decorating and design rules for a luck-filled and feng shui household

“feng shui” isn’t a foreign term to any of us. okay, it’s technically a foreign term to (almost) all of us, but we’re familiar with the extremely pared-down principle of feng, which is the arrangement of furniture for optimal energy in the home.

feng shui is a thousands-year-old-art that can hardly be addressed in one post, so let’s consider this a beginner’s guide (with some added tips for good luck!). we’ll explore a few of the key elements that will have you increasing your space’s qi and decreasing the bad luck, stat! with quarantine in full-force, a little furniture rearranging can have your work-from-home productivity times over! right now, everyone needs a little hint of good luck. so, grab a glass of wine and give it a shot. why not?!

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first of all, what is feng shui?

literally translated, feng shui is a chinese term meaning “wind (feng) and water (shui).” a feng shui home will increase your productivity, safety, and overall wellbeing by allowing the qi, or energy, flow freely through the home.

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feng shui concept: bedroom mirrors

though trendy, mirrors in your bedroom are thought to bounce energy around your bedroom, which increases worry and restlessness throughout the night. especially when hung directly across or over your bed, mirrors are thought to encourage infidelity if the room is shared with a partner by introducing a 2nd couple’s energy into the room.

to make for a better night’s sleep (and discourage and infidelity, helllllo), nix those mirrors.

if you’re attached to the vanity in your room or your beautiful floor mirror, though not best feng practice, it’s okay to keep them in the bedroom so long as you cannot see you or your partner’s reflection whilst sleeping.

bad feng design (albeit beautiful):

luck note: coral!

if the removal of your mirrors makes your room feel a little empty, try to find a coral wallhanging (a photograph or painting will suffice, but physical coral is ideal) to put in the mirror’s place. coral in both color and physical nature is thought to prevent insanity, alleviate depression, ward off nightmares, and bring good luck to a space. we’d prefer that to the relationship woes of a second couple any day!

a few of our picks:

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feng shui concept: mouth of qi

one of the most important areas of the home is the entryway, as this is “mouth of the qi.” this is where all of your home’s energy both enters and exits.

to maximize the quality of your qi, light your entry with as much natural light as possible, adding additional lighting as necessary to make it one of the brightest rooms in the home.

your home’s energy will set the tone for the entire household. ensure that the entry is clean, decluttered, and organized to set the atmosphere for the rest of your home!

pro tip: to easily add a burst of brightness, utilize bright and light colors on the walls. mirrors are ideal decor for the entry, as the reflection will add an extra layer of depth and reflection. try to find one that doesn’t have too much of a statement frame, as you want this area to be as calm as possible.

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feng shui concept: the stove

the stove is one of the three most important areas of the home. with the stove’s fire comes the chi directly related to prosperity, wellness, and wealth.

since the stove is representative of fire, it should never be placed in line or across from a sink, as fire clashing with water will cause restrictions in career advancement and lead to martial issues. additionally, if you have any say in its placement, place the stove against a wall – not in an island! – and out of view from the door. bad luck, family tiffs, and instability lay ahead if placed otherwise!

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feng shui in the office

the office is considered to be the point of wealth and power in the feng shui world, and one of the most important rooms in the home (wealth, power; makes sense).

one of the most important principles of feng shui is “commanding placement.” this principle reflects the prominence of the fixture in it’s room and its hierarchy relative to its surroundings. in the bedroom, commanding placement of the bed is critical to achieving a successful qi.

a key feng shui concept is the “commanding position.” to maximize your office’s qi, you’ll need to place your desk in this commanding position. you are the boss, after all! the commanding position is the area where you have the most power and control of the qi. the desk should be in front of a wall (not a door), and have no less than 3’ behind it. there should be complete symmetry in the room and items should be placed in twos – with the exception of the desk and chair. ideally, add a rug to keep you grounded.

additionally, make sure your chair has a back, as to support you through your endeavors.

your office’s decor should be minimal yet meaningful; the more clutter, the less room for growth!

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feng shui concept 5: open floorplans

the more open of a floor plan you have, the easier the qi can flow through your home. maybe there is something to that open floor plan trend!

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luck note: fireplace tools

always place fireplace tools on the right side of the hearth. for an added bit of luck to your household, it’s an extremely easy swap to make! (we can take all the luck we can get).

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feng shui concept: bed placement

one of the most important principles of feng shui is commanding placement. this principle reflects the prominence of a fixture in it’s room and its hierarchy relative to its surroundings. the bed is a critical piece of furniture that needs to be placed in a commanding position to achieve a healthy qi.

your ultimate goal in commanding placement of the bed is to have a view of the entire room, without being directly in line with any of the entryways. the bed must be strategically placed so it is in view of the entry, though not looking directly across from it. if you have slatted floors or ceilings, place the bed running parallel with the direction of the slats – not against – as to ensure your luck-lines don’t cross.

as to not have your luck and energy “fly out the window,” place your bed against a wall, with your head resting far from a window. if this is inevitable, cover the windows with heavy drapes.

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feng shui concept: (bedroom) symmetry

symmetry is critical when creating a perfect feng shui home. when possible, pair items in twos, as this creates a sense of balance, abundance, stability and protection, especially in a bedroom shared with a partner.

when considering your bedroom’s symmetry, ensure both sides have even spacing, as having one side crammed closer to the wall will make that person feel trapped in the relationship while the other has more freedom.

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feng shui concept: house plants

since plants bring such positive vibes and clean the air, it only makes sense that they would increase the feng of any room – so long as they follow strategic placement laws of feng.

this is true for most rooms of the home: the kitchen, the office, the entry; but what about the bedroom?

traditional feng shui “law” argues that since plants are living and breathing beings, they provide an energy that counteracts the calm energy required for rest and relaxation needed in the bedroom. with this being the case, no living greenery should be allowed.

those that practice modern / western feng shui push for the opposite however, believing that plants provide clean air and peaceful vibes that help promote healthy sleep.

unfortunately, the jury is out on plants in the bedroom. we’re big plant people, personally, but what do you think?

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though we love the anecdotal nature of feng shui and absolutely believe in its power (absolutely believe I turned my house upside down!), don’t forget that you don’t need a huge, beautiful home to ground yourself and increase your calm. taking a few minutes a day, or even a few seconds just to breathe will increase your wellbeing and productivity just as much as any bed realignment will!

have you ever tried to feng shui your home and have you had any luck? do you have any tips or tricks for lucky living? let us know in the comments!

x – mk