Month: March 2017

Said no kid ever. Period.

In the history of homemaking, there has been no topic as loved first and as hated later as straightening up your kids’ room. It begins all fuzzy and easy: You’ve moved into a new home, life is all jingles right now, maybe you’re having a kid, or redoing the room your little one has.

Jump forward a couple of years and it’s a mess of crayons, books, clothes and chocolate wafers. While the internet is smothered with “luvlysh” kids room pictures, the room of your bundle of joy doesn’t look that way.

Despair not. This time around, we bring you five easy tips of adding that fairy glitz to your kids’ room, in a way that brings back the fun of doing it.

1. HANG THEM

Well, not “them”. We meant Chinese lanterns. We also mean hangers for clothes. Wardrobes are worthless as far as children are concerned. They don’t have time to fold up their clothes and arrange them on shelves. They are going to throw all of it in and shut the door. And the next thing you know is it’s a smelly room. Not to mention the missing school tie at nine o clock in the morning, when the bus is about to leave.

So hang them. Get them plenty of hangers and a place to hang them from, instead of installing the customary wooden wardrobe on the wall. Hanging is easier. Finding stuff that’s right before your eyes is easier. And it’s all out in the air: so no smell

2. BOX THEM

The “my box” concept isn’t a property of workplaces seen in American movies. Use the idea. Get your child a big cardboard box and say goodbye to the “mom, have you seen my purple pencil?” headaches. Tables are good for working. Not for keeping stuff organised, especially if that stuff is some three legged cartoon figure a seven year old won’t sleep without. Give them their box. No neat packing, just good-old “throw in in and it will stay there” box. Plus, now you don’t have stuff lying on the floor so no tripping and cursing.

3. SPOIL THEM

Again, not the kids. The walls. They are going to doodle on it anyway, so why bother? And why should your kids have all the fun? It’s your home as well, isn’t it? So take up the crayons, the paint, the stickers, the posters, the what-have-you… and hit the wall. Take the kid along. See what she likes. You will be surprised. Once the doodles on the wall are not punishable offence, the disobedience-forfun angle will vaporise and your child will become most careful of what goes on the wall of her room. She’ll consider if it is looking good. She’ll even ask for a wipe on Sundays to keep the Moana poster clean.

4. STARVE THEM

Yes we are talking of the kids this time. Just don’t serve food in their room. That’s it. If they want to eat, they’ll have to come to the dinner table. No room service at home. Not only will this erase your “stain on the bed sheet again” worries, it will also create a family bonding that you will cherish in the long run.

5. GROUND THEM

What’s parenting without a little bossing to spice things up? Every now and then, make it a point of saying “off to your room”. Not harshly though. We aren’t advising being harsh anyway. What we are advising is playing a neat trick. If small mischief is punished not by shouting, but by exile to their own room, children tend to see their room as their stronghold and private space. That makes them take notice of their surroundings better. It makes them create a private world out of a room. Imagination blooms. Remember, all your promises of taking on the world were made sitting in your own room. Let your kid realise the strength of the “my room” concept.

Adieu till next time.

Cybercity Builders is one of Hyderabad’s most sought after builders, a company known for its innovative Gated Community of residential projects such as Rainbow Vistas Rock Garden. Our recently launched Marina Skies, a 2/3 BHK luxury apartment project, is poised to be a landmark for comfort and convenience. We focus on creating living spaces where life can bloom happy and serene. We don’t build residences. We make happy homes. From the kind of natural landscaping space we allow on our premises to the kind of social activities we encourage, it’s all directed in pursuit of that happiness.

On that note, we present here a few simple tips on Feng Shui: the ancient eastern art of harmonious and happy living. These are tips you could follow to create a more balanced and harmonious environment in your home.

1. Address those squeaking doors.

The sound of a door moaning is negative and jarring and can affect your mood. Ensure the hinges are oiled so doors open smoothly and are not noisy. When entering and leaving the home, use the front door. Do not use the side doors or the garage door to the extent possible.

2. Feng Shui fountain.

A Feng Shui fountain is common in most homes. This pleasing water body is believed to add to a lot of positive energy. The best position for such as a fountain is towards the centre of the house where the water keeps flowing into the fountain creating positivity and abundance.

3. Check your water wastage

People are often concerned about the bathrooms and Feng Shui. Considering that water exits the home here, a thought similar to wealth being flushed away. A simple way to minimize the negative effects is by keeping the toilet seat cover down and the bathroom door closed when not in use.

4. Position of bed

The bed is by far the most important piece of furniture and it is recommended to place this appropriately in the bedroom. The bed is ideally placed diagonally across the room in such a way that it is not in line with the bedroom door. You could also use a mirror and place it in such a way that the door is seen from the bed.

5. Cover your T.V. Screens

The other important thing is the television. It is a good idea to cover the television when not in use a colourful scarf or fabric may be used to cover it, preventing it from dust and also reflecting the surrounding ambience.

6. Keep your windows clean

Another important Feng Shui recommendation is to clean the windows. It is important that our homes display an energy that is vibrant and positive. Clean the windows and use a fragrance oil or mild incense so that the ambience is energetic and positive.

7. Greener Kitchen

It is acknowledged as good Feng Shui if there is no space above the upper kitchen cabinets, a space that attracts dust and stagnant energy. It is said that the chi gets blocked here and creates dead energy contributing to negativity in one’s life. If there is a space, it is recommended to place some lighting, green plants or beautiful objects in this location. These will transform the energy and create a more positive environment.

These simple tips will surely ensure your home is energetic and positive.