The traditional Chinese practice of feng shui aims to harmonise individuals with their surrounding environment. Many Westerners incorrectly think this is just about furniture arrangement. However, it’s much more than that. Many believe proper feng shui can bring happiness and luck to any space, whether that be your home or working place.
Throughout history, feng shui has been used to organise urban areas, parks, homes and even tombs. Feng shui’s primary directives involve making inhabitants feel refreshed and hopeful.
In a nutshell, feng shui is more than moving your sofa to the other side of the room. You don’t even need to buy anything to boost the energy of your own space. Here are five main aspects of feng shui that can help bring a little ancient Chinese energy to your home.
Sunlight
Homes that follow traditional feng shui should take advantage of natural light as much as possible. After all, electricity is a recent technology. In the past, it was important to let the sunlight into your house so you could see. Now, however, it’s still important to let the sunlight into your living space. Sunlight can lift your mood and reduce stress. It makes rooms feel open and free. Plus, getting a little bit more vitamin D never hurts, right? Under traditional feng shui guidelines, sunlight was thought to ward off evil spirits.
Colour
Colour is another essential element of feng shui. Just like light, colour was thought to affect the energy and flow of a certain space. Of course, light colours have warming and lifting energy. On the other hand, dark colors are believed to be heavy and cold. It is recommended that you use dark and light colours in combination to fit the feeling of each room. The tones must be compatible. For instance, blue and white are two colours that are thought to look harmonic together. This is one aspect of feng shui that is already familiar to people in the West. Decorators are already familiar with complementary colours and clashing colours.
Plants
Plants play an important role in any home decoration. Indeed, a home that follows the techniques of feng shui is no different. Plants are, of course, living organisms so the fact that they produce energy is undeniable. Scientific studies have often supported the fact that rooms with plants feel more relaxed and comfortable. In feng shui, plants are particularly powerful if they are in places where you see them in the morning.
Air
Have you ever complained that a room feels too “stuffy”? Maybe there just wasn’t enough airflow. In feng shui, having enough natural air movement is pivotal in bringing energy to space. Proponents of this practice say that fresh air contributes to the health of inhabitants and improves vitality.
Cleaning on a daily basis
Lastly, you may not know that cleanliness is a big part of feng shui. It is said that clutter and disrepair cause negative energy to enter a space. Try getting rid of anything unnecessary and reducing your possessions. Many in the US are following the teaching of Marie Kondo from Japan who instructs her students to get rid of anything that doesn’t “spark joy.” This idea jives with that of feng shui.