Are you in a funk? Not the 60s music kind of funk, but the kind of funk where you feel stuck in a routine or out of luck. Maybe you’ve been working in the same crowded office space for years and it’s impacting your mood and energy. Or maybe you’re just tired of your apartment and want to create a positive atmosphere so wellness can come into your life. Either way, feng shui is a great way to set yourself up for success. Feng shui is more than just rearranging furniture, it’s all about using light, color, and space to channel good energy.
Don’t worry — you don’t have to call in an expert consultant to get the benefits of feng shui in your favorite spaces. You can do it on your own once you learn the basics of this “Chinese art of placement.”[1] We’ll walk you through the most important takeaways of feng shui principles, and share some tips on how you can implement feng shui in your most inhabited spaces to invite opportunity and positivity into your life.
What is Feng Shui?
If you aren’t familiar with feng shui, let’s explore what it is and why it can be a life-changing tool. The origins of feng shui can be traced back thousands of years. While it is connected to various religious beliefs, like Taoism and Buddhism, it can certainly be used by everyone.[2] Feng shui focuses on the order and harmony of spaces as a way to open and promote energy flow (also known as “qi” or “chi”). This means that the type of furniture and arrangement of such elements within a space is important in promoting positive energy.
Fun Fact: Feng shui was so prevalent in ancient Chinese culture, they structured government buildings, palaces, and even entire cities after this system.
3 Basic Feng Shui Principles
While feng shui is something anyone can do, it’s important to do it consciously if you want to really see results. That means understanding the deeper reasons for using certain positionings, colors, and light arrangements in spaces. Here are some basic principles of feng shui:
1. Encourage “chi”
Chi just translates to “energy flow”. In all your spaces, you want the chi to flow through with ease, not to simply rush past your home or even get stuck and turn into bad energy. To attract positive chi, it starts from outside your front door.
If you have a yard, you should also utilize that space to set the tone for what enters and exits. And because chi goes through all doorways and windows, you can’t ignore some rooms or spaces in comparison to others. Your garage and closet are just as important to chi as your living room and kitchen.
Tip: If you’re working with a small space, use mirrors and crystals to combat structural shortcomings. Placing a mirror or crystal in the right place can combat the unavoidable clutter you might have from a tiny room and bring chi back into the area.
2. Know the five elements
Basically, all of feng shui depends on the five elements — fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. All the elements are needed to create balance. Each element correlates to certain feng shui colors, object shapes, and attributes. Using representations of all the elements in the optimal areas is what will make chi flow properly.
3. Follow a “Bagua” map
In order to pick the best place for the five-element improvements or “cures”, try using a Bagua map. This is basically a chart of nine areas to help you arrange the placement of items in your home.
It can even help you arrange the order of the rooms as well if you’re moving somewhere new — for example, where to have the living room and working room etc. The more modern Bagua maps are just nine squares that you can place directly over your home/room floor plan. Then just fill in the spaces accordingly to what attributes go in what area.
Why Should I Try Feng Shui?
The consistent popularity of feng shui over the centuries makes sense. People have been reaping the benefits of this art form for quite some time — and it might be time for you to get in on the action! Feng shui is not only a way to make your home or office feel more aligned, but it’s also believed to impact the more emotional and goal-oriented aspects of your life as well. Here’s why it’s worth trying out:
- Influences and enhances your social life
- Brings you love when single, or more passion when in a long-term relationship
- Encourages wealth and prosperity for your entire family
- Increases productivity or energy levels
- Improves your mental and physical health
Feng Shui Bedroom Tips
The bedroom is one of the most important rooms for feng shui because it’s where you spend most of your time — even if that time is spent sleeping. Your bedroom is a place for rejuvenation, romance, and rest. Here are the best ways to transform your sleeping quarters into a feng shui bedroom that will support chi flow and opportunity.
Clear your doorway
In the early morning hours, we’re all guilty of throwing our PJ’s and blankets on the floor as we rush out the bedroom door to eat breakfast and race to work.
Heck, some of us even use the back of our door as a closet for hanging coats or shoes. But that’s not the best way to encourage airflow and openness. Feng shui uses doorways as one of the most sacred passages for energy. Therefore, it’s important you can open your door at least 90 degrees with nothing getting in the way, and have a clear space to walk into once it is open.
Pay attention to bed placement
Okay yes, sometimes it feels impossible not to smoosh your bed into the corner of the room if you’re tight with space. However, this could be what stumps your love life up because you’re blocking the passage for a lover to come in bed with you. You should place your bed away from the side walls and leave walking space on either side. This will promote the best chi and show the world you are ready to let love into your life.
Use neutral colors and artwork
Use light, earthy tones for your bedroom walls and artwork. Even furnishings should not be bold and instead, stay more along the lines of peach, cream, or deep brown colors.
The art you choose should have a positive message or allude to nature. Basically, simplicity is key for the bedroom atmosphere.
Feng Shui Living Room Tips
Living room feng shui is developed on the idea that this room entertains guests and is a meeting place for ideas and growth. To have the best living room feng shui, take note of the tips below.
Make sure there’s good air-flow and light
As you can imagine, you want your living room to be brighter than in your bedroom. Because this space is for bringing people together, it’s important chi can flow in and out often and freely. The more windows the better, as it will allow light and air to come into your home.
Sofa placement is key
There are a few main rules to keep in mind for sofa placement. First, your sofa shouldn’t face the door, as this can be an abrupt sight for those entering.
Also, you should avoid having a large walkway behind your sofa as this inhibits relaxation in the room. You should, however, place a large end table behind the sofa, or a bold art piece on the wall above the sofa to make it the focal point in the room.
Use plants to encourage wealth
Feng shui teachings say that large, potted plants in the living room can promote wealth in the family. Plants also clean the air and promote relaxation and connection to the earth. Having a living room with at least one larger plant can help the motives of the room stay pure.
Tip: Air-purifying plants, such as fern plants, are ideal to use for feng shui. On the other hand, spiky and rigid looking plants, like cacti, are best avoided in feng shui because their shape can be off-putting.
Feng Shui Office Tips
Besides the bedroom, you might spend most of your time in your office. Whether you like your job or not, feng shui can help encourage a positive outlook at work to promote productivity and creativity. Utilizing the principles of a feng shui office can turn your workspace into a place of balance for you.
Position your desk facing the door if possible
If you can’t tell by now, the positioning of the focal point of each room is crucial for feng shui. In the office, that focal point is your desk.
You want to have your desk facing the door, as viewing the door either directly or from the side is important for serenity. Additionally, try to have no sharp corners or objects pointing to your workspace. Angle side tables away from you so that your desk is surrounded by softness.
Set aside a safe space for breaks
If you have room to work with, set up a floor cushion in your office for meditation breaks, or if that’s not your thing, for rest breaks on your phone. It’s never good to stay in the same chair for the entire day staring at a computer screen. So make a comfortable area for 10-minute breaks every hour or so.
Utilize feng shui “cures”
Feng shui cures are objects made up of the five elements of feng shui that can spruce up your space. They’re known as cures or “adjustments” because they are used to alter the chi of a space according to what’s missing or requiring extra attention. Maybe it’s a mini water fountain, a fish tank, crystals, or a house plant. These can all help encourage the flow of positive energy.
Conclusion
Between all the bustle
of the outside world, do yourself a favor and make your favorite spaces work
for you, not the other way around. Using feng shui will enable you to unleash
the hidden potential that you didn’t even know you had closed yourself off from
before. So take control of your life and get on your feng shui today!
