Feng Shui
From the perspective of Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui, when we practice certain actions, our energy can be revitalized. If we apply it to our home, it helps us to create a harmonious and balanced space, providing us with greater well-being!
We use Feng Shui decoration at home to enhance the beauty of spaces, but also to allow positive energy to flow.
Through these oriental techniques, we create spaces that nurture us and bring us value
What Feng Shui is and what it is for
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese discipline that seeks to harmonize the home space to promote well-being and prosperity. It means wind (feng) and water (shui), referring to Chi or the movement of vital energy.
Although it relates to decoration, you don’t have to renovate your house, change everything, or even move. It’s about reorganizing what we already have to bring positive energy… For what purpose?
- In a Feng Shui home, you’ll achieve not only peace, but also harmony and tranquility. When you’re at home, you’ll feel well-being and better health!
- To see things from a different perspective and help us achieve our goals
- To improve relationships with our partner and family
- To be more productive at work, to improve, and to focus better
In reality, it’s a science that studies the relationship between people and their physical environment (everything is connected and affects our well-being). Now, let’s look step by step at how to apply Feng Shui at home… You’ll get it right!
1.- The basics: Order, cleaning, and the five elements
Where we live and work influences our personal energies. This philosophy emphasizes eliminating what we don’t need, cleaning, and organizing to ensure our energy flows positively:
- Getting rid of what we don’t need and decluttering. Items you don’t need, are broken, or take up unnecessary space must go! They hold “stagnant energy.”
- Deep cleaning of the house and workspace. Clean walls, floors, windows, closets, drawers, bookshelves, etc. Everything must be spotless.
From here, Feng Shui is based on five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each element represents a different energy and has its own properties. The goal is to create balance!
- Wood: represents growth and renewal ➡️ Associated with the color green and vertical shapes.
- Fire: represents passion and creativity ➡️ Associated with the color red and triangular shapes.
- Earth: represents stability and solidity ➡️ Associated with the color yellow and square shapes.
- Metal: represents clarity and concentration ➡️ Associated with the color white and grays, and round shapes.
- Water: represents fluidity and adaptability ➡️ Associated with the color blue and curved shapes.
Now we have the basics let’s start decorating!
2.- Feng Shui colors
To create Feng Shui environments, colors are fundamental. They are in harmony with the five elements. In summary…
The color tones to use should be warm and vibrant, like red, orange, and green in decorative details
To decorate walls, here are general recommendations for how to paint the house according to Feng Shui. Without considering specific tones, we can see:
| Space | Suggested warm color tones | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Living Room | Beige, white, orange, red | Encourages relaxed conversation and lifts spirits |
| Kitchen | Beige, light browns, yellow | Stimulates energy and aids digestion |
| Bathroom | Blue, turquoise, light green, beige | Favors relaxation and freshness |
| Bedroom | Blue, green, pink, salmon, peach | Promotes sleep and relaxation |
| Study/Workspace | Beige, hazelnut, green, light blue | Stimulates intellectual activity and creates a pleasant atmosphere |
- Living Room. It is the place designated for communication, and to promote relaxed dialogue, the recommended color is blue. For more lively conversations, preferred colors are orange and red. Orange stimulates joy, and red helps uplift the mood.
- Kitchen. The ideal color for the kitchen is a light shade of yellow, as it is a solar color that provides vigor and energy, as well as aiding digestion.
- Bathroom. In the bathroom, cool colors like blue, turquoise, and light green are preferred. These colors are refreshing and relaxing because they evoke water. If the atmosphere feels a bit dull, contrast can be created with more vibrant tones in decorative objects.
- Bedroom. Relaxing tones like blue and green are ideal for promoting sleep. Less cool colors like pink, salmon, or peach can also be used.
- Study or Workspace. This is the area for intellectual activity, which is stimulated by colors like beige and hazelnut. Green and light blue help create a more pleasant atmosphere.
🟧 Tip: The important thing is to represent all five elements in our home. It’s not necessary to repaint the entire house or a room; we can also use objects, furniture, curtains, cushions, photographs, blankets, etc., to enhance the energy.
It’s about finding a balance between our tastes and needs, as colors enhance:
Remember, the previous image is a simplified Ba Gua figure (More info at the end), designating the most prominent colors in pursuit of harmony with a simple change.
