Feng Shui in today’s style and design (Part II)
feng shui happiness
You may be wondering if living a sincere belief in a Feng Shui lifestyle can really make a difference in positively affecting our lives and the lives of those around us.
Can.
Even Donald Trump once raved about Feng Shui on CNN!
In my attempt to better understand this ancient philosophy, I have completed training classes and done extensive research on Feng Shui.
I have been applying my Feng Shui training and principles to create a more harmonious environment that incorporates my existing design and style and simply addresses the visible and invisible forces of life.
By correcting the imbalances through the principles of Feng Shui, I have since experienced more peace, calm, and tranquility, all of which I must credit to the application of Feng Shui. I have achieved a more fabulous way of life that has quality. And that is happiness, indeed!
You too can learn and use the ancient principles to transform your homes to attract, enhance and enrich your life.
Here are some general concepts you can use to achieve a more balanced home and office. I have also included tips on what to avoid and how to divert and dissolve any unfavorable energy lines.
feng shui at home
the main door
In Feng Shi terms, the two most critical aspects of the house are the location of the front door and the location of the bed in the bedroom.
For the Chinese, we believe that our front door is the ‘mouth’ of the house. Being the front of the house, it plays a very important role because it conditions the chi of the house through which it flows.
Therefore, the front door area should be kept simple and free of clutter. It should provide us with a smooth and pleasant transition between the outer world and the calmer and more peaceful inner world.
To avoid:
Once the front door is opened, it should not be directly in line with or within sight of the back door; this is considered unfavorable. Bliss Tip: Put up a screen to block the back door so it’s not visible from the front door.
Do not allow the front door to open within sight of a bathroom or bedroom door; this is bad feng shui. Bliss Tip: To counteract this, install a long mirror on the outside of your bathroom or bedroom door, and always keep the bathroom or bedroom door closed.
The front door must not be located under any bathroom upstairs. The front door should not open directly onto a stairway; a pillar; the edge of 2 walls or a protruding corner pointing directly at it. You should also not be in front of any dilapidated buildings or two buildings separated by a narrow alley, as this means bad luck. Bliss Tip: If the house faces these problems, install plants along the sides of the entrance or hang a wind chime in the entrance.
Ideally, the front door, when opened, should reveal a serene landscape beyond.
The hall
Some houses have hallways that line up directly with the front and back doors; this is not conducive due to the loss of chi. Happiness Tip: Arrange some furniture and plants in an S-curve to deflect and slow chi.
The bedroom
When arranging the bedroom, you need to consider the location for placing the bed. For good luck, place the bed in the corner of the room diagonally opposite the entrance to the door.
Avoid placing the bed directly under a window, under a sloped ceiling or where your foot points directly out of the door or window, place it against a bathroom door or where there are water pipes above your head.
Avoid heavy beams over the bed to eliminate the feeling of tightness – Bliss Tip: Install a new ceiling to cover the beams or align the bed so that the beams run the length of the bed.
Try not to put the bed where there is something dangling. Don’t hang pictures of ferocious-looking animals, abstract objects, or having a water feature in the bedroom. Water is good Feng Shui in the house, but not in the bedroom, as it suggests financial loss.
Also, don’t place the bed where it can only get in and out from one side; if you cannot comfortably get in and out of both sides, it suggests that problems will inevitably develop in one’s relationship.
Bliss Tip: For a firm sense of order that is good for Feng Shui, install cabinets where appropriate to aid organization.
Livingroom
The living room is the most used space in the house, being the family space, so it should be bright, cozy and cheerful with ease of movement.
Paint the walls bright colors and place your stereo or TV here to create noise and activity.
Do not place the main chair where it faces directly towards the door, otherwise it is said to create a tense atmosphere, or place the main chair with its back to the window; it’s fine for the less important chairs. Bliss Tip: Place the main chair with its back against a solid wall.
Use large-scale rounded upholstery pieces to form the seating arrangement. Sofas and armchairs should come with a generous backrest and comfortable armrests.
