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Decorate With Intention: A Crash Course in Feng Shui
Designing according to ancient principles may do more than put your home in balance — it may enhance your life
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
Whether you are hoping to implement a few feng shui techniques to improve the flow of your home, or are thinking of hiring a feng shui consultant to give your home a complete energy makeover, learning more about this ancient art is sure to enhance your life at home. Join us and discover some of the principles at work behind feng shui, along with solutions to common design problems that may be affecting your life.
At its heart, feng shui is about the concept of chi — a life force or energy flow — in your home. Just as in Traditional Chinese Medicine chi is said to flow through the body, in feng shui chi is thought to flow through our homes. The nuances of feng shui practice are based on the way we shape the energy that moves in and around our home and rooms. There are several different schools of feng shui, but for today we will be focusing mainly on some common foundational concepts.
At its heart, feng shui is about the concept of chi — a life force or energy flow — in your home. Just as in Traditional Chinese Medicine chi is said to flow through the body, in feng shui chi is thought to flow through our homes. The nuances of feng shui practice are based on the way we shape the energy that moves in and around our home and rooms. There are several different schools of feng shui, but for today we will be focusing mainly on some common foundational concepts.
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| Don't send creative energy out the window. It may seem like a lovely idea to put your desk facing a window with a view — but before you settle in, consider the feng shui concept of "commanding position." By placing your desk in a commanding position — that is, a place where you can see most of the room (including the doorway), you are likely to feel more secure and in charge of your space. Also, remember the primary purpose of your room — is it to relax or daydream? If so, placing your desk directly in front of a window may be ideal; but if your goal is to work efficiently, another layout may work better for you. Still want to take advantage of the view? Try positioning your desk with the window to one side, so you can look out the window when you need a break. |
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| Balance your bedroom for a better relationship. Apply the same principle of "commanding position" to your bedroom by placing it so that you have a good view of the door from your bed. Placing the bed directly across from the door is considered unlucky, though, so try to keep it off-center. If you are in a relationship, it is also important to have bedside tables and lamps of equal sizes, as this suggests equality in the relationship. |
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| Aim to include the five elements in each room. While it is not necessary to literally incorporate the five elements (water, wood, fire, earth and metal), try to bring something that represents the elements into your space. For instance, glass or a mirror can stand in for water, a candle or lamp for fire, and ceramics for earth. A room with all five elements present will feel more comfortable and well balanced. |
Clear clutter for health and energy. One of the simplest (though perhaps not the easiest) ways to get started aligning your home with the principles of feng shui is to clear the clutter. Clutter saps our energy, both physically (by getting in our way) and subconsciously (by reminding us of unfinished tasks). A clean, uncluttered home, on the other hand, signifies health and vibrant energy — something most of us could certainly use more of!
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| Learn about the bagua and find the symbolism of each room. If you want to delve a bit deeper into feng shui, you will need to familiarize yourself with the bagua. The bagua map is an octagon, with each of the eight sides corresponding to a different area of life: reputation, relationships, children, helpful people, career/path in life, self-knowledge, new beginnings/family and prosperity. The center represents health. By positioning the bagua map over a floor plan of your home or a specific room, you can determine where the areas of the bagua are in your own space. |
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| Give the front of your house a feng shui makeover. The way energy flows from the street into your home is very important in feng shui. The goal is to protect your home from the busy energy of the street, while at the same time graciously welcoming visitors. If you have too much busy street energy in front of the house, try planting trees or shrubs near the sidewalk, adding a porch or covering over your front steps, or placing heavy statues or large potted plants near the front walk. Pathways should be gently curving to the front door, rather than in a long straight line. If you want to welcome more visitors, use lighting to draw the eye in, wider steps to your front door and large, clear house numbers. |
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Familiarize yourself with common feng shui "cures." Once you begin looking at your home from a feng shui point of view, you come to see that the principles have a lot to do with symbolism: Sharp corners suggest danger, dying plants are a sign of bad health and so on. What is your home telling you?