3.- Feng Shui in the bathroom
To decorate the bathroom with Feng Shui, organization and layout are fundamental… Why? Water symbolizes money, fortune, or health. It is also where positive energy escapes from our home.
| Feng Shui Bathroom Decoration | Explanation |
| Bathroom Position | It should not be facing the entrance doors or near the dining room, staircase, or kitchen |
| Toilet Position | It should be behind the door and in a discreet location to reduce the negative effect of drainage |
| Toilet Lid | Always keep it closed to neutralize the negative influence of the drains |
| Leaks and Drips | They bring negative energy to Chi and must be avoided |
| Mirrors | Large mirrors, especially round ones, promote a positive energy flow. They should not be placed in front of the door |
| Lighting | There should be plenty of light, preferably natural |
| Shapes | Reduce sharp corners or edges with rounded pieces |
| Colors | Paint with light and warm tones like blue, turquoise, and green (Avoid dark shades) |
| Materials | Use natural materials like stone for flooring, wood, or marble. Wood is essential in furniture |
| Plants | They are excellent for balancing the bathroom’s energy and purifying the environment. Orchids are particularly recommended |
4.- Feng Shui in the kitchen
In Feng Shui kitchens, layout is a fundamental aspect. Here, two opposing elements coexist: water (yin) and the energy of fire (yang).
For furniture placement, we can follow the sectional layout shown below, which is ultimately based on ergonomic principles:
If possible, choose an open kitchen to integrate it with the rest of the house—this improves communication!
- The positioning of the stove and sink is important; they should be kept apart. If this isn’t possible, place wood or metal between them. Place the oven, microwave, and burners on one side and water elements such as the fridge, dishwasher, or sink on the other.
- The kitchen should not be located opposite the bathroom door or directly facing the home entrance.
- According to the philosophy, electric stoves destroy the energy of food, so gas stoves are preferred.
- The kitchen should be on the south-facing wall and the environment oriented towards the west.
- The space should be well-lit, preferably with natural light.
- The most recommended colors are light tones, earthy shades, and not too dark, combined with light greens or blues to provide a sense of cleanliness.
5.- Feng Shui for living room or dining room
The living room and dining room are important places in Chinese culture as they nourish both the soul and the body. We need to follow these tips for the dining room and living room:
| Feng Shui Decoration for the Dining Room | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Dining Table | Should have rounded corners and promote communication among diners |
| Dining Room Environment | Should be free of distractions such as TVs or excessive furniture |
| Dining Room Location | Preferably near the entrance to the kitchen |
| Lighting | Preferably natural light, or artificial lighting that mimics it |
| Table Material and Color | Marble, glass, or dark-colored tables are not recommended |
| Combined Living and Dining Room | Spaces should be clearly separated, for example, using furniture to mark boundaries or two types of lighting to differentiate |
| Entrance Door | Avoid placing it behind the sofa |
| Decorative Elements | It is recommended to use elements focused on nature and landscapes |
The following video is by Montserrat Beltral, a true professional in this field with hundreds of talks and trained students (Although we’ll share more about her later, you can click HERE to get some free tips and advice)
We’ve also written a guide article on how to decorate a dining room with simple ideas and minimalist style decoration in homes with practical examples.
6.- Feng Shui in bedrooms
Bedrooms are spaces where we rest and nurture intimate relationships. The layout and organization of both furniture and the bed are important to encourage the flow of positive energy.
How to place the bed with Feng Shui in a bedroom? This is one of the most common questions: whether the bed is in the right direction, whether the headboard is correctly placed, the orientation, or where to position the bed. The best way is to look at a layout diagram with reference to the door and window.
Avoid at all costs having your feet face the door. In Chinese tradition, this position symbolizes death. If the room has an adjoining bathroom or shares a wall with one, avoid placing the bed close to the bathroom, as shown in the following diagram:
| Feng Shui Bedroom Decoration | Explanation |
| Textiles | Avoid patterns and bright colors. Preferably use solid, warm colors |
| Electronic Devices | Keep them away to avoid restlessness and activity |
| Bed | It should be against a wall to provide protection and security. It should have a headboard and preferably be made of wood, not metal |
| Plants and Water Features | Avoid them in bedrooms as they may cause excess energy |
| Mirrors | Not recommended in master or children’s bedrooms. Avoid placing them in front of the bed |
| Objects | Minimize clutter. Preferably include a few items that evoke positive memories |
| Bed Orientation | The headboard should face north to enhance vital energy and health |
| Symmetry | Beneficial in bedrooms, e.g., having nightstands on both sides of the bed |
| Wooden Beams on the Ceiling | Avoid sleeping under them as they are believed to cut off energy and harm health |
7.- Decorative objects
- Fountains are important decorative objects in Feng Shui. Flowing water symbolizes life and purification, dispersing negative energies that may accumulate in the home.
