Feng Shui is the practice of arranging your living spaces to create balance with the natural world. The goal is to harness energy forces and establish harmony between an individual and their environment.
When people talk about trying to make sure their home has the right balance of Qi (pronounced “chee”), they are talking about feng shui, an ancient art and science that was developed in the ninth century B.C. but is still vastly popular among interior designers and homeowners today. The literal translation of “Feng” means wind and “Shui” means water. In Chinese culture, wind and water are both associated with good health. Thus, feng shui came to mean good fortune.
Qi is the idea that land is alive and filled with energy and feng shui is the practice of harnessing that energy to achieve specific life improvements. This influence on our lives is gained by positioning or designing our surroundings in harmony with the principles of natural energy flow. We could discuss much about feng shui, but we’d rather give you some ideas on how you can use its principles immediately. Increase the energy and improve the vibes of each room by implementing a few or all of these ideas. Whether your home’s main entrance is to the left, to the right, or centered, you can use this chart as a guide and begin incorporating these elements in your decor.
Living Room
- Let the couch take command. Try to not have the back of the sofa face the living room entrance. Ideally, you want to see the sofa “greet you” as you enter the room. If placing your sofa this way isn’t an option, at least place a narrow console table behind the couch and showcase some decor like lamps, accessories, plants, or maybe a water feature.
- Incorporate plants into your decor. Plants bring in growth and vitality and are very healing. Use plants with rounded leaves like jade, golden pothos, and lucky bamboo. Steer clear of cacti and anything else sharp or pointy.
- When thinking of art or anything on the walls, stick to serene images like the beach or water. Hang these pieces an inch taller than you usually wood to draw the eye up.
- Keep clutter to a minimum and keep windows clean as both can cloud your view from the opportunities around you.
Kitchen
- Keep it clean and decluttered. A messy kitchen creates negative energy.
- Replace broken items. A kitchen is symbolized by heat, nourishment, and love. If this room is stocked with well-maintained appliances and tools, it signifies an intention to take care of yourself and your family.
- Embrace the earth with paint. The ideal feng shui paint colors here are the yellows and beiges that are associated with health and relationships.
- If possible, hang a mirror behind your stove. This opens up the cooking area and brings in positive energy. It also acts as a fix for a bad kitchen layout that keeps your back to the door.
- Avoid empty space above your cabinets. If you can’t extend to the ceiling, fill the space with plants or other decor to prevent negative energy from gathering.
- If you don’t have stainless steel appliances, incorporate metal with bowls, spice racks, and candle holders.
- A wood element in your kitchen is said to strengthen family bonds and attract prosperity. Wood cutting boards, tables, and chairs all harness the positive energy of wood.
- Store knives out of sight, so keep them in drawers instead of a butcher block on the countertop.
Main Bedroom Suite
- Opt for a wood headboard for your bed as the element of wood relates to the symbolic nature of supporting your body and energy when sleeping.
- Unplug. Electromagnetic field appliances can interfere with your circadian rhythm during sleep.
- Place your bed against a solid wall but not directly in line with the door. Just make sure you can see the door from the bed.
- Decorate in pairs. Two nightstands, one on each side of the bed, symbolize balance and equality.
- If you have to have a mirror in your bedroom, make sure it doesn’t face the bed directly. It should face an outside window which will help pull more daylight into the room.
- Use earth tones. Ivory, peach, coral, soft blues, pale greens and chocolate tones are soothing and tranquil.
- If you must have a television in your bedroom, find a way to cover it when it’s not in use. Use a towel or a blanket or store you TV in a media cabinet or armoire.
Bathroom
- Conserve water by taking shorter showers, repairing leaks, and installing water-saving devices.
- Keep the toilet seat closed when not in use. In addition to reducing the humidity and moisture that will keep mold and mildew at a minimum, it will also prevent any positive energy from flushing away.
- Keep the bathroom door closed. It will minimize the possibility of good Qi flowing away from you.
- Add a living green houseplant. It will transform the downward energy of water into vital life energy.
- Declutter your products. Go through them regularly and toss anything that has outlived its shelf life. Even if you’re not using it, if it’s expired, it’s affecting your energy.
- Replace your towels with sustainable, organic, and non-toxic fabrics. Your skin absorbs the energetics of the materials you put on it.
For all of the latest information on our local real estate market in Southwestern Indiana, you can always trust the professionals at F.C. Tucker Emge. Our agents have superior training and resources at their disposal so they can better educate you about the road to homeownership. Even if you are 6-12 months (or more!) out from making a change, there is a lot to learn about the home buying and selling process, and our agents can help you learn what you need to know so that you can be confident in your decision and have a smooth experience when the time comes. Let’s Talk!
