General Feng Shui for the Home

Published by admin on June 4, 2021June 4, 2021

The specific approach you use to arrange a room according to the principles of feng shui usually differs from room to room. The rules of feng shui for the bedroom, for instance, are not the same as those for the bathroom, since each room has a different purpose and needs different chi. Even so, certain basic rules of feng shui apply to every room in regard to lighting, clutter, color, cleaning, and maintenance.

Lighting

A well-lit space will attract good chi, whereas a dark or poorly lit room will allow bad chi to gather.

• Natural light: Sunlight (and to some extent, moonlight) is an excellent source of good chi. Let as much natural light as possible into your home—rooms with windows on two sides are ideal.
• Artificial light: When electric lighting is required, bright, strong light is best. Full-spectrum light bulbs (sometimes called white light bulbs) provide truer colors than standard light bulbs.
• Seasonal differences: During winter months when there’s not much daylight, it’s especially important to allow as much light as possible into your home. Open curtains, clean windows, and add windows if possible.
• Fire: Fire represents energy, expansion, and change. Creating a fire in your home—in the fireplace, through the use of candles, or by lighting a gas stove—will attract such energy.

Eliminating and Managing Clutter

The main goal of feng shui is to increase the flow of chi throughout your home. A clean, uncluttered space gives chi room to flow, so it’s crucial to eliminate clutter. Follow these five steps to clear up clutter and promote good chi.

• Pace yourself: Don’t try to clear out everything at once—tackle one closet or one room at a time.
• Don’t just trash it: It can be painful and wasteful just to throw away things you love (but don’t need). Rather than trash all your clutter, give as much of the useful stuff as you can to family, friends, or a charity. Many charitable organizations will offer you a donation form that you can use later for tax deduction purposes.
• Stop clutter relapses: Recurring cycles of accumulating and then discarding clutter don’t promote good chi. Once you’ve rid your home of clutter, avoid accumulating things you don’t need.
  • Set limits: A good rule of thumb is to get rid of one item for every new one you acquire.
  • Pause before buying: Before you purchase anything new, ask yourself these questions: Do you need it? Where will you put it? Do you have room for it? What will you get rid of to make room for it?

Color

Each of the five elements in feng shui has one or more colors associated with it, as shown in the later heaven sequence and in the following table:

Whether you’re painting walls, upholstering a sofa, or just placing a colorful object in a room, the colors you use to decorate your home are more than just an aesthetic choice. Color provides:

• Focus: If you’d like to focus on or accentuate one of the elements, use a color that corresponds to that element.
• Balance: You can balance the elements and promote good chi in your rooms by carefully decorating each room with colors that represent complementary elements, such as blue (water) and green (wood).

Cleaning

Cleanliness is another important concept in feng shui. Dirt and grime disrupt the flow of good chi. Follow these guidelines to keep a clean, chi-friendly home:

• Clean your home thoroughly and regularly.
• Deal with spills and stains as soon as they occur.
• Let fresh air circulate: open windows and doors to encourage the flow of energy throughout your home.

Home Maintenance

Just as a dirty house is not conducive to good chi, neither is a home that’s in disrepair. To maximize the flow of positive energy in your home, fix any problem that arises in your home immediately, and follow these specific guidelines:

• Appliances: Keep all appliances, from the kitchen stove to your bedside clock, in good working order.
• Drains and pipes: Pay particular attention to clogged drains and leaky pipes. As conduits for energy, they should be kept clear at all times.
• Foundation and roof: Check periodically on your foundation and roof—you need a solid base below you and a secure roof above you to be steady and secure.
• Light bulbs: Replace burnt-out light bulbs immediately.
• Ventilation systems: Make sure the “breathing” mechanisms of your home operate properly: keep heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in top shape.