- The sound of flowing water has calming effects on the nervous system, promoting a state of peace and relaxation.
- Other elements that bring balance include wind chimes. The movement created by air currents generates a pleasant sound with beneficial effects on the mind. They can be strategically placed at the house entrance to regulate the energy level of the home.
- Glass spheres placed behind a window transform light into positive energy. Glass or crystal objects encourage energy circulation. Some plants, placed in the corners of rooms, promote the flow of positive energy. Mirrors placed in the right position reflect energy.
- The arrangement of furniture and colors in the home can also create balanced environments in offices or workplaces.
8.- Feng Shui in the office
In theory, we’ve covered all the areas of the house, but an important point is the workspace or office. The key here is to position the desk or client reception table appropriately, and for that, we have an excellent diagram:
Place the desk so that you have a wall behind you and a view of the door. Decorate with soft colors!
Positioning the desk according to the traditional Bagua:
| Desk Position | Corresponding Life Area | Potential Benefit |
| North | Career | Boosts professional opportunities |
| South | Recognition and Fame | Enhances recognition and visibility at work |
| East | Family and Health | Fosters positive workplace relationships |
| West | Creativity and Children | Encourages innovative thinking and idea generation |
| Center | General Well-being | Promotes health and balance in the workplace |
But… What about plants?
9.- Vegetation and plants
Plants are a way to attract good luck and positive energy to your home. They represent growth, renewal, and life. They can also help purify the air and create a more relaxing environment.
Here are some of the plants that are most beneficial for Feng Shui:
- Lucky Bamboo: Lucky bamboo is a very popular plant. It is believed to represent good fortune, health, and prosperity.
- Jade Plant: The jade plant is another notable plant. It is believed to symbolize wealth and abundance.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is a medicinal plant believed to have healing properties. It is also thought to protect the home from negative energy.
- Peace Lily: The peace lily is an indoor plant that helps create an atmosphere of peace and harmony.
- Calathea: This is an indoor plant believed to help attract good luck.
Plants and flowers are symbols of life and growth
Now that we’ve come this far… Would you like to learn more?
Basic principles of Feng Shui
First, let me show you some basic concepts summarized in the following table:
| Basic Concepts | Definition |
|---|---|
| Chi | Represents the energy of objects |
| Yin and Yang | Represents opposing elements |
| Theory of Five Elements | Fire, water, earth, wood, and metal are the five elements associated with cardinal directions |
| Energy Factors | Environmental factors that affect “energy” |
| Fu Xi | Deep observation of nature |
| Bagua Map | A tool used for interior design and decoration |
We cannot start decorating coherently without understanding the above points—this is a fact! Sorry, but if we don’t know the foundations of Feng Shui, we won’t understand anything when we begin rearranging furniture.
1.- What is Chi?
Chi is one of the key factors in this art (also written as “qi“). Remember that the main goal is to generate positive energy in our lives, so Chi represents the energy of objects or a person. It is primarily divided into two key elements: Yin & Yang and the five elements.
Thus, we have good Chi and bad Chi. This Chinese word describes the invisible, the vital energy of the universe, which can be favorable or adverse.
- Good Chi: Chi is considered good when it flows smoothly and consistently, and when the space it occupies is clean, well-lit, and organized. Good Chi brings good luck, happiness, and prosperity.
- Bad Chi: Bad Chi brings bad luck and financial difficulties if it stagnates or moves so quickly that it dissipates immediately. Bad Chi tends to appear in dark, damp, dirty, or cluttered spaces, as well as long, narrow spaces. Bad Chi can also be generated by objects with sharp, threatening angles. Such objects reflect and amplify Chi, creating “poison arrows” or cutting Chi.
2.- What is Yin & Yang?
Every object, being, thought, or phenomenon is composed of two elements essential to its existence, from the most specific and complex to the most broad and simple. These two aspects are known as Yin and Yang in Chinese culture.
