Are you feeling out of balance with your house? Or does the space itself seem chaotic and confused? Follow this guide to achieving feng shui in your home for a harmonious living space to which you feel connected.
What is feng shui?
Feng shui is a Chinese art that stems from the ancient Asian philosophy of Taoism. This cites that all things are united by a shared life force – chi – and we must live in harmony with our surroundings. Harmony is achieved when our environment perfectly balances contrasting elements (yin and yang).
While this belief originally spoke of nature, feng shui was introduced as a way to ensure positive chi in urban areas as well. This art guides designers on how to arrange buildings, rooms and objects to maximise the freedom of flow for an effortless existence that promotes peace and prosperity.
Feng shui home design tips
Especially if you’re moving into a brand new home where you have free reign with furnishings and décor, let feng shui guide your interior design decisions. By focusing on furniture placement, colours and lighting, and the flow of air in each room, you’ll create a space that is aligned with your mind.
- Align your furniture
The first thing to consider is how to align your furniture.
Keeping furnishings parallel to the walls will ensure that they feel congruous with the space. Avoid odd angles or pieces that jut out into pathways to create a continuous flow. Remember to maintain a gap of a few inches between the furniture and the walls to allow energy to move around each object while ensuring you feel cosy and contained.
- The commanding view
The main piece of furniture in each room should also be in the commanding position between doorways and windows. This balances freedom of movement with a sense of security for a design that looks and feels harmonious and helps to draw chi to the central part of the room.
- Restful and revitalising
When it comes to painting, choose colours that are at once restful and revitalising. This means that your home will match your every mood, complimenting and changing your emotions.
Blue is a great shade for bedrooms as it inspires feelings of calmness to help you sleep at night but has associations with nature that are immediately invigorating come morning. Green and earth tones also have this combined effect for corresponding living at any time of day.
- Bring light to dark
Feng shui seeks to balance the light in interiors so that no area is too bright or too dark.
Avoid using harsh overhead lighting unless it can be controlled with a dimmer switch as one central spotlight can create deep shadows in the corners of your rooms. Layered lighting comprised of multiple lamps and staggered ceiling lights is better.
Most importantly, embrace natural light where possible: opt for adjustable blinds instead of heavy curtains and consider a fireplace for warmth in winter.
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