegant buttoned arms.  The sofa is styled in a more traditional manner, down to the optional castors on the front legs. This piece would look beautiful in a period-styled living room, especially if you choose a darker colour or rich velvet for the upholstery.  This is quite an imposing design, so it wouldn’t suit a smaller living room – but if you’re lucky enough to have a larger home with a sizeable living room which can carry this off, it’s well worth the investment.  The sofa comes with three square scatters as well as two rectangular cushions.  

Contemporary or classic? Probably the most commonly asked question regarding the choice of door for a home, closely followed by 'painted or natural finish?' But the choice of door style may not be confined to the fashion

Naples, Gibraltar, Corsica... Dream holiday for Shirley Valentine? The Corsica Door Lever Yes they do sound like a nice place to spend the summer but these are just some of the names for designer door levers at UK Oak Doors. Whilst we’re big fans of the traditional style handles like Suffolk Latches some of us at UK Oak Doors have more contemporary homes with accompanying door levers so we can speak from experience about our designer range. Whilst traditional ledge and brace doors are often purchased with a Suffolk latch, modern style doors allow a great deal more freedom for the interior designer to choose the handles they specifically want. It’s very much a case of personal taste rather than conforming to a certain antique style in a rustic home. Not having the style of lever predetermined by the choice of door means there is a lot more room for personal expression and there are 17 different styles to choose from. Just because these are designer door levers it doesn't mean they are all as modern as an iPod as some such as the Colchester and Durham have a distinctly classic look and feel. Lever construction The door levers in the designer range are all expertly engineered so a robust and hard wearing mechanism is well hidden behind the attractive exterior. Of course the handles and casing are built to last but too often levers available though other suppliers display a solid looking exterior but hide issues within the body. This means the spindles and levers work loose over time making the handles and the doors they’re attached to seem cheap. It’s not how you start it’s how you finish... The 17 door levers in the designer range are available in a wide range of distinguished finishes. Let's go through each of the finishes with some examples from the range. The Naples Door Lever The Satin Nickel finish has a brushed effect which requires very little cleaning to keep looking new. The more shiny finishes will tend to dull if not kept clean though none of UK Oak Doors levers require excessive cleaning by any means. A good example of the Satin Nickel finish is the Naples door lever. The Cambridge Door Lever The Matt Antique Brass finish it a very classic look that retains a reflective sheen but still has a reduced shine to it. A fine example of this finish can be seen on the popular Cambridge door lever. The Ancon Door Lever The Chrome Plate finish is the most reflective finish available. Whilst it may not look shiny if grubby hands have been on it the chrome plate finish does mean that it is the easiest to clean. Some brushed levers or pitted effect levers are harder to clean but the chrome plating makes wiping off chocolate or mud or both as easy as possible. A good example of the chrome plate finish is seen on the Ancon. The Colchester Lever The Distressed Silver effect is a technique used to add some age to the lever whilst still retaining modern built quality and reliability. This finish is seen on the Colchester lever, one which perfectly displays a desirable blend of classic finish and contemporary lever moulding.

Should You DIY Or Hire a Pro? - An infographic by the team at UK Oak Doors Embed Should You DIY Or Hire a Pro? on Your Site: Copy and Paste the Code Below <br /> <img src="https://www.ukoakdoors.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Should-I-DIY-or-not-Infographic-FINAL.png" width="540"></p> <p>Should You DIY Or Hire a Pro? - An infographic by the team at <a href="https://www.ukoakdoors.co.uk/">UK Oak Doors</a></p> <p>