They are opposing elements, interdependent—where there is one, there is the other. They consume and generate each other. For example, Yin is associated with receptiveness and positivity, while Yang is linked to activity.
Respectively, to better understand, Yin-Yang also represent; retreat and progress, contraction and expansion, condensation and dispersion, earth and sky, feminine and masculine, water and fire, negative and positive, darkness and light, inspiration and respiration, cold and heat, death and life, soft and hard… and so on, indefinitely!
Now, let’s apply these concepts to things…
3.- The Theory of the Five Elements
Fire, water, earth, wood, and metal are the five elements associated with the cardinal directions. When two different elements combine, they may create conflict or imbalance (disharmony); but when the elements are of the same nature, harmony may emerge.
The five elements are used to describe interactions and relationships between things
Conflict arises when two elements combine in a way where one dominates the other. For example, water conflicts with earth because earth absorbs and dominates it. Similarly, when water and metal are combined, an imbalance occurs; metal rusts—it isn’t destroyed but loses its shine and appeal.
The following table shows relationships of conflict, imbalance, and harmony:
| Elements | Imbalance Relationship With | Conflict Relationship With | Harmony Relationship With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Metal | Earth | Water |
| Wood | Metal | Fire | Wood |
| Metal | Earth | Fire | Metal |
| Earth | Fire | Wood | Earth |
| Fire | Earth | Water | Fire |
Additionally, each element has its own characteristics related to nature, color, season, shape, etc. The following table summarizes these attributes:
| Characteristic | Wood | Fire | Earth | Metal | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direction | East | South | Center | West | North |
| Season | Spring | Summer | Transition between seasons | Autumn | Winter |
| Climate | Windy | Hot | Humid | Dry | Cold |
| Color | Green | Red | Yellow | White | Black |
| Shape | Rectangular | Triangular | Square | Round | Wavy |
| Meaning | Growth, Expansion | Passion, Energy | Stability, Anchoring | Clarity, Precision | Emotions, Intuition |
As mentioned in the table above, each element corresponds to a color and a cardinal direction.
For example, to stimulate spiritual growth, quartz crystals are placed facing the northeast. To promote health, a bamboo plant can be placed in the east. To harmonize and strengthen a romantic relationship, photos of the couple can be placed in the southwest area of the room as a symbol.
4.- Energy Factors
There are several environmental factors that affect energy, divided into four concentric spheres: personal and indoor environment (home or office), external environment, and cosmic energies. These flows constantly exchange and interact, creating their unique atmosphere.
They are based on 60 environmental factors, distributed as follows:
- Energies of a place (Location): Based on orientation, neighborhood geography, main waterways, vegetation/gardening, surrounding buildings, urban or rural settings, streets, alleys, highways, ditches and drains, easements, sewage systems, etc.
- Exterior of the construction: Building color, main entrances, elevation/windows, roof, address number, etc.
- Interior of the building: Colors, hallways, interior design and decoration, basements, stairs, air quality, sound quality, home environment, etc.
- Cosmic factors: Planetary movements, 24 orientations (gua), Zi Bai cycles, innovation timings, annual cycle adjustments, etc.
- The individual: Zi Wei graphic astrology, past history in the residence.
5.- What is Fu Xi?
A person who would act as a shaman within their community, primarily tasked in Chinese culture with ensuring the well-being of all its inhabitants.
The formation of Fu Xi was based on a deep observation of the surrounding nature and its rhythms. To explain it, they created a diagram known as the Bagua Feng Shui map.
We are progressing! Keep in mind that we need a tool to work on decoration—the Bagua map…
6.- What is the Bagua Map?
It is one of the most widely used tools to work with Feng Shui in interior design. It shows how to introduce positive changes in our lives through the restructuring, layout, and organization of our home design.
When the Bagua map is correctly applied, life obstacles will disappear, leading to an increase in positive energy that attracts good changes in life.
The image above is a Bagua diagram with a compass, represented in nine trigrams (9 fundamental areas – Basic pillars of the I Ching). These are divided into: Wealth and Prosperity, Fame and Reputation, Love and Marriage, Health and Family, Center, Creativity and Children, Knowledge and Culture, Career, Helpful People and Travel. These sectors are schematized to adapt them to homes…
As an example of adapting the Bagua diagram to a home (explained in more detail with video later), we first schematize it as in the image below and overlay it on the floor plan of our home. Each part of our home represents an area of our life. If adapted and schematized for a home, it would look like this:
This approach is not only applicable to the entire home but can also be applied room by room. Later, we’ll delve into the technique in detail.
