Home Feng Shui Tips
Your home is your castle, a place you retreat to. Ideally, you want your home to be a place your family wants to gravitate towards. Your personal dwelling should be a peaceful spot, with an element of calm and peace.
It should be a place where loved ones feel safe and the energy is one that is welcoming and serene.
The practice of Feng Shui has been in existence for approximately 4000 years and originated in China. It translates as “wind-water”.
Feng Shui is the practice of utilizing energy to harmonize the environment and through that the inhabitants of the environment.
Whether you have access to an interior designer in Malvern or you’re simply wanting to improve your humble home, here are some simple tips to bring positive energy into your home.
Feng Shui Elements
The concept of Feng Shui starts with five simple elements.
These elements determine the various areas in your home, as well as the colors, shapes, and emotions which represent certain areas featured in what’s known as the Bagua Map.
Earth
Earth or earthing is the principle of feeling grounded and stable.
It is thought items such as earth-based colors represent this, as well as articles such as clay vases, art denoting landscapes and earth-based scenes, and salt lamps.
Care should be taken with salt lamps on wooden furniture as they can become quite watery. It is recommended that you place them on top of something durable to avoid damaging precious items.
Earth represents, health, love, and wisdom.
Wood
Keeping in with the earth concept, the next element is wood. Although many people may already have wooden items in their home, care should be taken not to have too many, as this can be disruptive energy wise.
Some healthy plants or wood paneling can assist with this.
This represents wood and family.
Metal
Metal is thought to represent knowledge, beauty, children, and self-assurance.
A way to incorporate this into your home is with the use of bookends or statues and ornaments.
Water
A swim in the ocean or sitting quietly watching the water flow over rocks in a stream can assist in calming the mind.
The element of water denotes serenity, career, and clarity, and assists in connecting with others.
Carpets, rugs, or floor coverings in cool or dark colors may help bring this element into your home, or the use of subtle blue tones.
Fire
This element conveys passion, fame, inspiration, transformation, and energy.
Candles and colors of fire, such as red and orange can bring forth this element in your room.
However, as these colors are quite bold, it is advisable to avoid using these in rooms such as the bedrooms and other areas where you prefer to bring in calmness and peace.
So, what is the Bagua Map?
When translated Bagua means eight areas and is usually shown as a three-by-three grid of nine boxes.
These areas represent particular fields in your life. They relate to matters such as children, careers, love, health, wisdom, family, fame, and helpful people.
Each matter is related to color and one of the five elements.
How does the Bagua map work?
If you draw up a grid with the above template and place it over the plan of your home, with your front door facing south, that is where the energy centers of your home are.
This map is thought to deduce what elements and materials are required to best strengthen the flow of energy in your home
First Steps
Declutter and keep your home clean.
A clean and clutter free home naturally feels more vibrant and fresher than one with clutter and dirt.
Dirt and clutter bring in and trap stagnant energy.
Remove obstacles or items that take up too much space and aren’t really used, such as oversized coffee tables and bookshelves, and desks with no real usage.
Go minimalist. Less is best with Feng Shui. It is thought that too much focus on material goods and possessions takes away from the focus of family, love, and your goals and inspirations.
Open your windows and doors often to allow fresh air to circulate through the house. This will invite fresh energy into the home and encourage unwanted scents and energy to leave.
The entry to your home
This should be welcoming and calm. It’s the introduction of your home and the first meeting point of energy when people enter.
Living/Lounge Room
This is perhaps one of the most visited or utilized rooms in your abode. It often contains the largest items of furniture, such as sofas, and cabinets for electrical equipment such as TV’s.
Ideally, your main sitting/resting spot, such as the sofa should a few inches away from a wall and facing the door.
Other seats should be in locations that promote conversation and unity, rather than facing away from each other.
If you can, avoid having your coffee table with sharp edges.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms should be solely for sleep and relaxation.
Avid putting electrical equipment such as televisions, radios, and multi media players in your bedrooms.
If you can, turn off your WIFI before going to sleep and leave your mobile phone, tablet, and iPad out of your bedroom.
Your place of slumber ideally will have both female and male elements to attract male and female energy to harmonize relationships.
For example, soft materials, such as blankets cover a bed with a hard frame such as metal.
It is best to avoid placing anything under your bed or cluttering up the wardrobe, as this again invites and traps unwanted energy and stops the positive aspects of energy from flowing through your room and home.
Bathrooms and toilets
It is best practice to keep these rooms for their intended use, rather than placing too many shelves or storage facilities in them.
Keep the areas clean and the toilet seat down to avoid having positive energy and money go down the drain.
