How to Feng Shui your home
General Feng Shui:
What is it? Feng Shui is an ancient science and art developed over 3,000 years ago in China. Feng Shui is essentially about about creating the right balance or chi. The literal translation of “Feng” is wind and “Shui” means water. Wind and water are associated with good health/good fortune. This practice focuses on energy, earth, air and water are all positive features to include in your home, and help balance the interaction of humans and their environment. Using the rules of Feng Shui allows you to influence the energies in your home to increase your life.
Feng Shui’s use of Yin and Yang or male and female work to balance out a space.
Yin: soft, female, motherly, dark
Yang: hard, bright, male
Use of these elements can attract or repel energy. Our goal is to allow energy to be free flowing.
Feng Shui Elements:
Wood: Associated with growth, upward, spring season, rectangular shape, family and wealth. Live plants are good example of an element to use
Water: Flowing, changeable, winter season , wavy shape, and associated with career. Found in water fixtures.
Fire: This is energy creating, with a triangle association. Use of candles to add warmth and energy to a room. Not to be overused.
Metal: Beauty, Autumn season, Circular shape, travel, and the colors Gold, Silver and white. Associated with children
Earth: grounding energy. Seen in the use of marble, terracotta, clay which can be found in display bowls on a coffee table, tile on the front porch or potted plants. Associated with health, marriage, self care and knowledge. Use earthy colors in a square to incorporate this grounding element
Check out this image from The Spruce.
““The intent of Feng Shui, is to bring Harmony to the environment and the home and , in doing so the person”
How to Feng Shui: Through out the house
Declutter your home- this is an important step in Feng Shui is to declutter your home. This is also one of the biggest tenets of home staging. Feng Shui experts believe that a cluttered home has bad energy because the flow of energy is blocked by all the clutter in the way. Once you have decluttered its important to deep clean and repair
Add Feng Shui Elements - living plants, water features and fresh air are all powerful elements to introduce into your living space.
Maximize natural light - open windows, blinds or add a mirror that reflects a beautiful view
How to Feng Shui an Entrance:
Feng Shui begins at the entrance. A good entrance will welcome and direct the flow of energy. It also represents your face to the world.
Well lit
Welcome mat
Wind chime
clear trees/bushes hiding the home
Clean porch/entrance
Front door should not open up to a wall - if it does try placing a mirror to create expansion
How to Feng Shui a Bedroom:
The bedroom and bed represents you.
Place bed in a “Command” position. Laying in bed, you should be able to see the door from your bed without being directly in line with it. This will create ease on a subconscious level.
Bed should have a solid headboard for stability and harmony
Clear out clutter from under the bed
Add grounding earth elements - square rug
Allow for space on both sides of the bed for matching or same size nightstands. About two feet of walking space around the bed is ideal
How to Feng Shui a Living room:
Create a cozy and welcoming space to encourage family and friends to connect and relax in comfort with the use of extra seating, and pillows
Avoid placing chairs and couches with the back to an entrance
Add wood elements
Slow down energy - use artwork or runners to slow guests and family down to linger here
Use sheer window coverings to allow light in
Coffee table- round is favorable
““In it’s highest and purest form, good Feng Shui signifies perfect alignment between inner and outer worlds””
How to Feng Shui a Kitchen
The kitchen represents how we nourish ourselves.
The Work Triangle - use of oven-sink-fridge allows you to use a variety of elements. Your stove should be in the “command” position as it represents wealth and resources.
Keep counters and cabinets clutter free and clean. Cabinets filled halfway appear larger.
Keep fridge clean of expired goods, and wipe down interior. This sets the intention of how you treat your body
Add wood elements to mitigate water and fire (water feeds wood and wood feeds fire) - wood between a sink and stove can create balance as water puts out fire
How to Feng Shui a bathroom
Water represents the flow of wealth and money.
Keep toilet seats and bathroom doors closed to minimize “depleting energy’ going down a drain. I like to have my shower curtain closed to avoid eye contact with the drain
Add a plant to counteract the downward energy of water, and purify the air
Make sure ample fresh air and sunlight
Add mirrors to absorb the positive and negative energy, and harmonize the environment
Avoid painting/ decorating in dark colors, rather use light blues, white, yellow and light wood tones to create a relaxed ambiance
General things to avoid:
Dusty objects and corners - this symbolizes ignored and stagnant areas in your home. Ca
Artwork, pictures and mirrors hung to low or crooked - this brings down your Chi
Dirty Windows - we need to see the world outside clearly
Under the bed storage - best to have airflow under the bed, if it cant be avoided store soft items below the bed
Blocked doors - represent your voice in the world and opportunity. Doors should be able to swing 90 degrees without hitting furniture.If doors are blocked, so is positive energy.
