Serenity Makeover

Parenting is never easy, but the more your home and life are designed to support you, the less overwhelming it will be.

Nothing says “chaos” like a newborn, and little is more frustrating for new moms than the lack of personal time. As Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes put it in The Peaceful Nursery: Preparing a Home for Your Baby with Feng Shui, “Parenting is never easy, but the more your home and life are designed to support you, the less overwhelming it will be.” Even if you’re not a devotee of the feng shui theory of decorating, you’ll appreciate their simple steps for creating a serene home. They advise whittling down belongings to items that are functional, beautiful or loved and recommend avoiding major renovations when you’re pregnant or for months after the baby is born. Waiting will protect your family from toxins that renovation can create, as well as from its stress. Most valuable tip: Raise children with organization and serenity, and they’ll learn to live clutter-free. (Delta Trade Paperbacks, 2006; $15) — ERICA JORGENSEN