Feng Shui in the home: What is it and how can you achieve it?
The design of your home can have a major impact on your wellbeing and happiness. A space in which you feel good living in can subsequently have a positive effect on other aspects of your life. To be able to achieve this, you should try the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui.
These words translate to “wind” and “water”, two necessary elements for life. Feng Shui thus teaches us how to achieve perfect harmony with our environment and ourselves. While this may seem complicated at first glance, it couldn’t be easier.
We’ve included some of our top tips and ideas to help you decorate your space in a Feng Sui way.
Brighten up the entrance to your home
The entrance of your home, or the “mouth of qi”, is the first thing you see, therefore a positive first impression is of the utmost importance. Begin by removing any clutter from the front door as objects typically accumulate here.
Making sure the space is clean is also very important, so sweep and wipe down the area, shaking out the door mat if you have one. Also, think about ways you can make the entrance look more inviting. You could simply add some plants or hang a few photo frames. You may also wish to improve the brightness of the entryway by adding more lighting options or replacing the bulbs.
Open up the traffic flow in each room
Traffic flow refers to the ability to move around a room easily; essentially, this means removing potential obstacles that could result in blocked traffic flow and blocked chi.
As such, avoid placing any furniture near doorways, as this can prevent positive energy from properly entering your life – both literally and metaphorically. Similarly, swap out furniture with sharp edges for something rounder to allow for a smoother traffic flow.
New build homes focus on the efficient use of space, providing more opportunities for clutter-free environments due to their open-plan layouts. This is ideal for those looking to create a favourable Feng Shui environment.
Utilise the command position efficiently
The command position in Feng Shui refers to the arrangement in which a piece of furniture sits in relation to the door. Whether this is your bed, desk, or sofa, you should ideally be able to see the door without it being directly in front of you.
Generally, the best spot to place your furniture is diagonally to the door with a solid wall positioned behind you. The theory behind this comes from our natural instinct to need to see who is entering into our private space without being in a highly vulnerable position.
Include a variety of plants
There’s no better way of bonding with nature than providing a literal connection to it in in your home. Decorating with plant life is a surefire way of creating Feng Shui since they help to increase the positive energy or ‘chi’.
That being said, you can’t just choose any old plant. Green, vibrant plants are the best choice, introducing freshness and vitality. It’s also important to be able to care for these plants properly and ensure they are appropriate for the space. Some easy and effective plant types include the Chinese Money Plant, the Peace Lily, and the South African Jade Plant, however, a succulent of any kind is a safe choice.
Generally, avoid plants that are spiky or have pointed leaves as this can subconsciously leave you on edge, negatively impacting the Feng Shui of the home.
Create balance by using Feng Shui colours
It doesn’t matter if you’re furniture is positioned correctly and you’ve added foliage to a room if the colours are totally out of sync. Depending on the shade, the colour can either uplift the room or lead to an imbalanced feeling.
Generally, nature-inspired hues will promote calm, while brighter colours will raise energy levels. Any light colours should be used higher up in each room, such as on walls and ceilings. Darker colours should remain at a lower level on the floor to provide a solid foundation.
Remember, you don’t need to follow these rules exactly in order to create Feng Shui in your home. Your home should still be a reflection of you but, if you can implement these tips where possible, you should hopefully feel more relaxed and content.