Give Your Space the Right Design
The moment Nic Taylor walked into his old classroom at Bancroft Middle School in San Leandro, California, after being away from the school for two years, he felt his mood immediately begin to decline. The room was very long and very thin, and it was white. There were doors at either end of the room. Taylor says that the room “felt so antiseptic,” not like a creative space, because there were no windows and only a few skylights that exposed the bleak sky outside.
He immediately placed an urgent call to Deborah Gee, a feng shui consultant in the Bay Area, and she swiftly confirmed what Taylor had suspected all along: His classroom was experiencing a severe case of very poor chi.
The practise of designing a space so that it has positive chi is known as feng shui. According to Gee, chi is an essential component of the life-force energy. It is what causes mountains to develop, rivers to flow, and trees to flourish. It is also what causes your heart to beat. Feng shui consultants like Gee specialise in modifications to a room’s design that don’t break the bank and help chi flow more freely through the space. According to her, having healthy chi also fosters positive emotions, the ability to concentrate, and creative thinking.
The last few days before school started, Taylor’s classroom underwent a change. A friend painted the walls a vibrant green and blue, and Gee moved Taylor’s desk to the far corner, facing the door. Students’ desks were arranged in a semicircle, with their backs to the whiteboard. In the middle of the room was a crystal and a metal chime that hung from the ceiling.
The back of the room was illuminated by a warm glow provided by two Ikea lamps, which also served to frame what Taylor’s students have come to refer to as their “window.” This is a testament to the power of human imagination, as the “window” in question is a poster depicting an alpine lake surrounded by snowy peaks and wildflowers. “I sometimes ask the kids to open the window and allow the scent of wildflowers come in,” he says. “It’s one of my favourite things about spring.”
Bancroft Middle School is to be thanked for providing this image.
Take a Full Breath: Blue and green are the new wall colours, and they offer a relaxing impact while also inspiring creativity.
All of these adjustments were made with the tenets of Feng Shui in mind. Both blues and greens have a calming effect, which is essential for students in sixth grade who are energetic, and they also promote creativity. The two facing doors were a “big no-no,” adds Gee, because they allow “energy to enter into the classroom and immediately blast out.” Students who are caught in the middle of the conflict, according to her, are prone to exhibit behaviours such as being “tight, restless, unable to focus, and overactive.”
Gee and Taylor stuffed paper over the window of the exterior door, which effectively blocked off the airflow and alleviated the uncomfortable feeling. The majority of the student work, posters, and several other items that were hanging on the classroom walls were removed. The room was laid out in accordance with the principles of feng shui, which divide the area into four distinct quadrants, each of which is designated for a different purpose, such as a peaceful study or productive labour.
According to Gee, the metal chime and the crystal “awaken the mind” and help kids zero in on what’s important. Taylor notes that there are no windows in the room, which contributes to the feeling of stagnation. “So the crystal kind of stirs the pot,” she says.
Because of all of the alterations, the classroom now has an atmosphere that is noticeably distinct from those in the rest of the school. It is now quieter, and it resembles a living room or a library more than it does a classroom for sixth grade. Taylor spent the first day observing how his kids reacted to the new circumstances.
“It was incredible to take in,” he reflects now. “On the first day of school, children are typically restless and tense. On the other hand, as they made their way to their seats, they moved more slowly and with more composure.” According to his former pupils, the effect is still present today. Celina, a student in the sixth grade, comments on how wonderful and vibrant it is. “Education is simplified in this setting.”
Taylor claims that there are many aspects of feng shui that he does not fully grasp, but that the effects may be felt. “When I try to convey it to people, I sometimes get the feeling that I’ve been here for too long. However, you are aware of what? It is irrelevant to me because it is successful!”
Classroom Feng Shui Fundamentals
The following is a list of some of the fundamental tenets of feng shui that can be applied to educational settings:
Bancroft Middle School is to be thanked for providing this image.
Outside In: The room did not have any windows, but a poster at the back of the room showed a serene vista that was framed by the warm glow of two lamps.
Desks for the teacher and students should be arranged in what is known as the “command position” in feng shui; that is, they should face the doorway of the classroom in order to take in the chi as it enters the space.
Learning and growth are encouraged by the use of bright greens and blues, especially in pupils who are younger. The use of deeper colours, such as brown and black, which stimulate wisdom and deep thinking, is beneficial for pupils who are further along in their education.
The path that chi takes through the classroom should not be blocked in any way, as this will allow it to flow more freely. According to feng shui consultant Deborah Gee, obstructions to the way “cause tension and stress with the students and the teacher.” [Citation needed]
When looking into the classroom from the front door, the far left corner of the space should be utilised for the installation of bookcases. In accordance with the tenets of feng shui, this location fosters intellectual curiosity and a need for knowledge.
Classrooms without windows are known to produce students with minds and energy that are unable to move. A natural scene captured in a picture or photograph gives the impression of bringing the outdoors inside and exudes a powerful amount of vital living energy. Plants are capable of having a similar impact.