A mitre box is an important woodworking tool which can be used to help you put accurate angled cuts into wood.  Mitre boxes are quite simple to make, and you can put one together out of scrap wood quite easily. Mitred Architrave With a 45 degree join. Photo: Michele Schaffer The time you invest in making a mitre box will save you time, waste and hassle in the future by ensuring that each piece of wood you cut in the future, whether for shelving or architrave, will be a straight, clean cut. The name “box” is a bit of a misnomer, since the box is open on two ends and at the top, so that longer, larger pieces of wood (such as architrave and skirting) can be slid into the box and the ends can be cut smoothly. If convenience is important to you, then you can purchase mitre boxes made of a strong plastic or rubber.  However, even store-bought mitre boxes need replacing periodically because the guide slots are prone to damage. Once you get the hang of making mitre boxes, you will probably find that it’s just as easy (and far cheaper) to make your own and swap them out when they start to show signs of wear. Fitting Your Mitre Box If you are going to be cutting a lot of a particular size of wood – for example, a large cornice, or some unusually sized architrave, make a box that will fit this.  Match the size of the bottom board to the size of the wood you are cutting, to ensure that the wood sits true while it is being cut. Making Your Mitre Box To make your own mitre box you will need: Three pieces of wood A workbench with clamps A tenon saw A combination square A screwdriver and some matching screws Assembling the Box Clamp the three pieces of wood together so that they form a ‘U’ shape. Position the base of the box so that it is slightly elevated – the outer sides should stick out by approximately ¼ of an inch, forming “legs” for the box. Mark the centre of the elevated base with a pencil so that you can accurately place the screw holes. Drill three holes on each side – one at each end and one in the middle, through the outer sides and into the inner piece of wood which makes up the base of the box. Screw the wood together – choose a long screw so that you get a firm, solid bite. Using a combination square, mark 90 and 45 degree angles (or whatever angles you are going to be cutting frequently) on the upper surface of the box. Cut the lines you have marked, using your tenon saw.  Cut slowly and carefully to a depth of around 2 inches (50mm). Using a Mitre Box To use your mitre box, place a piece of flat, scrap wood into the base of the box and rest the wood (or other material) that you want to cut on top of that wood.  Use the guide slots on the mitre box to start the cut. Insert the saw blade into the slot and gently draw the saw back and forth to open up the cut, while holding the wood firmly in place.  The slot will guide the cut from the top to the bottom of the board, ensuring that the cut is perpendicular to the edge of the board (or at a consistent angle all the way down.  This creates a consistent, precise finish. When you are making a 45-degree cut, the saw can easily fall out of the slots, so cut carefully, using short strokes. If the wood you are cutting does not fit snugly in the box, hold it in place firmly with a clamp. Architrave. Photo: Simon Wheatley Cutting And Fitting Architrave One of the main uses of a mitre box for interior design is cutting architrave – the timber moulding that fits around doors and windows.  Architrave is designed to hide the joint between the wall or ceiling and the timber casings, hiding movement or shrinkage, and keeping the wall looking clean and professionally finished. It is important that architrave is neatly cut, and that the corners are mitred.  Usually, the corners meet at right-angles, so the mitre cut on each piece should be 45 degrees (half of the right angle).  However, this is not always the case.  In very old properties, the door casing may no longer be square, so you should measure the real angle before you start cutting. Mark out the casing, leaving a suitable margin for the hinges. Make sure that the margin is big enough to allow you a safe nailing area, but not so large that it restricts the knuckle of the hinges.  Mark margins both horizontally and vertically. Mark the angles that you need to cut on the architrave, and use a mitre box to ensure that the cut follows the marking accurately. To place the architrave, position the head piece first of all.  Line it up against the horizontal margin markings, and make sure that the corners are in line with the vertical margin markings.  Tack the architrave in place with three nails, one in the centre and one on either side.  Do not put the nails all the way in at this point, simply use them to hold the architrave steady. Next, position one of the side the side pieces so that the mitred edges line up neatly with the sides.  Again, tack the first side in place but leave the nails protruding slightly.  Finally position the other side in the same fashion. Once you have all of the joints lined up, drive a panel pin into each mitre joint at an angle across the two pieces, to ensure that the joints remain flush.  After securing each joint, drive all of the nails home and punch them so that they are slightly lower than the surface of the architrave.  Fill in the hole with liquid wood, and allow this to dry.  Sand the surface flat, and paint it. Information is accurate at time of publishing, however, may be subject to change.

