Designing a tranquil place requires balance, a sense of ease, and a place that makes you feel good the moment you walk in the door. A popular way many designers are approaching this idea is by implementing the principles of Feng Shui, which is the art of understanding the effects of how we position ourselves and objects in space in our daily lives. Directly translated, Feng means “wind” and Shui means “water,” which in Chinese culture symbolizes good health. Utilizing Feng Shui in your interior design can help bring balance and harmony to your living space, along with good fortune in the form of better health, a successful career, a fulfilling love life, and many other sectors.
One of the most important principles in Feng Shui is maintaining Chi. In Chinese culture, Chi, or energy, is a free-flowing force around us that can grow with our surroundings. By applying the principles of Feng Shui, we can use this energy to create balance and harmonize any given area in your home, office, garden, bedroom, etc. You want to keep your Chi constantly moving about your environment so it doesn’t get stuck or leave.
1. Focus on the Feng Shui Trinity
The feel of the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen is essential in Feng Shui, as they are considered the “trinity” where energy thrives. Maintaining a Feng Shui design in these areas will create positive energy throughout your interior.
2. Invest in a Fountain
In Feng Shui, water represents wealth, which makes for good reason to include it in your design. To comply with the Feng Shui principles, place your fountain near the entry of your home either inside or outside. Ensure the water is flowing towards the center of your home no matter where you put it, which symbolizes that wealth has the opportunity to flow into your life.
3. Place Your Plants Above Your Kitchen Cabinets
In Feng Shui, you don’t want space between the ceiling and your upper cabinets. The reason being is that the Chi can get stuck there, encouraging dead energy, which can hold you back in life. If there is space, you can encourage the Chi to continue flowing freely by placing plants in this area. Bringing life to this space transforms the energy!
4. Put Your Bed In The Power Position
The ideal place for your bed to sit is in the furthest corner of the room, diagonal from the door. You want to be able to see the door while you are lying down. When this isn’t possible, place a mirror in your room that allows you to see the door while you are in bed.
5. Maintain A Clear Entryway
The front door of your home is where your Chi enters. You want to let it effortlessly move into your home by keeping clutter to a minimum around this area.
6. Furnish Your Hallways With Bookcases
A bookcase with books in it allows Chi to touch the texts, which encourages learning.
7. Keep The Bathroom Door Closed
Because water means wealth, an area such as the bathroom where water leaves the property is thought to encourage money from “draining” out of the homeowner’s pockets. Keep the bathroom door closed, or at least keep the toilet lid down and cover your open drains.
8. Invest In Bedroom Plants
Invest in three plants to put into your bedroom. Adding greenery to your sleeping area will improve the romance in your life.
9. Consider Where Your Desk Is Placed
Using the same idea as bed placement, your desk should face the door from the opposite corner of the room. If you can’t do this, place a mirror that allows you to see who is coming through the door. This encourages new opportunities in your life.
10. Allow An Abundance of Natural Life to Flow Throughout
Keep your curtains and windows open whenever possible. Natural light and fresh air encourage good Chi. When paired with plants, this offers a way to clear the air for the Chi to move about.