Recent decades have seen Feng Shui become influential in western interior design and many people are keen to learn how to balance yin and yang elements and improve the flow of chi, or the life force, in their homes to reap a whole host of benefits. Understanding bedroom Feng Shui, for example, promises a room that brings wellness and rejuvenation. And, as one of the benefits of comprehension of Feng Shui meaning can be making a house happy, we asked the experts to reveal how to achieve this.
How do I make my Feng Shui house happy?
Learn about living room Feng Shui, Feng Shui bedroom layout, kitchen Feng Shui, and the principles of the art when it comes to all the other areas of a home, and a better quality of life is said to be the result. And one of the elements of this better life is happiness. But be mindful to get the right start. ‘Feng Shui magnifies whatever is around it, so if your home is cluttered or filled with unhappy memories, implementing feng shui will not work effectively to transform your life in the way you’d like it to until you have cleared the clutter and refreshed the space,’ says interiors therapy and Feng Shui expert Suzanne Roynon (opens in new tab). These are the steps to take to make a Feng Shui house happy.
Clear clutter to make a Feng Shui house happy
Clearing clutter is a crucial first stage when using Feng Shui to make a house happy. ‘Clutter can affect the energy flow in your home. A cluttered home can often lead to feelings of tiredness, depression, claustrophobia, and lower levels of motivation,’ says Zoe Warren of PriceYourJob (opens in new tab). ‘Use organizing and storage solutions to help minimize clutter in the home, particularly around doors, hallways, and passageways,’ she recommends. But getting rid of feelings that can impede happiness also involves assessing the objects around you. ‘Make certain every room in your home is clear of toxic clutter (anything that brings up a negative feeling, memory, or emotion),’ says Kimberly Garner, founder of the School of Holistic Design (opens in new tab). ‘Toxic clutter is visual poison and does not belong in your home. Remove anything you do not love, do not use or that does not support your values, intentions, and desires.’
Pay attention to the function of each room
To create good Feng Shui in your home and make it a happy one, it’s important to align the function of rooms. ‘Our home and each room in our home must support our functional needs and our lifestyle needs,’ says Kimberly Garner. ‘Make sure each room and the items in the room support the function of the room and your lifestyle,’ she advises. ‘Keep the items in the room related to the function of the room.’
Think flow
There are a number of Feng Shui house features to avoid when buying or designing a new home, but bear in mind, too, that it is also vital to ensure the furniture arrangements within it do not impede the flow around the house if you want to create a happy home. ‘Blocked flows of traffic can lead to blocked flows of energy,’ says Zoe Warren. ‘For example, in the living room, you should avoid placing your couch in a position where the back of the couch faces the room’s entrance. ‘Rounded corners are also seen as smoother for traffic flow, so consider a round coffee table over a square one. ‘Think about how you move around each room and make adjustments to make the traffic flow smoother and easier.’
Focus on the entryway
Entryway Feng Shui ideas should be high on your list of what to address to make a house happy. ‘The entrance to your home will represent the energy of the rest of your home,’ says Feng Shui expert Zoe Warren. ‘You’ll want to create a very positive first impression of your home. Keep the entrance clear and clutter-free. The entrance to your home should feel bright, open, and inviting. Add plants to your entryway to make it feel more welcoming. ‘If your front door is sticking or if the locks cause a lot of frustration, get these changed to make entering your home a peaceful, serene, and positive experience. ‘Add a lot of lighting so that you’re not entering a dark room when you walk into your house.’
Understand the commanding position
Whether we’re talking Feng Shui bed placement or office Feng Shui, understanding the commanding position is vital for a home that’s happy in Feng Shui. ‘The command position refers to where your furniture is placed in relation to the door,’ says Zoe Warren. ‘You should ideally be able to see your door whenever you are sitting or lying on your furniture. The best spot for placing furniture is ideally diagonally from your door, with a solid wall behind the piece of furniture. This represents your ability to handle all threats and opportunities effectively.’
Create happiness with color
Different qualities are associated with individual hues in feng shui, so whether you’re selecting Feng Shui bedroom colors or Feng Shui front door colors, for example, you can harness these properties. But what’s also key is considering how they can help make a home happy. ‘Nature-inspired hues are great for incorporating calmness,’ says Zoe Warren. ‘Brighter and more vibrant colors will increase the levels of energy in the home. Darker colors should be kept lower to the floor to provide solid foundations. Lighter colors on walls and ceilings will provide a more open effect.’
Bring in plants
Living green plants are said to represent the wood element in feng shui, and with a natural element as part of your interiors, there is increased harmony between this environment and the outer environment. However, there are guidelines to follow in selecting Feng Shui plants to maximize happiness. ‘Beware of plants with pointy or spiky leaves, as these may subconsciously leave you feeling on edge,’ cautions Zoe Warren. Instead, think houseplants with soft, rounded, and heart-shaped leaves that increase the ease and flow of life. Healthy plants are a must. ‘Avoid dried flowers or dying houseplants,’ cautions Feng Shui expert Suzanne Roynon.
Consider a home’s energy
To make a Feng Shui house happy, tap into the home’s energy. ‘Feng Shui amplifies nine key areas of life, and whether you choose the bespoke traditional method which uses the compass direction and age of the house (especially useful for apartments and large or irregular shaped homes) or the “off the peg” western style Feng Shui based on the location of the front door, you can boost each area using symbolism and by tapping into the energy of the home,’ says Suzanne Roynon. Health and wellbeing are associated with the center of a home and here you can take action to boost happiness. ‘Choose art carefully to represent a healthy, happy lifestyle,’ she advises.
How can I get positive energy at home in Feng Shui?
There are many ways to get positive energy at home in Feng Shui. Interiors therapy and Feng Shui expert Suzanne Roynon recommends starting by sprucing up the front door and entryway to welcome in the positive flow of ‘chi’ or life-force energy which helps the occupants of a home to thrive. Following Feng Shui mirror rules can also create positive energy. Suzanne recommends putting mirrors at right angles to the door to invite positive energy (chi) into the home. Meanwhile, in the bedroom, think pairs for positive energy. ‘Matching nightstands and lamps add balance and encourage “couple” energy, as do decorative items displayed in pairs,’ Suzanne says.
What brings good luck at home?
Bringing good luck to your home will certainly make it happy. ‘Consider using lucky symbols like images of dragons or mandarin ducks, which are associated with good luck,’ suggests Jen Stark, founder of Happy DIY Home (opens in new tab). ‘And add a water feature like a fountain or aquarium, as the sound of running water is said to promote good luck and fortune,’ she advises.