After quickly reviewing and understanding the most relevant terms, it’s time to move step by step to decorate a home and recharge it with positive energy. Here, we must consider two points:
- Over the years, professionals practicing this philosophy have identified “standard” tips that can be applied directly to our home without much hassle, but with effective results.
- Or we can customize the technique for our home by following the guidelines through the Bagua diagram, which will take more time.
What do you think? Would you like to go deeper?
How to Customize Feng Shui Technique for Your Home
It inspires us to achieve our goals and provides a greater sense of peace and happiness… How?
- Through the theory of the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wood, and Metal. Each element is associated with specific qualities and energies. The goal is to create a balance between these elements in our environment.
- Through the concept of the eight trigrams, which are symbols representing different aspects of our lives. Each trigram is associated with an element, a direction, and a quality.
Before diving into how to place the Bagua map (Step 3), here’s a summary of the steps to personalize the Feng Shui technique in your home:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify your needs and objectives: Your goal will guide your decisions. |
| 2 | Learn about the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) and how they relate to different areas of your life and decor spaces. |
| 3 | Study the Bagua or energy map, and determine how it applies to your space. |
| 4 | Perform a deep cleaning of your home to eliminate stagnant negative energy. |
| 5 | Apply the teachings in each room of your home, considering directions, colors, shapes, and elements associated with each area according to the Bagua. |
| 6 | Personalize your decor using natural elements, objects that bring you joy, and colors that align with your goals. |
| 7 | Balance the Five Elements in your home through the placement and design of furniture and decor objects. |
| 8 | Continue learning and adjusting your home as your understanding of this ancient technique grows. Remember, it’s a continuous process, not a one-time project. |
How to Place the Bagua Map on a Floor Plan
This is one of the most important steps to start decorating your home like a Feng Shui professional. As explained earlier in the article, it’s now time to adapt it properly to your home. The following diagram makes it clearer…
At the entrance door, whether for a house or a room, the areas for helpful people and travel (gray), career (black), and knowledge (blue) should align with the entry line, as shown in the example of a rectangular floor plan above.
The following video helps to better understand how to place the Bagua map on a floor plan… (Download the guide on how to place the Bagua map in Feng Shui)
The video includes different examples with irregular floor plans and how to adapt them. Keep in mind that within the philosophy, there are different schools practicing similar methods.
The above method is the easiest (A Bagua directly over the floor plan). Some approaches involve cardinal directions, using a compass, orientations, and the Kua number (Compass School). The next video provides further explanation…
On the Kua number and the philosophy of the Compass School in Feng Shui, here’s a brief diagram to help you understand:
It’s important to understand that this philosophy spans books upon books of information and requires extensive practice. This guide aims to provide a basic understanding of how to begin applying the technique to your home in an easy way.
Where Can I Learn More?
Be cautious. The internet offers both good and bad resources. Knowing where to look will save time and money, whether you’re taking a course or buying a book.
The Feng Shui course I recommend 100% for its high quality in Spanish is by Montserrat Beltral from Fengshuimb. She offers both online and in-person training.
Why do I recommend Montserrat Beltral? Years of experience, hundreds of specialized talks, professionalism, technical documentation, and most importantly, no fluff in the training, with hundreds of students who have already passed through her academy. Options:
- Start free with the basics from HERE. If you like her teaching style, you can proceed to full training.
- Access Montserrat’s course directly from HERE, currently discounted.
Now let’s talk about books. This oriental technique covers different themes, so I’ve selected several books based on topics such as specific spaces, energy and plants, business, abundance, and one that I always find interesting—Marie Kondo’s book.
- Feng Shui Room by Room by Terah K. Collins. Excellent book. Highly recommended but unfortunately quite expensive.
- Feng Shui for the West, also by Terah K. Collins. This is the affordable version of the previous book but still a gem. A good book for beginners.
- Feng Shui: Indoor Plants as a Source of Energy by Gunther Sator.
- The Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. A must-have in any library. Highly recommended!
Note: Quality books are not cheap. Compare prices across different stores, and second-hand books are perfectly valid.
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