Keep your style sharp and your corners rounded.
Feng Shui,(pronounced “fung schway”, and meaning “wind-water”), is the practice of harmonizing human existence with the natural environment, and provides rules and practices for maintaining the flow of positive energy in your life and home. Whether or not you believe in it, many Feng Shui rules align with common sense and practicality when either building a new home, renovating a current home, or just redecorating. Feng Shui practices rely heavily on the idea of balancing “chi”, or energy, and bringing positive chi into the home while protecting against the negative. Often people forget that our bodies basically run on energy generated by our own cells, and we know that energy is everywhere around us. Our energy is affected by our surroundings, and vice versa. Some of these rules and practices show the practicality of Feng Shui principles, even if you don’t believe in flowing currents of chi.
“Flowing currents of energy? Give me a break.”
Location, Location, Location- When choosing a piece of land on which to build a home, or even just looking for a new house, its good to keep in mind some of the Feng Shui warnings about location. Slope inclines of more than 45 degrees create negative chi. It is best to avoid living near power stations, junk yards, and cemeteries. The philosophy behind avoiding these places is that they create negative energy- and there are Feng Shui practices with mirrors and such to negate it. Avoiding these places is also practical- steep inclines are difficult to build on, while power stations emit dangerous radiation. Junk yards are messy, chaotic, and smelly, and living next to a cemetery can definitely be unsettling.
Aim for a kitchen that is bright and airy, with minimized clutter and maximized sunshine.
“Heart” of your home- The “Feng Shui Trinity” is made up of the kitchen, the bathroom, and the bedroom- this is where the energy is anchored in your home. It makes sense that these rooms would be the most important to have pleasant and de-cluttered, since you spend most of your time in them. The kitchen is where you prepare your food, which gives the energy necessary for living. Therefore, the energy of your kitchen plays a big part in pleasant and proper nutrition. If the kitchen is a welcoming and pleasant space, then it is pleasurable to spend more time there preparing good healthy food- a kitchen that is unpleasant to be in leads to quick microwave dinners, greasy takeout, and eating on the run.
Blue is the color of water, making it an obvious choice for a bathroom.
Water is one of the main elements of Feng Shui, and is a natural chi purifier. If furnished properly, a bathroom can be a place of relaxation, a space to center yourself. Also remember- make sure to fix any leaky faucets. According to Feng Shui, leaky faucets invite financial trouble, which is true since your water bill will skyrocket.
The bedroom is obviously important, as it is the more direct representation of your inner state. The more secure you feel in your bedroom, the better the foundation for the rest of your day. A good night’s sleep is extremely important for mental and physical well-being, and it is common sense to know that a calming and restful environment makes for the best sleep. The orientation of your bed subconsciously affects how safe you feel in the room- so keep the door in sight but don’t have your bed pointing directly at it. Don’t forget about passion, however- adding orange or red to your bedroom stimulates passion and energy.
No extraneous furniture either- do you really need a desk in your bedroom?
Be careful with too much purple, however- some people claim it makes them feel sick.
Colors- The effects of certain colors on your mood and attitude have been accepted as a guideline for fashion and interior design- and the same goes for Feng Shui. Certain colors create more tranquil environments, while other colors stimulate the senses, and therefore different color combinations are appropriate for different rooms. For instance, yellow is well-suited to kitchens because it is sunny, cheerful, and aids in digestion. Red is well known as the color of passion, and therefore works in many spaces- in the dining room, red increases appetite, while in the bedroom…well, you know. Note though, that sometimes fiery red may be too intense of a color for the dining room-earthen tones of honey or gold make the “earth” center of the house more inviting, so you’ll actually want to eat in there! Pink is the color of romance (with a little passion sprinkled in) and therefore is another good option for the bedroom. If you need a more tranquil space, light blues and purples create a relaxing atmosphere. Earth tones, rich browns, sandy colors, etc. promote connection to the earth, and therefore allow for a more sturdy and grounded environment. Green is the color of renewal, fresh energy, and new beginnings.
The oval shaped table promotes a circular flow of both energy and conversation.
Furniture- One theory of why Feng Shui is so effective relates back to our “reptilian brain”- the innate instincts which have remained through eons of evolution. Uncomfortable environments set off warning signals on this subconscious level, and if your home is filled with negative energy, your body and brain pick up on that. It is recommended to arrange your furniture into an “empowered” position- somewhere you can see everything that is going on (like scanning for potential predators) but are also relatively protected. If you cannot see what is going on in the room, you will never feel truly comfortable. Something else to consider- think about how often you stub your toe or bang your shins on the furniture. Your brain notices these potential threats and therefore your home is considered not a safe place to be. Anything that can resemble a weapon and set off this self-preserving instinct should be removed form plain sight. Ceiling fans and beams are included in this- they could fall and really do some damage, even though we don’t usually consciously think of it. Furniture should therefore be as far away from fans and beams as possible.
I don’t need to be an expert to see that this building has some seriously bad chi.
Environment- To really bring positive energy into your home, it needs to feel fresh and open. Opening blinds and windows allows natural light and fresh air to enter and cleanse the home (vitamin D anyone?). Keeping up with home maintenance is likened to continuously caring for yourself- fixing cracks and squeaky hinges shows attention to yourself and your home. This principle is even applied to city planning- the “broken windows” theory shows that if a building begins to look run down, with broken windows and the like, then the entire community suffers as it snowballs into further ruin. If it appears that buildings and communities are not being cared for, then potential vandals and criminals feel more secure in harming said communities. If you don’t prioritize your own living environment, how are you prioritizing your own sanity in your home? Bringing plants into your home connects you to the calming effects of nature, and contribute to more life energy, not to mention more oxygen!
Feng Shui crystals should actually be hung on 9 inches of red ribbon.
The more complicated aspects of Feng Shui address the entire orientation of your home, and are meant to align different elements with colors and therefore energies. The direction certain rooms or objects face, what different areas of your home represent and affect aspects of life, these are often mapped out with the Feng Shui Octagon. The octagon splits up different life areas and arranges them in relation to each other, also considering the colors and elements that correspond to these areas. The division of your home, following this pattern, is meant to resemble a human heart- with your health placed in top priority in the center. This and other bagua (diagrams) are the basis of the tradition. Then there are guidelines for mirror placement and cleansing crystals and oils, to reflect and move chi, and this is where most people write off Feng Shui as hokum.
Feng Shui can be much more complicated, even customized to your birth sign and the Chinese zodiac.
Some of the more mystical goals of Feng Shui are to harness the chi to bring good fortune, wealth, love, or health. It may be hard to believe that the placement of one’s furniture can have an effect on one’s financial situation or love life, but at the root of the practice, these ideas make a lot of sense. Is it not more calming to live in a harmonious and organized home? Doesn’t everyone feel better when their home is filled with fresh air and natural light? We are greatly affected by our surroundings, whether or not we realize it. If we surround ourselves with things that make us happy, then by extension be happier in general. A cluttered home leads to stress, exhaustion, and unhappiness- and living with all this negativity can affect your work, health, ability to recognize good fortune, and your personal relationships. “Healing” your home with crystals, oils or candles, or by rearranging your furniture based on an ancient Chinese art does seem a little out there, but your home does reflect your state of mind, and keeping both mind and body in a harmonious environment brings positive results in every aspect of life.
Photo Credits
Sharp Stylish Living
Feng Shui 411
About Feng Shui
Colors of Feng Shui
Feng Shui Report
Broken Windows Theory
Feng Shui Crystals
Feng Shui Your Home