Once you get the feeling for this, you can play around with applying your own feng shui cures. Common cures that can be helpful in many situations include mirrors, octagonal shapes, crystals (especially hung from the ceiling), fresh green plants and water (running water for energy, deep, still water for contemplation).
Once you get the feeling for this, you can play around with applying your own feng shui cures. Common cures that can be helpful in many situations include mirrors, octagonal shapes, crystals (especially hung from the ceiling), fresh green plants and water (running water for energy, deep, still water for contemplation).
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Problem: Door opening into a wall.
Feng shui solution: If your front entry door opens to a wall only a few feet away, this can create a "blocked" feeling upon entering your home. Try hanging artwork to draw the eye in. A mirror, while used a great deal in feng shui cures, would in this case reflect the energy back into the street ... not good, as you want visitors to stay.
Feng shui solution: If your front entry door opens to a wall only a few feet away, this can create a "blocked" feeling upon entering your home. Try hanging artwork to draw the eye in. A mirror, while used a great deal in feng shui cures, would in this case reflect the energy back into the street ... not good, as you want visitors to stay.
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Problem: Heavy objects overhead.
Feng shui solution: Even if that giant light fixture or heavy mirror is securely attached, subconsciously it can make you feel worried. The only thing to do in this case is either to move the item or reposition the furniture below. In this case, you could simply move the bed a little to the left.
Feng shui solution: Even if that giant light fixture or heavy mirror is securely attached, subconsciously it can make you feel worried. The only thing to do in this case is either to move the item or reposition the furniture below. In this case, you could simply move the bed a little to the left.
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Problem: Slanted ceiling.
Feng shui solution: Slanted ceilings are thought to create create uncomfortable energy for those sitting or working beneath them. Try placing an upward-facing light or a healthy plant in the lower corner to balance the downward energy.
Still curious? You can always hire a feng shui consultant (try searching for "feng shui" or "feng shui consultant" among the Houzz professionals) to give your home a complete feng shui makeover.
Feng shui solution: Slanted ceilings are thought to create create uncomfortable energy for those sitting or working beneath them. Try placing an upward-facing light or a healthy plant in the lower corner to balance the downward energy.
Still curious? You can always hire a feng shui consultant (try searching for "feng shui" or "feng shui consultant" among the Houzz professionals) to give your home a complete feng shui makeover.
Ideabook published on Aug. 20, 2012.
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A desk in a position of power works well for an attorney meeting with clients, but as an architect I do my most creative work at my drafting table set against a north facing window with view of granite boulders and pine trees. If I turned it around to face the rest of the studio, it would be incrediblly distracting to me. One needs to look at the context of the place that is being designed, and what makes sense when looking at all the other factors involved in the decision making.
I think that Christoper Alexander's "A Pattern Language" is a much better guide to design for western culture than Feng Shui.
A good example is the balance of elements: I can't tell you how many homes I see that are buried in dark wrought iron and dark brown leather. Everything is so hard and ominous, I swear I half-expect a Medieval knight to come riding in.
Sure, many feng shui principles are common sense. But as I like to say, "common sense isn't all that common". If it were, we wouldn't have so many spaces -especially restaurants- that are poorly arranged.
As to a belief that furniture placement doesn't impact how we feel, I'm afraid I must disagree. Good design is not just about aesthetics, it's also about putting people at ease. The ideas of feng shui and functionality can create an environment in which it's easier to relax, and in which you tend to linger. Both of which are beneficial in a home, or in a space where you want to attract customers.
I promise ! Those of you that are interested in Feng Shui will Love, Love, Love, him.
Working in high tech, being able to look out the window to a beautiful or inspiring view is great for creativity and also productivity. Bear in mind one doesn't sit stiff and un-moving in some chair in high tech. Its keeping windows clean that is key with me.
In sum: feng shui is about reminding us of functional common sense.