Essential Feng Shui Guidelines to Consider Before Planning Your Home Design
In the quest for a more harmonious living space, many are turning to the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui. This 5000-year-old tradition, which translates to "Wind" and "Water" and central to the concept is "chi", or energy, offers a practical approach to creating a balanced home with a positive flow of energy.
At its core, Feng Shui is about intentional choices with furniture placement and understanding the natural elements. According to Suzanne, metal is a powerful problem solver in Feng Shui, cutting through stuck energy, but used inappropriately can create stress and insecurity. Metal is associated with authority, justice, loyalty, focus, and clarity, and is represented by metallic colors like grey, white, and pastels. It is strengthened by earth and reduced or destroyed by water and fire.
Fire, on the other hand, is the only element that is activated by color alone in Feng Shui. Reds, hot pinks, warm orange, burgundy, and claret are all fire colors. They will increase the energy and vibrancy around you when used correctly, but have the opposite effect in the wrong place or when too much is used - leading to burnout and hot tempers. Water is represented by blue, black, and indigo and is linked to the kidneys. It is strengthened by metal and reduced or destroyed by wood and earth.
Wood in Feng Shui signifies vitality, growth, benevolence, and education, and is represented by the color green and dark browns. It can be strengthened by water, reduced by fire, and destroyed by metal. Each element also has associated shades that can be used to decide on the right Feng Shui living room colors or bedroom hues for decorating.
The command position in Feng Shui refers to the position of a bed or a desk, with the occupant able to see the door of the room and have a strong wall at their back. Feng Shui mirror placement is important, as don't having a mirror directly facing the front door can bounce positive energy straight back out, and if you can see the back windows or door of your home in a straight line from the entrance, you may find energy is racing through and you're missing out on positive energy.
To reap the full benefits of Feng Shui, it is recommended to get expert advice from an accredited practitioner and book a video walkabout of your home so they can give immediate advice. Laili, after nearly two decades of working in interior design, discovered and implemented Feng Shui into her own life and is now a certified Feng Shui practitioner and a member of the International Feng Shui Guild, working as a consultant to help others apply the practice to their own homes.
The Bagua Feng Shui map separates the home into nine different areas based upon different compass points, each representing a different aspect of life. The main Feng Shui practices for home interior design focus on creating balanced, harmonious energy flow (Chi) and supporting the purpose of each room with mindful arrangement and decor.
Arrange furniture to support comfort and social interaction. For example, in the living room, position sofas and chairs so people can see and talk to each other easily, often around a focal point like a table or artwork. In the bedroom, promote calm and rest by keeping it Yin energy: avoid work-related items, keep stimulation low, and place the bed diagonally across from the door, avoiding alignment directly with the door or under windows, as this disrupts restful energy.
Tidy your home and remove clutter as clutter blocks the smooth flow of energy (Chi). Avoid "poison arrows" where sharp corners of furniture point at you; this creates negative energy. Use colors mindfully according to the room’s energy needs: fiery colors (red, orange, yellow) bring energy and transformation, suitable for kitchens and dining rooms; softer colors for bedrooms promote relaxation.
Incorporate plants and natural elements to boost life energy. Do not align doors and windows directly opposite each other, avoid broken windows, and prevent bed placement in the "coffin position" (feet facing door). Electronics and televisions represent the fire element and should be tamed or balanced to avoid overly stimulating the space.
Trust your intuition in arranging your space; Feng Shui is not rigid but about what makes you feel settled and comfortable at home. A messy or cluttered home will always be bad for Feng Shui, and holding onto damaged or broken items will only lead to more of the same.
By following these principles, you can create a home interior that feels balanced, inviting, and harmonized with nature and your personal energy. Feng Shui has even more relevance in our current age, as our homes and workspaces have a newfound and outsized impact on our well-being.
- In the living room, arrange furniture to support comfort and social interaction, such as positioning sofas and chairs so people can see and talk to each other easily, often around a focal point like a table or artwork.
- For a more harmonious living space, consider the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui, which offers a practical approach to creating a balanced home with a positive flow of energy, through intentional choices with furniture placement and understanding the natural elements.
- Incorporate plants and natural elements to boost life energy, while ensuring that furniture placement avoids sharp corners pointing at you (avoid "poison arrows") and that colors are mindfully selected according to the room’s energy needs, such as fiery colors for kitchens and dining rooms, and softer colors for bedrooms to promote relaxation.
- To promote calm and rest in the bedroom, keep it Yin energy by avoiding work-related items, keeping stimulation low, and placing the bed diagonally across from the door, avoiding alignment directly with the door or under windows, as this disrupts restful energy.
- Each element in Feng Shui represents different aspects of life; for instance, wood signifies vitality, growth, benevolence, and education, and is associated with green and dark browns, which can be strengthened by water, reduced by fire, and destroyed by metal.
