Practical Feng Shui Decorating Tips and Guidelines
Want to know where you should put your chair? your bed? or even your bathroom?
Learn some useful Feng Shui decorating guidelines, for arranging furniture and your home...
Feng Shui can help you when you are re-arranging a room in your home, or even if you are re-arranging, renovating or planning your home itself.
The way you arrange your home, and the furniture in your home, can have a huge difference on the energy, or ‘chi’ in your home. This affects how you feel in your home too.
If you have problems of any kind, in your life, Feng Shui Decorating may be able to help address them, by working on the energies in your home.
Think back to when your problems first started – was it after a house move? Or after you made significant changes to your home?
Or does your home have a history of occupants with similar problems?
These are all very definite signs that the energy in your home may be dragging you down, causing tension and arguments, or otherwise having a negative impact on your life.
Here are some really useful Feng Shui decorating tips, to help you to make the most of your home:
Try to be flexible when designing or planning your home. Choose free standing furniture rather than built in cupboards. These could limit your options for arranging your furniture.
Rooms with high ceilings, rooms at the top of a building, loft apartments, pointed ceilings and buildings on the side of a hill all have a vertical flow of ‘chi’.
You will feel more individual, creative and free to be different in these spaces.
Rooms with low ceilings have a horizontal flow of ‘chi’.
This means that energies can flow easily from person to person. These spaces make excellent social areas.
Having doors or windows aligned in a straight line makes ‘chi’ energy flow faster – so it is hard to relax.
Large windows also make ‘chi’ flow faster – so you have a more ‘active’ or ‘yang’ area.
If your windows face in a sunny direction this also brings in a lively and stimulating energy into your home.
Sharp corners which protrude into a room give a sharp, piercing ‘chi’. You might find it difficult to relax if your bed or chair is facing a corner like this. Soften the corner with round-leaved plants, drapes or wind chimes.
As far as possible, try to use natural and organic materials in your home. Use as little plastic as possible. Instead choose wood, cotton, leather, wool, plants and organic paints.
Your lighting can make a difference to the energy in your home too:
For a relaxing, ‘yin’ feel, choose soft, diffused lighting, and lampshades
For a more lively, ‘yang’ feel, choose bright lights, spotlights and downlighters.
Choose lots of different types of freestanding lights, to be able to vary the feel and energy in your room, and be flexible.
Certain directions have meaning in Feng Shui decorating. Take these into consideration when you are planning your home, or arrangement of furniture, such as your bed, desk, chair etc
North
good for rest and relaxation
calming
try meditating here
North East
good for mental clarity
ideal spot for making decisions – perhaps good for a desk?
not very relaxing
East
positivity and confidence
a good spot for boosting self esteem
not very relaxing
South East
good for daydreaming and using your imagination
the ideal spot for thinking about, or planning your future
South
good for being expressive, sociable and outgoing
ideal for mental stimulation
not very relaxing
South West
good for feeling grounded
this spot can feel lacking in energy though
West
good for feeling content and at ease
ideal spot for feeling romantic
avoid this area if you are feeling at all low or withdrawn
North West
a good spot for using your intuition, and looking into your own life
avoid this area if you might be a control freak!
If you are free to plan the direction of your home, or the arrangement of the rooms within it, the above directions give a good guide to how your home should be arranged:
Entrance
Your entrance should ideally be in the West, bringing in the energy that helps you to feel content
Bathroom
Your bathroom should ideally be in the East
Living and Dining Rooms
Your living and dining rooms would be ideal in the South or South-West.
The South is an ideal area for entertaining.
The South-West is ideal for relaxing and settling down.
Bedroom
The best place for your bedroom is the North.
The North is great for a quiet, pleasant sleep.
Home Office, Study or Library
Place this in the North West of your home.
This is the best spot for planning, organization and taking control.
Feng Shui decorating is actually very helpful when planning and arranging furniture within your room too.
If you want a lively, active feeling room, choose a minimalist style.
Keep furniture and accessories to a minimum
Get rid of clutter
Clear a space in the centre of the room
Go for glossy textures and finishes, instead of soft furnishings and textiles.
If you want a relaxing, cosy room, choose a softer and fuller style.
Move more furniture into your room
Add soft furnishings and accessories – long curtains, thick fabrics, plump cushions, low chairs, rugs, plants, wall hangings, lampshades etc.
You might be surprised how different you feel after re-arranging your room, Feng Shui decorating style. And how much impact this may have on other areas of your life.
Watch these short video clips advising on how to use Feng Shui Decorating guidelines to bring more wealth into your home. Surely that is something we could all do with some more of…?
Simply click on the picture to start the video player … sit back, and enjoy!
If you try out any of the tips, I hope they bring you riches.
Have you got your free subscription to my interior design e-zine yet? Receive your free, monthly, e-mail newsletter, packed full of interesting interior design facts, tips and ideas, straight to your inbox.
Click here for more tips on how Feng Shui decorating uses color in the home.