DIY Wind Chimes Design Ideas

I am one of those people that believe wind chimes to be one of the essential things to have in the home. For some strange reason, having them hanging outside a window, balcony or poolside completes the surroundings. The tinkles or thuds produced by the chimes have a calming effect on the ambience and their aesthetic designs help brighten up the environment.

Feng Shui followers also believe that having a wind chime can change your luck for the better. Placing the chimes in an auspicious spot can activate the positive vibrations in that sector, thus activating what they call good vibrations in your life which, in turn, will boost more good energy in your direction. This domino effect is the equivalent of "one good turn deserves another" and is a cycle of good fortune. Whether this is true or not may differ from one person to another, of course. I, for one, am not one to tempt fate so I will hang my wind chime in my auspicious corner so my good chi will be activated and I will prosper as a result. If this proves untrue, at least my home will be aesthetically enhanced.

No matter what material the wind chimes are made of, each holds its own value - metal wind chimes are popular for their ability to produce light, happy sounds while wooden chimes are favored for their dull, calm thuds. Other materials like bamboo, shells, coins, glass or aluminum are also commonly used in wind chimes. Different sounds will be created by different elements and this will evoke different feelings so be sure to pick a sound that you will benefit from. If it is relaxation that you are aiming for, I suggest bamboo or wooden chimes - for me, they work best in helping me relax but there are some who like the tinkles of metal on metal. For stimulation, musical wind chimes work best - their specially tuned tubes will strike a pretty melody and help inspire you in your work.

If there is something that makes that little bit more special, it will be its significance to the person receiving. Wind chimes that not only match your décor but mean something to you as well are the ones that will be treasured. And you can add more meaning into wind chimes by having them engraved. Engraved wind chimes are gaining in popularity these days. Messages to be included on such chimes are imprinted onto the windplate - the slightly larger piece of element hanging below the wind chimes. On its own, the windplate does not play any role except that of an aesthetic kind. So if you wanted to make your wind chimes an extra special present for someone, I would suggest printing a message on the windplate.

A simple phrase like "Happy Birthday", "Merry Christmas" or "Welcome To Our Neighborhood" will make your wind chime stand out in exclusivity. Surround your message with appropriate designs and your chime will make the perfect, deeply personal gift for the occasion. I would recommend you hire a professional to do the job for you for a small cost to reduce the likelihood of having your chimes destroyed in the hands of an amateur.

Further personalize your wind chimes with DIY chimes. It is not as difficult as it looks and you get to determine the shape, type and design of the wind chimes. For starters, attempt building the tubular types and work with aluminum, which is the easiest material to manipulate. Your first chime should be always be the longest one and use that as a gauge for the rest. This way, if you ever cut the rest a little too much, they can still fit in with the rest. You can then create your own melodic chimes to play your personal tune.

Garden wind chimes are normally more decorative than the normal ones - in the outdoors, you can afford to be a little more adventurous in your décor style. Metal or wood, bamboo or shells, tubular or circular, the garden wind chimes' role is to provide rhythmic, free flow background music while you are tending to your plants, sitting al fresco drinking coffee or having a relaxing snooze outside.