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In an early scene of the movie, “The Other Woman,” Leslie Mann’s character, Kate, comedically starts sobbing while defending Feng Shui. Through her tears, she wails, “Feng Shui is so good ‘cause it’s important to know where to place things in order to make yourself feel better.” While her tears might not have come from an everlasting love of decorating (they most likely had something to do with the cheating husband and emotional overwhelm), she was right. This is how Feng Shui works, and it is the perfect intersection of wellness and design.
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art, and there’s evidence it has been practiced for over 4000 years. It is a system of rules applying to spatial arrangement, and the goal is to increase positive qi (pronounced chi), or positive life energy. We can see this in the literal translation of the phrase, which is, “wind and water.” These elements are important in Chinese culture because they symbolize good health and luck.
The Chinese believe everything in the universe has qi, both positive and negative. Through the balance of yin and yang, which are opposing forces of the universe working together to create spiritual and energetic harmony (yin is negative and feminine, while yang is positive and masculine), you can increase positive qi in your life. In the practice of Feng Shui, people have learned to balance yin and yang through various combinations of what the Chinese call the five elements: water, fire, earth, metal, and wood. These elements contain qi and by using them correctly in a space you are designing, you can increase the overall positive energy.
Although scientific evidence showing these practices actually work has yet to be found, the appeal of this way of design is undeniable. Thousands of years of anecdotal evidence tells us organizing your life according to Feng Shui principles can potentially have great benefits, including better relationships, health, and luck. Enter the world of career Feng Shui masters, people who have dedicated their lives to learning everything to know about this ancient art, including going to specialized schools to study. You can hire them to apply their expertise and help you in whatever space you are designing. Intriguing, isn’t it?
The question arises: How can you apply Feng Shui principles to your home?
Start by getting rid of clutter to allow for better flow of energy. Qi is blocked when you have unnecessary objects in a space. On this note, creating an open floor plan is another way to keep life energy flowing in your home. Simply make sure there is enough room to move around. In rooms where connection with others is the goal (dining room, living room, etc.), make sure seating arrangements are done in such a way so people are facing each other, can make eye contact, and communicate easily.
Keep as much technology out of your home as possible. This is because technology can block qi, and prevent energy flow in a room. It is specifically not a good idea to have technology, such as a television or phone, in your bedroom. Experts claim that if you must, you should keep it in a cabinet with doors, so you can close it when the T.V. isn’t in use. Or, find ways to hide it while matching your decor, like this folding panel painting, featured in House Beautiful, that slides out of the way to reveal the T.V. There are many ways you can have fun with this and get creative.
When you’re decorating a room, make sure to choose colors matching your desired energy. If you have a room meant for high energy activities, like a living room where people will gather, use bright colors to make you feel energized. On the other hand, if a room is supposed to be more peaceful and calm, like your bedroom, use softer colors and pastels.
Experiment with combinations of the five elements in your home, to find the perfect balance of yin and yang. Again, the five elements are wood, fire, earth, water, and metal. Each is connected with specific life benefits, which you can see on the image of the Bagua Map below. Test different uses of the elements to see how they impact the energy in your home and within you. Using the five elements correctly is an important principle in the practice of Feng Shui.
If you’re interested in using a traditional tool to help you in designing your home, try a Bagua Map. This is an octagonal energy map meant to show you how qi flows in your space. It can help you know how to adjust things in a room or building to correct energy imbalances and increase flow of qi.
Add plants to the space you are designing. Plants contain lots of life energy, and can immediately cause a shift when you bring them into a room. Outside of Feng Shui practices, being around plants is known to decrease anxiety and stress, and they are also generally beautiful. Why not use them?
Using mirrors while practicing Feng Shui can be tricky. Mirrors can reflect energy, creating energetic chaos. They can also bring negative energy into a space, depending on what they are facing and reflecting. This being said, if you want to use mirrors in a room, make sure they are not facing windows or objects/images whose energies bring you down, because this energy will reflect all over the room. It is also recommended to not use mirrors in bedrooms. If you do, make sure they aren’t facing your bed so the energy isn’t bouncing all around you while you’re trying to rest.
Find the commanding position in every room. This is where you feel most empowered, and where you are able to be in the state you want to be, energetically speaking. In your bedroom, place your bed in the spot where when you sleep, you will feel the most at peace and be able to sleep best. In your office, put your desk in the place where you will be the most concentrated and therefore productive. Essentially, make sure you’re choosing to arrange furniture/objects in a way that best works for your energy. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Fix anything broken. Broken things contain negative energy, which, according to Feng Shui principles, is necessary to decrease or remove. Fixing things in your space as soon as possible ensures you keep positive qi around you.
These are only a few ways you can use Feng Shui in your home. Many more exist. To put it simply, the overarching theme I found in my research of the practice is if you are making design choices to compliment your energy and make you feel good, you are practicing this art. After all, the desired outcome is that you feel good and act on those good feelings so abundance will enter your life. I recommend you do whatever will give you this result.
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