Everyone in the UK is familiar with the interior design celebs on our TV’s. Ever since the property boom in the late 1990’s property has been a common sight in the schedules although much of it has now been relegated to daytime hours rather than prime time. However, now that most of us have access to digital TV or even satellite TV there is the opportunity to catch some foreign imports with bigger budgets and interesting formats. There are lots of shows around that look at home ‘overhauls’ that actually change the structure of the buildings but we’re just going to focus on the interior design shows and cover foreign shows a la Grand Designs in another article. Let's check some interior design show out from abroad... America has a whole host of shows encompassing many aspects of interior design, some are mainly entertainment or ‘reality’ shows but others are for the real interior design affectionado who's looking for a glimpse at the next fashion. Trading Spaces is a show based on the Changing Rooms format from the UK so is more an entertainment ‘reality’ style show but it does give the designers sizable budgets and a free reign to choose whatever they want which makes for some interesting confrontations. On the Style Network is a show called ‘Clean House’ in which predictably messy homes are redesigned. ‘Design on a Dime’, 'Designed to Sell’ and ‘The Decorating Adventures of Ambrose Price’ are three examples of shows where the presenters are given budgets and certain restrictions but must overcome these challenges to produce a well designed finished home. Antonio Ballatore As well as this, both USA and Canada have reality competition shows where contestants compete against each other and are then eliminated depending on the judges decision. This is a format that hasn't really made an impact in the UK which is a shame as due to its format it’s more common to see avant garde design ideas. This is because real people do not have to live with their creations once the production team has left unlike other shows. Design Star is one of the most popular versions of this style of show and is already on its fifth season. The winners of each season's competition get the own show of which arguably the most interesting is ‘The Antonio Treatment with Antonio Ballatore. His style is apologetically nonconformist in both presenting and designing though this is why the show is worth a watch. His ‘Marmite’ designs are extremely entertaining as are the reactions to the owners of the home or office he’s enforced himself upon. Interestingly interior design has found a home on radio too. In the US there are two notable examples, ‘Martha Stewart Living’ and ‘ Living Large’ which both discuss popular interior designs and feature the work of famous designers. Though the names of the shows give the impression they are mainstream the content can be quite detailed regarding the history of design and tracing modern trends back to their roots. So, with satellite TV and the internet you have every chance to find new ideas, be ahead of the curve or just learn something new.

By March, the weather should be getting better, and you're probably wishing that you could spend some time outside.  This month is a great time to start working on your garden, and you can show off your green fingers (and prepare for a chance to show off your cooking skills) by starting a small vegetable garden.

