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What is Feng Shui?

Feng shui is the Chinese practice which focusses on balancing and harmonizing the energies in your home, office and life to reflect your emotional self. Aligning the energy of your environment with your own is easier than you think, take it step by step and it is believed that this will unlock the flow of energy to help you lead a more balanced life.

The Feng Shui Elements

Create balance and vibrancy in your life by consciously channelling the energies of the five feng shui elements.

1. Water
2. Metal
3. Fire
4. Wood
5. Earth

Bagau

Bagau (also called ba-gua or pakua) is the feng shui energy map, it helps you identify feng shui areas in your home and how they are connected to specific areas of your life but also is a guide on the appropriate shapes and colours for each room. The Chinese translation is “8 areas” which it is believed amount to one’s health and happiness.

The eight areas of the feng shui bagau are:

• Health & Family
• Wealth & Abundance
• Fame & Reputation
• Love & Marriage
• Creativity & Children
• Helpful People & Blessings
• Career & Path in Life
• Spiritual Growth & Cultivation

Home

When it comes to your home the “feng shui trinity” – your bedroom, bathroom and kitchen have the utmost importance for your health and well being.

1. The entry to your home should be inviting and clear of clutter. Feng shui experts concur that your whole house should be clutter free and contain only the essentials. This will help declutter your mind and allow you to focus.

 

2. Keep the garden well maintained and tidy.

3. Create “Chi” in your backyard. Use curves edges as straight lines are rarely present in nature.

4. Put away coats and shoes in your entry hallway so that energy can circulate.

5. Airflow is key to positive energy in the home. Open your windows often and use an air purifier to keep your home fresh.

6. Bring wealth into your home by placing a plant and a light either side of the front door.

7. For uplifting positive energy, place a mirror above a table with fresh flowers.

8. Choose your art carefully, as images carry strong energy. Choose images that are happy and beautiful. Avoid using images that feature lonely or solo people or items.

9. Keep your space clear of clutter. It will keep the energy in your home light and harmonious.

10. Allow as much natural light into your home as possible. During the day use candles and lamps to illuminate dark spaces which represent areas of neglect in certain aspects of your life.

Kitchen

The kitchen is believed to be a symbol of wealth and prosperity. So make sure it is a focus when it comes to looking at your homes feng shui.

11. Create clutter-free benchtops. Like most other spaces clutter is a no-go in the kitchen. Use simple storage solutions to help save space so you will have larger workspaces to utilise.

12. Herb gardens add a sense of calm and beauty to a kitchen.

13. It is bad feng shui to have the bathroom and kitchen doors facing each other. When two doors are opposite each other it is said that the energies flow faster in and out. The same goes for your front and back door.

Living Space

You probably spend the most time here so make sure you balance your feng shui here.

14. Your sofa, coffee table and entertainment units should not be dis proportionally large in your living room. All of the furniture should work in harmony. When it comes to the arrangement there is no right or wrong answer but your sofa should be pushed up against a wall

15. A mix of shapes in your living room is important. Opt for a circular coffee table with a rectangular lounge and add in other round, oval and square items to help balance out the room.

16. To encourage the flow of wealth, place a lamp in the corner of your room diagonally opposite the room’s entry.

17. In public (yang) spaces bring energy to the room through the calculated use of colour. Deep blue and eggplant are energizing colours and red is invigorating.

Dining Room

Dining rooms bring people together so keep it balanced with these simple changes. 

18. To optimise energy in the dining room place a large mirror reflecting the table as it is said to bring good fortune and abundance. Although make sure you hang it high enough so guests aren’t looking at themselves.

19. Don’t let your dining table become a place of neglect as they often become the household “dumping ground.” Clear the clutter and create an appealing environment you don’t forget about.

20. People don’t like sitting with their backs to open doorways and windows, position your dining table so people have their back to a wall. This will help them feel safe and comfortable.

21. You should always keep something on the dining table, fruit is a great choice. Apples help develop friendship, pears attract positive energy, for good health look opt for peaches and oranges symbolize richness and prosperity.

22. Crystals are a huge part of Feng Shui which is why chandeliers make a great addition. The reflective metals in the chandeliers will help the space feel calmer.

Bedroom

Liz Wiggins, a Feng Shui expert in Sydney, advises Better Homes and Gardens that the bedroom is especially important as it signifies your health and relationship.

23. When it comes to the bedroom layout “place your bed against a solid wall where you can view your main door,” says Liz.

24. Importantly, avoid placing mirrors opposite the bed. "As a couple, if you are arguing, the mirror will enhance it [the argument]. If you can move your bed to another wall or I did have one client switch her doors around as the mirror is just on the one side!"

25. Try and avoid having electricals running behind your bed, look for a battery-operated alarm clock and keeping your phone out of your bedroom is a non-negotiable.

26. If you have a painting above your bed hang it high and make it something that you love, that will elevate your mood. Think calm colours and soft shapes.

27. Keep all bedroom doors closed at night, including wardrobe doors.

28. Liz advises against clutter and storage under the bed."This is the energy you are absorbing whilst sleeping. If you have storage under the bed, make sure it is clean linen or clothes that are stored.”

29. Clear your bedroom of the TV, computer or exercise equipment. These items introduce the energy of work and stress into a space that should be relaxing and harmonious. "Of course, TV and any electrical item are not great and please don’t sleep with your phone under your pillow… it’s really not good for you."

30. Make your space warm and inviting with soft and cosy textures. Add symmetry with table lamps and matching bedside tables to create a bookended effect, then your bed will feel like a room within a room.

31. "Don’t use red in your room unless it is recommended by a qualified consultant. It is very yang and can affect your quality of sleep, or ability to actually get to sleep."

32. Don’t place plants in your bedroom unless it’s a large space, and keep them as far away from the bed as possible.

Bathroom

Bathrooms present many feng shui challenges as they store a lot of negative energy. So don’t ignore your bathroom when giving your home some feng shui.

33. Keep your bathroom clean. We’re not saying you need to squeegee your bathroom from top to bottom each day but keeping it clutter free will help your feng shui. Declutter and select the bare necessities, look for earth-friendly products and keep it orderly and neat.

34. When it comes to bathrooms the colour white and other light colours are great choices as they are fresh and body-friendly. The colour white also helps cut through confusion, slowness and delays which helps purify and cleanse. Avoid the colours blue and black (water element colours) and images of water as these will strengthen the energy you want to control.

35. To avoid draining wealth energy in the bathroom, keep toilet lids down and keep the door shut. Plants can help improve the feng shui.

Office space

Don't just stop at your home make sure you balance the feng shui of your office space or study. 

36. Always position your desk or working spaces with a view rather than a solid wall. This hinders creativity.

37. Improve the quality of air in the home or office by introducing plants, foliage and flora. Plants will improve concentration and increase positive energy and concentration, enhance positive feelings, reduce stress and innovate thinking.    

38. Crystals will break electrical waves transmitted by computers, software, phones and technical devices. Neutralise negative energy by positioning them next to water throughout the office or the home.

Crystals

39. Colour plays an important role when it comes to feng shui: gold promotes prosperity, silver represents security, and red is for wealth. Attract desired outcomes by introducing suitable colours into your space.  

40. Retain the essence of abundance by placing a small water fountain near the main entry door.