The arrangement of the seats to have a square formation to complete the symbolism of a perfect Feng Shui. L-shaped seating arrangements should be avoided as they are considered less auspicious.
Depending on taste, the living room can be designed and designed in a formal or informal arrangement.
home
If the living room has a fireplace, a location to the south of the living room is the best location for the fireplace. Equally auspicious locations are also found in the East, SE, SW, and NE.
The dinner room
Create a warm and inviting dining room – decorate it in warm colors, place a large dining table in the center of the room with a bright hanging chandelier above.
Always remember that whether it is the dining room chairs or even the paintings on the wall, put them in even numbers; This is because the Chinese believe that “happiness always comes in pairs”, which is good Feng Shui.
Keep in mind that the shapes of the tables also have symbolic meanings: the preference is for round or square tables to be the most auspicious, since the square means blessings from the earth and the circle, blessings from heaven! What a joy!
Although octagon, oval and oblong shaped dining tables are also acceptable, triangular shaped tables should be avoided as triangles suggest aggression, therefore this should not be used if we want to bring happiness into our home.
Bliss Tip: To complete, hang a beautiful mirror on the dining room wall to reflect the good food on the dining table or the happiness of those around you.
The kitchen
In Feng Shui for the kitchen, the location of the stove, sink, and refrigerator is considered very critical.
If the stove is placed between or in front of the sink and the refrigerator, it can cause unhappiness and discontent between the husband and wife. Bliss Tip: Place anything blue or light green, for example, place a green or blue rug between the stove and the other appliances, or alternatively, cover the entire kitchen floor with a green or light blue floor.
If the refrigerator, sink, and stove are all lined up in a straight line, it is said to create confusion for the people in the house. Bliss Tip: Similarly, place a green or light blue decor piece on the wall above the stove and sink.
Ladder
Stairs that run directly to the front door are prohibited, as this will cause chi to escape through the door, which means a waste of money. Bliss Tip: Install a mirror on the wall next to the door or even above the door to reflect the stairs.
The stairs should not be dark, narrow or cramped so as not to block the flow of chi energy. Happiness Tip: Make sure the stairwell and landing are well lit to encourage the upward flow of chi in an auspicious way. Paint light colors on the stairs and install colorful pieces of art. If the staircase is too narrow, install a large mirror to create a feeling of space.
plants and trees
Having plants and trees around the house is considered auspicious because the wood element signifies growth and development. They are particularly lucky when allowed to thrive in the east, southeast, and south locations of the property.
water features
These must be clean and serene. Water fountains work best in the north, therefore mini water fountains or garden ponds bring exceptional good luck when located in northern or even southeastern corners. Other acceptable locations are the East and Southwest sites.
For the main doors, the water fountain should be placed on the left side from the inside of the house facing outwards to ensure the stability of the married couple living there. Avoid placing a water fountain in front of the house on the right hand side, as it tends to cause the husband to have a wandering eye.
Home Office: Enrich the professional area of the home with water features.
Fish
Keep a tank of fish to boost your career. In the Feng Shui tradition, fish always brings good luck. Keep a tank of brightly colored fish in the north corner of your living room and watch your career thrive with positive developments.
Office
Peace should be the predominant theme in any office environment.
The best place to sit in the office should be diagonal to the door. The desk should not face directly at the door as the incoming energy will be too powerful. It is good to have a light directly above the door to create auspicious yang energy in the office.
Feng Shui has to do with the art of organizing space to achieve positive results and the desired changes in our lives; once you understand this, you will be able to apply it effectively in your home or office.
Alternatively, you can also seek the help of Feng Shui masters who will be able to identify sources of negative energy and recommend remedies.
I hope these tips, while not all-encompassing, will guide you in creating a happy environment that attracts and sustains happiness in your life.
I wish you good luck and the best of luck in your use of Feng Shui!
“WRAP YOUR HOME AND LIFE IN THE NOURISHING ARMS OF CHI” – Carol Soucek King
Reference: Various sources but mainly Feng Shui in the Home and Feng Shui of Love.
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