Using a compass to get an accurate facing direction of the house

Almost all of us struggle with workflow or not having enough energy to get things done, especially if we work from home. Often, and shockingly, a lack of productivity doesn’t come from inside of us, but from how we interact with our environments. According to Feng Shui, energy exists everywhere in the physical world, and when the home environment is “off,” you can absorb that same energy. As an interior designer, I know this to be true.

So, how can you make your space feel like it flows to get YOU in the flow? To stop being stagnant, I use the practice of Feng Shui (Pronounced FUNG-SHWAY in Mandarin), a 5000-year-old Chinese philosophy of balancing the elements on earth to create harmony.

but What does Feng Shui mean?

Feng Shui translates to Wind Water. These 2 energies are what control our Earth’s flow. The thought is that through the 5 elements of our world, which are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood, Feng Shui can manipulate the energies of wind and water to bring positive chi.

In today’s practice, there are 2 main schools of Feng Shui: Classical Feng Shui and Black Hat Sect Feng Shui. Classical Feng Shui refers to the traditional practice and is very complex. It is applied through a calculation of numbers and analyzing landforms, while the Black Hat Sect is a more “Americanized” version of Feng Shui that is based more on intuition.

Even though these two practices are very different, their basic principles are aligned. Now let’s dig into those ideas so you can implement them right away, and get the chi flowing!

Feng Shui Rule #1: Follow the Five Elements

Wind and Water are controlled by these 5 elements. The chart above shows the 5 elements and the colors and shapes associated with each. Each element is also assigned directions. To enhance an element, you can look at the direction each element is associated with, and add that extra element to that direction.

But how can we follow these five elements in our home?

From a simplified perspective, I like to have my clients observe their space that feels most unsettling to them. Look at the element chart and ask yourself: Is there an overabundance of one element in that area that might be causing that feeling? You may want to adjust the element by removing something you have an abundance of. This may be too many plants, white walls, too many candles stacked on a table, or even too much wood furniture.

Adding an element from the direction that the space is located in may enhance that feeling, or if you want a certain feeling to ignite, then look at the representation of the element on the chart and add that element to the space.

Here are some ways you can ignite certain Feng Shui feelings in your space:

Fire: Light candles or add some lamps

Earth: Add crystals to a bowl or find stone or pottery home decor

Metal: Find decor with circular shapes like round mirrors

Water: Add Black or Dark blue pillows or paint a wall black for extra drama

Wood: Add house plants to your space

FENG SHUI Rule #2: keep your front door—the mouth of the chi—clean.

Your front door is where the energy comes in! To keep this “mouth of the chi” clean, follow this checklist by making sure you answer an unwavering ‘YES’ to all three statements:

There are 0 cobwebs in sight.
The doormat is free of dust & debris.
The doorbell is working.

Adding planters to the sides of the doors can represent protection from enemies entering as well. In essence, they are like the guard dogs placed at the front of the home. If you add red or orange flowers at the doorway, you will Spark fire energy to stimulate and excite guests!

If you don’t regularly use your front door, you can create stagnant energy. Open and close your door to let the energy flow through. I like to make a practice of opening the front door at least 9 times a day.

Why 9 you ask? In the Feng Shui principle, the number 9 refers to accomplishment or completion. When you get to the 9th time, it’s like getting to the finish line.

FENG SHUI Rule #3: CLEAR CLUTTER TO LET ENERGY FLOW

Do you have a corner of your room where you collect junk? Or, do you have disorganized drawers or just spots in your home that you designate as your junk collecting space? When you clutter your space, you are cluttering your mind and stopping growth and productivity. Take time to clear the clutter and donate what you don’t want to hold onto any longer. Make sure you have a purpose for each drawer you use. When creating drawer space, ask yourself how you want that drawer to serve you. You can also read up on more organizational tips for Feng Shui as you continue to de-clutter and organize!

Walk through your space and make sure furniture isn’t blocking pathways and there are clear areas to pass. Rearrange any furniture that might be preventing you from walking from room to room.

Every week, circulate your home to make sure you have clutter-free zones. When there is a flow of energy, you will feel less anxious and this allows for more productivity and joy.

Now let’s circle back to the number 9. If you have a daunting amount of clutter and you feel overwhelmed, start with clearing 9 things a day until you are finished. And don’t forget to buy pretty boxes to store your newly organized materials in!

FENG SHUI Rule #4: Make a Salt Cure to Soak Up Negative Energy

In Feng Shui, salt is considered to be the most potent way to get rid of negative energy, and to reinstate harmonious balance. If you have had unwanted guests, don’t like the feeling of a space, or just want to overall cleanse your space, putting a glass jar or bowl filled with rock salt will absorb that negative energy.

Place the bowl in the corners of the room where you feel the negative energy for at least 12 hours. When it is time to dispose of the salt, use rubber gloves so as not to touch the salt and dump the salt in a trash can. Cleanse the jar or bowl with warm water before using the jar again.

*PRO TIP: Salt is not only used to cleanse space but it also has been known to help with sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, you can always put a bowl of salt where you sleep to feel more relaxed and rested.

Following these 4 rules of Feng Shui will get you on the course to understanding how Feng Shui can change your environment and, most importantly, change YOU - making you happier, more productive, and open to abundance.

If you want to follow the rules of feng shui in your home, here’s how I can help:

And if we haven’t met yet, it’s nice to virtually meet you – I’m Kat, an interior designer and founder of Urban Lark. I turn spaces into statements and I’d love to do that for you. Here’s how we can connect:

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