Read How to Use a Plumb Line in PDF format The plumb line is one of the simplest tools in the average homeowner’s toolbox, but it is also one of the most versatile.  You should use a plumb line whenever you need to make a straight, vertical line – whether that is for hanging wallpaper, putting up a painting, or checking the angle of a door. Making a Plumb Line You can purchase plumb lines quite cheaply from most DIY stores. Professionally made plumb lines come in a range of sizes, and usually have heavy steel bobs.  If you are doing any heavy-duty building work, it is a good idea to buy a heavy plumb line and bob, but a home-made plumb line should be good enough for most small indoor tasks. To make a plumb line you will need: A long string made of nylon or twisted cotton A small, heavy weight which can be secured to the string Some brightly coloured chalk Tie the weight to one end of the string.  Crush the chalk into a cloth until the chalk has turned into fine powder, and run the string through it so that it is covered in the dust.  Make sure that you are using a colour of chalk that is easy to see against the wall you are working with. Using a Plumb Line If using chalk will be too messy for the environment you are working in, hold the plumb line in place while someone else marks the vertical line with a soft pencil, using the string as a guide. To ensure accurate measurements, use a weight of at least six to eight ounces.  Choose a rope that will not stretch easily. You can improvise a plumb line with a length of string and anything that you have lying around (your watch, or keys, for example), but this is not ideal.  Try to use a heavier cord (para-cord, or washing line, for example), and a weight that is sufficient to pull the string completely taught. Working With a Plumb Line Now you are ready to use the plumb line.  Pin the loose end of the string to the top of the wall (use a nail, if possible, to ensure that the line stays secure), and let the string hang freely.  The string should be long enough to cover most of the wall, but not so long that the weight touches the floor. Lower the line gently and let the weight settle until the string stops moving.  Once you are sure that the string is stationary, push the bottom of the string into the wall, just above the weight and make sure that the string is taught. With your free hand, pull the centre of the string away from the wall, and let it ping back against the wall.  This should leave a line of chalk against the wall.  The chalk line will be exactly vertical, and perpendicular to the ceiling. If you are hanging wallpaper, make sure that you follow this procedure to place a straight line on each wall around the room. If you need the plumb line to stay still for a longer period of time, let the bob rest in a tub of clear, viscous oil so that it does not sway and move around every time someone walks past it. When to Use a Plumb Line Use a plumb line whenever you need to confirm the room’s true vertical – either when building a shed or an extension, or re-modelling an existing room.  Never assume that the walls in a room are straight.  If you have ever tried to replace the boring panel doors in your home with solid oak doors, you probably had to do some sanding and adjusting to make the doors fit.  Even recently built homes can have crooked walls.  It does not take a lot of foundation shift to make doorways and walls end up noticeably out of alignment. When hanging wallpaper, you should always make sure that the paper is straight and that the pattern lines up neatly.  Leave a little extra wallpaper at the top and the bottom, so that you can line up the repeating pattern and then trim the excess at the ceiling and the skirting board. Establish a plumb line for each wall that you plan on papering.  Allow for a half-inch overlap at the corners, for a clean and professional looking finish. Plumb Lines vs Spirit Levels Spirit levels are useful for small jobs such as hanging picture frames, or making sure that the shelves that you put up are straight. You can test the angle of a small object quickly and easily with a spirit level.  However, for surfaces without a straight edge, or for establishing a true vertical for a large project such as making a doorway, a spirit level will not be accurate enough. It is a good idea to carry both a plumb line and a spirit level so that you can take measurements on any scale.  Some smartphones have built-in spirit levels which offer a fairly detailed level of feedback, and can be useful for simpler carpentry jobs. The Importance of Careful Measurement Taking the time to hang a plumb line may seem like a lot of hassle, but it is worth the effort.  Once you get used to working with plumb lines, it only takes a minute or two to draw a perfect vertical line, and you can work with confidence. If you try to guess, or assume that the ceiling is perfectly horizontal, and you can work from there, then the results could be disastrous.  When you are decorating and standing close to the wall, your architrave or wallpaper may look fine.  Once you have finished the job and taken a step back, however, any errors will be glaringly obvious.  Do you really want to have to live with a misaligned fireplace or wonky door until you have the time and money to fix the issue? Measure carefully before you start cutting any decorating materials, and re-check your measurements and alignments regularly while you are working.  If you identify a mistake early on, you are more likely to be able to fix it. Information is accurate at time of publishing, however, may be subject to change.

Once again we have been thrilled with the number of entries that were sent in by our customers for the UK Oak Doors annual photo competition. A huge thank you to all of the customers who entered; we were quite literally spoilt for choice! The standard was incredibly high and the judges were without question faced with a very tough task. First Prize Winner There was so much variety in the images and it was a true joy to behold our doors in their happy new homes! First, second and third prizes were all up for grabs as well as a bonus prize of a digital camera which was awarded to the photo with the biggest ‘wow’ factor. The first prize was awarded to Julia from Surrey for her Victorian 4 panel door in a bedroom setting. The judges felt that this really ticked all of the boxes when it came to originality, composition, overall impact and artistic merit. Second Prize Winner We love the angle and the raised moulding detail on the panels (not to mention the tidiness of the room which puts my home to shame!) A close second was Ross from Suffolk with his solid oak ledge and brace door; a classic look and perfectly paired with the handforged Suffolk latch for that all important finishing touch. The hat was a nice touch too! Third Prize Winner     Third place prize was given to Donald from Cornwall for his photograph of the Suffolk door in situ along with an oak barn door, showing that mixing and matching different styles can be a great way of adding character. The final prize on offer was the esteemed 'wow factor' winner where a digital camera was up for grabs. Winner of the 'Wow Factor' Prize After much deliberation this was awarded to Mark from Suffolk for this stunning display of ledge and brace doors (complete with Suffolk latches and T hinges), not to mention the amazing staircase and lighting featured in this stunning barn conversion. Other entries including some amazing entrances and exits, some great 'before and after' images, a 'magic' party lights larder, some 'giraffe excluders', a Grade II listed and some beams dating back to 1545! We'll try and publish as many of these entries as possible and get them featured here on the blog as well as over on the Facebook and Pinterest pages so please check back soon.

