If you’ve ever walked into a home and thought “this place has a good feeling about it,” then there’s a good chance you’ve experienced feng shui.
Feng shui is the ancient Chinese study of the relationship between the environment and human life.
Put simply, it’s about taking control of the objects in your home to create a positive energy flow.
You’re creating balance and harmony with the principles of natural energy (“chi”) flow.
Although the philosophy has many elements to it, there are some simple steps that every home can put into practise, and we’ve outlined six here. Let the positive energy begin!
1. Clear the clutter
According to feng shui everything has energy, even objects. So the more ‘things’ you have in your home, the less room the good energy has to flow.
Get rid of everything broken, unused or unworn. Pare down to the things you really love. The energy will flow freely and you will only be surrounded by objects that are useful, have meaning, or make you happy.
Naturally messy? The book Spark Joy by Marie Kondo will help you master the art of organising and tidying up.
A minimalist home with clean lines and no clutter is a feng shui happy one.
2. Light up
Light activates energy. Allow as much natural light into your home as possible, and add lamps to brighten up dark corners.
Just remember that feng shui is all about balance, so two lamps works better than one, but don’t add so much artificial lighting that the room becomes harsh.
3. Reflect wisely
In feng shui mirrors hold a lot of power, with a magic knack of enhancing the natural light in the room and recirculating the energy.
Mirrors bring attention to what they reflect, so face them away from anything negative, such as clutter. One of the best views a mirror can reflect is greenery and nature from outside.
It’s said that a large mirror reflecting the dining table doubles the abundance and brings good fortune. Views of water bring prosperity.
Reflect all that is beautiful and positive in your home and you will attract more of it.
4. If it’s broken, fix it.
Do you have a stash of broken or chipped items that you’ve just never gotten around to fixing? Whether it’s broken photo frames, chipped plates or ripped clothing, chuck them or repair them pronto! Not only are they adding clutter to your space, but they’re obstacles to vitality.
First on the priority list is repairing front doors and windows. In feng shui, the windows are the eyes of the home and the front door is the mouth. So make sure you keep them well maintained and working well.
Place two foo dogs on either side outside the main door, as if guarding your home.
5. Add Greenery
It’s well known (not only in feng shui but in science too) that house plants purify air. They do this by absorbing gases and toxins through pores on the surface of their leaves.
It’s said that plants located SE bring wealth and money, and plants in the East direction attract health.
Spruce up the air quality in your home with our top picks – The Peace Lily, Fiddle Leaf fig and Rubber Tree.
The fiddle leaf fig purifies your home’s air while looking super-stylish.
6. Make your bedroom a sanctuary
A feng shui friendly bedroom is a calm, restful one where the energy flows harmoniously. Keep the palette neutral and make sure the bed is accessible from both sides. This is especially important if you’re single and looking to find a partner!
In feng shui pairs represent love and nurturing and so balancing the bed with a pair of matching lamps and side tables is a good idea.
A good mattress, solid headboard and high quality sheets are valued in feng shui. Most importantly, banish all technology such as the TV, laptop and iphones from the room.
A calming white palette, matching bedside lamps and tables and quality bedding make this bedroom a feng shui sanctuary.
Spacious, light and simple, this monochromatic bedroom is another example of a feng shui friendly space.