Feng Shui, meaning “wind” and “water”, originates from ancient Chinese philosophy, primarily Taoism, and dates back thousands of years. It is rooted in the idea that everything around us influences our health, prosperity, relationships, and overall happiness.
Initially used to harmonise spaces like burial sites with nature’s energy (qi), Feng Shui evolved to influence homes, architecture, and urban planning. Its core idea is that balancing energy flow in a space promotes health, harmony, and prosperity.
When applied to homes, Feng Shui uses specific design principles – such as layout, colour, and material choices – to balance the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water). Each element and arrangement holds symbolic significance, aiming to attract benefits like wealth, health, or happiness. Globally, Feng Shui remains a popular approach in interior design for creating harmonious, welcoming, and balanced living environments, directly influencing the well-being and quality of life of those living in the space.
Understanding the Principles of Feng Shui:
1. Chi:
Chi represents the natural energy or life force that flows through everything. In Feng Shui, promoting good chi flow through a space is essential to support mental clarity, emotional health, and overall harmony.
2. Yin and Yang Balance:
The concept of yin and yang relates to balancing passive (yin) and active (yang) energises to create harmony. Yin embodies soft, quiet, and restful energy, while yang is lively, vibrant, and bright. Focus on yin energy with soft colours, and dim and warm lighting, with cosy textures to promote restfulness in rooms of rest, while in social areas like the kitchen or living room, introduce more yang energy through lively colours, lighting, and vibrant décor.
3. The Bagua Map
The Bagua Map is a Feng Shui tool used to map energy areas in a space. It divides a home or room into nine sections, each representing an aspect of life: wealth, fame, relationships, family, health, creativity, knowledge, career, and helpful people. Understanding the Bagua Map helps you position furniture and décor to support each life area. For example, the far left area of the map (wealth) could include elements that symbolise abundance, like green plants.
4. Natural Light and Ventilation
Natural light and fresh air symbolise yang energy, and are critical in Feng Shui for replenishing chi and promoting vibrant energy. Bright, airy rooms foster productivity and positivity, whereas dark, closed-off spaces can harbour stagnant energy. Maximise natural light by using sheer curtains, keeping windows clean, and regularly opening them to let in fresh air. Mirrors can also amplify light by reflecting it throughout the room. Consider adding lamps in dim areas to balance yin and yang to ensure a bright, energetic atmosphere.
5. Placement of Key Furniture in the Command Position
The Command Position is an essential Feng Shui concept, and is about feeling secure in key areas like the bedroom, office, or living room. Key pieces of furniture, like beds, desks, and couches should be positioned to allow a clear view of the main door without being directly in line with it.
6. Fix All Broken Items
Broken or malfunctioning items are thought to create “stagnant” energy, affecting your mental and emotional well-being. Repair or replace items like leaky faucets, broken lights, or creaky doors. Keeping everything in working order symbolises stability and prosperity.
7. Know Your Colours
Colours in Feng Shui correspond to the five elements and evoke specific energies: red for fire (passion), green for wood (growth), yellow for earth (stability), blue for water (calm), and white or grey for metal (clarity). Use colour strategically based on the room’s purpose. For example, blue or green tones in a bedroom foster relaxation, while red accents in a workspace promote motivation and productivity.
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Get to Know the Key Elements of Feng Shui:
1. Wood
Symbolises: Growth, vitality, and creativity
Wood is associated with nature, bringing a sense of calm, warmth, and connection to the outdoors.
How to Use:
· Use natural wood furniture in your home to encourage creativity and personal growth
· Add plants to spaces, particularly the entrance and corners, as plants symbolise vibrant, growing energy, and they also improve air quality - which positively affects energy flow
2. Fire
Symbolises: Passion, energy, life force, joy, and transformation
The fire element brings warmth, dynamism, and motivation to any space, and proper use can enhance social bonds and inspire action.
How to Use:
· Introduce the colour red, candles, or artwork in areas where you’d like to inspire passion and enthusiasm, like the dining room or workspace
· Install lighting that is warm and inviting, avoiding harsh lights, and place lights in pairs to bring balance to relationships
3. Earth
Symbolises: Stability, grounding, and support
This element enhances balance, calm, and rootedness, providing a strong foundation for positive energy, and is ideal in rooms where family members gather and can help create stronger, more harmonious relationships.
How to Use:
· Use earthy colours like beige, sand, and warm tones in bedrooms or living spaces to create grounding
· Incorporate ceramics, stones, or clay décor, such as a terracotta vase or stone sculptures, to introduce natural stability
4. Metal
Symbolises: Clarity, focus, and precision
Metal brings a sense of structure, organisation, productivity, and clear thinking.
How to Use:
· Add metal accents such as brass frames, stainless steel finishes, or metallic sculptures, especially in workspaces or home offices
· Choose rounded shapes for metal décor, like circular mirrors or metal bowls, which are said to attract clarity and minimise distractions
5. Water
Symbolises: Reflection, calm, and abundance
Water is associated with wealth, wisdom, and a flow of opportunities, bringing a relaxing, quality to spaces, and can allow energy and prosperity to flow through your space.
How to Use:
· Introduce mirrors, fountains, or glass decorations to areas near entryways or common rooms to enhance wealth and opportunity
· Use deep colours like navy, black, or dark blue to represent water in offices or lounges
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Practical Feng Shui Tips for Each Room:
Living Room:
Ensure an open layout for optimal energy flow. Place seating facing the door, but not directly in line with it to allow a welcoming but protected flow of energy.
Bedroom:
Position the bed with a solid wall behind it, ideally not directly facing the door, for stability and security.
Use earth tones to bring calm and grounding energy, especially important for rest.
Avoid storing items under the bed, as it is best to have energy flowing around you as you sleep.
Bathroom:
Because bathrooms have a lot of drains, bathrooms can be a source of downward and depleting energy.
To minimise this, keep the door and toilet seat closed as much as possible. As water represents wealth and money, this can help prevent money from flowing away from you.
Kitchen:
Place stoves and sinks to avoid direct opposition, as fire and water should be balanced, but not in conflict.
Declutter countertops, as an organised, uncluttered kitchen enhances clarity and focus in daily tasks.
Home Office:
Position the desk facing the door, but not directly in line with it, giving a sense of command and control.
Add metal and wood accents, as metal supports focus and wood fosters growth and creativity.
Entryway:
The entryway is known as the “mouth of chi”, so a tidy, open entryway allows the best flow of energy into the home, invites good fortune, and protects from negative energy. Clutter is believed to disrupt energy flow, creating stress, distraction, and stagnation. Keep the home entryway bright and welcoming, by using mirrors, plants, or a small water feature, if the space allows. Consider storage solutions to keep spaces open and orderly, and add a small mat or welcoming décor to symbolise warmth and openness.
In summary, Feng Shui offers a mindful approach to interior design that combines aesthetic appeal with an intentional focus on the well-being of the people who live there. By promoting positivity, reducing stress, and creating a supportive environment, Feng Shui can turn any home into a true sanctuary for the people in it.