This is the first in a new series of blog posts, helping to guide and inspire you to  undertake some home improvement projects throughout this year. Each month for the rest of 2013, we'll be letting you know what tasks you could be carrying out (both inside and outside of your home), depending on the time of year and of course the weather conditions! Read on for January's post... Spring Clean January is traditionally the time when people go on a house-cleaning spree, throwing away old and unwanted possessions, taking down decorations, and giving their homes a thorough cleaning.  Sadly, for many people this enthusiasm for cleaning and decorating doesn't last long, and by February any new-year's resolutions are forgotten. This year, why not take your spring-clean to the next level and start the year the way you mean to go on by preparing yourself for a year of successful DIY.   January is a Month of Planning Resist the temptation to try to start tackling all of your indoor jobs in January.  If you rush in to doing lots of jobs right away, there's a good chance you'll burn out and get sick of spending your weekends surrounded by screwdrivers and paintbrushes.  Instead of rushing to get jobs done in January, let yourself relax after the festive season, and ease into the year's projects by spending your time off doing some research. Make a list of all of the jobs that you want to get done this year (include stuff like re-turfing the garden, or fixing the roof, even though those jobs will have to wait until the warmer months).  Try to find out which jobs you can tackle yourself, and which you will need to pay a professional to do for you. Make a List Using this list, put together an annual budget for your DIY projects, and work out how much you'll need to set aside each month to afford all of the jobs you'll be doing throughout the year.  If it helps you to divide your finances strictly, you may want to consider opening a second bank account or instant access savings account online so that your DIY funds aren't sitting there in your main bank account, easy to access for impulse spending. If any of the jobs on your to-do list require planning permission, call your local authority and find out how long the application process takes.  Make sure that you start the application process early to ensure that you have a nice time buffer to work with in case there are delays or problems with your paperwork. Practical Shopping in the Sales Tools of the Trade The January sales can be a great time to pick up cheap tools and consumables.  While everyone else is rushing to the clothes, gifts and electronics aisles, take this opportunity to head on over to the DIY section.  You may find cheap gardening tools, paint brushes, rollers, trays, and other handy items. That sort of shopping might not be as exciting as shopping for a new TV in the sales, but you could save a fortune.  You can always pick up some shiny new electronics later in the year, when new models have been released and you've finished your renovation work. We’re running a January sale too – visit our sale page here. Spring Cleaning Your DIY projects will go much more smoothly if you have time to work.  It's a good idea to try to find some time for de-cluttering and spring-cleaning.  If you have a lot of clutter to sort through, consider trying the Fly Lady approach - break down the cleaning into lots of small tasks, doing a few minutes each day rather than trying to clean an entire room in one go.  Once you have tackled a room, make a point of trying to keep it uncluttered.  It's easier to tidy up after yourself each evening than it is to clean up a week's worth of mess in one go. Photo: Sean Freese, Dr Stephen Dann, Keith Williamson

Even if you are quite handy with power tools, you will eventually encounter a DIY project that requires you to bring in a contractor. This is no reflection on your abilities as a handyman.  Some projects are simply too complex to get done on a bank holiday weekend, and other jobs, such as ones

Did you know that your front door is one of the most important aspects of your home? Aside from the actual selection of the home in the first instance there are very few additions or modifications that the home owner can do to change the look and feel of the house they live in from the exterior.

