Feng Shui is an ancient form of Chinese geomancy still used in decorating today. The word “feng” means wind and “shui” means water. This practice is all about balancing every aspect of your life through the arrangement of your living space. From hanging oversized wall art to transforming the energy of a room with pink wallpaper, here are three ways to use feng shui in home decor.
1. Find Commanding Positions
The commanding position is the best place to spend most of your time in a room. Situating important fixtures in your home such as the bed in a bedroom, the desk in an office or the stove in a kitchen in commanding positions emphasizes the values associated with each piece of furniture or appliance as well as the primary purpose of the room.
Commanding positions can be found in each room of your home. Look for the part of any room furthest from the door that is not directly in line with the doorway. The most commanding positions are diagonal to the door with a clear line of sight. If your floor plan is not compatible, you can still find ways to emphasize the purpose and values of each and every space in your home.
2. Focus On Bagua Areas
Another basic principle of feng shui are the eight bagua areas or trigrams. The Bagua represent different life circumstances such as wealth, fame, partnership, family, tai chi, children, knowledge, career and helpful people. Each of the bagua are associated with particular colors, elements, numbers, seasons and shapes.
If you want to orient a living area toward the bagua of family or zhen, light blue wallpaper can be a good idea. The colors associated with this bagua are blue, green and teal. The shapes are columnar and rectangular, which you might showcase with art or a statement mirror over a mantle. This bagua is also associated with the element of wood.
3. Factor In the Elements
Another way to express your intention is to factor in the elements associated with each bagua in feng shui. As mentioned above, family is associated with the element of wood and specifically yang wood. Based on the meaning of the yin and yang duality, this quality expresses the properties of being hard, focused and solid. Yin wood, which is more soft, passive and yielding, is associated with the bagua of wealth.
In addition to these two baguas associated with wood, other baguas are associated with the elements of yin and yang earth, fire, and metal. Working with the elements of feng shui when decorating your home can help you give meaning to each area. Every bagua has a distinctive shade or palette and element that you can connect to through your choices of wall coverings, flooring, furniture, lighting, plants and art.
Each of these feng shui principles suggests ways that the decoration of your home can contribute toward your overall sense of comfort and well-being. This practice offers inspiration to align your sense of style with your goals for your living space and life.