Hi fellow design fans! I’m Mike, an accidental interior designer who fits none of the stereotypes. I’m on the wrong side of 40, proud dad to three beautiful children, and married to Mrs. Sue Bowers – the love of my life and better half. I started my career at the tender age of 16 as an apprentice plasterer and eventually found myself building furniture – and you know what I loved most? The finished product – the shapes, the colours, the patterns – I loved it all so much more than the manufacturing. Eventually I branched out. I retrained and went freelance. After a while I found myself here. My work alongside the design team at UK Oak Doors takes up a lot of my time and I almost feel like a member of the family. They must agree because they’ve let me take control of part of their blog :) So here we go. I’ll be writing about my favourite designs, trends, and projects and sharing them with all you lovely people.

Even the most avid of DIY enthusiasts will occasionally need to bring in a contractor.  Some projects, such as building an extension to accommodate your growing family, or getting insulation or storm windows, can be too time consuming to take on as a side project.

Spark up the Joss Sticks now? Feng Shui, The Atkins Diet, Scientology. Just three of an endless list of fads and self help crazes that have been promoted by celebrities like Cameron Diaz or Cher, gaining notoriety whether they are based on scientific  fact and study or not. As you may know, Feng Shui is an eastern philosophy originating thousands of years ago in ancient China, well before Cameron Diaz was even born though we’re not sure about Cher. Changes in what is decided as fashionable taste affect a huge array of aspects of how we live our lives, much more than the type of shoes we wear or how tight our jeans are.  It affects the sports we do, what you eat, what you drink (even what your car drinks). But what exactly is it and how does it relate to western interior design? A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... Feng Shui, literally translates as ‘Wind-Water’. It is linked to Chinese astrology and was primarily used to determine how the axis settlements should be positioned along in coordination with the sun, moon and other celestial bodies. Some of the earliest capital cities in China followed the rules of Feng Shui for their layout and design and it is claimed that the magnetic compass was invented for the benefit of implementing Feng Shui during town planning. One of the fundamental cornerstones of the philosophy is Qi, pronounced “Chee”, which is a changeable positive or negative ‘life force’ some may recognise from marial arts. Qi is about a ‘sensed energy’ that when used in regard to interior design focuses on objects and how they relate to each other in terms of orientation, structure, age and the surrounding environment. There have been fashion trends in home design since Fred Flintstone chose a round window over a square one but most fashion vogues are simple shallow cosmetic adjustments. Rarely do changes in taste and fashion inspire a whole new way of life. Early western advocates of Feng Shui proposed it was exactly that, a new way of living not a shallow change in colour schemes like other ‘revolutions’ in home design. This is because it attempted to improve the natural balance of positive energy in the home by the coordination of different factors. Doors, windows, plants, surrounding noises all have the part to play. Obviously we can’t move the doorways in our homes but we can change the objects in their path as we move from one room to another. A well known aspect of interior design Feng Shui is the position of the bed in relation to the doors and walls as it is considered ‘poor Feng Shui’ to have the door open directly towards the bed or for the bed not to be directly up against a wall. Indeed doors play a large part in the way Qi flows from one room to the next. Some rooms can have their energy shared between them with the simple use of internal door windows. These allow the activities of other areas of the house, say the kitchen to be visually shared but the sounds and smells, which may be less desirable, are kept separate. In other cases good Feng Shui determines that areas of the home used for distinctly different purposes (e.g. living or resting) should be clearly defined and so internal door windows would not be recommended. Critics of western Feng Shui aren’t really criticising Feng Shui itself, more the poor application or exploitation of it. Much of the general rules for it, when successfully applied to interior design, feel entirely natural which in essence is how it should be. However, the message has become diluted if not lost altogether when there are single items of furniture advertised as “improving Feng Shui”. Nothing on its own can single handedly improve Feng Shui, each item, like the internal door with a window must be considered in the context of its situation and its overall effect on the flow of Qi in the home.