Feng Shui: Could It Bring Harmony to Your Home?

The ancient Chinese practice of feng shui literally means ‘wind’ and ‘water’. So, is it a valuable guide for harmonious living or a load of hot air?

Even if you don’t know exactly what feng shui is all about, you’ve probably heard LA celebrities and interior designers extolling the virtues of it. So if it works for Bill Gates, Madonna and George Clooney, could feng shui work for you? Here’s a rundown of the basics.

History

Feng shui is the practice of arranging work and living spaces to create harmony, and dates back to China 4,000 years ago. Initially, westerners dismissed feng shui as superstition, but by the 1980s and 1990s, it was popular with celebrities and big corporations (Coca-Cola and Nike apparently use feng shui in their HQs to boost productivity).

Philosophy

Feng shui is about balancing nature’s key elements – fire, water, metal, earth and wood – in your surroundings. You don’t have to be too literal about it – indoor plants can represent wood, mirrors can equate to water, and warm lighting can be akin to fire. You can also use colours and textures to recreate elements of nature. When arranging furniture, you need to be mindful of how qi – life force energy – flows. Hence one of the central planks of feng shui is getting rid of clutter, as it negatively affects flow.

This sounds like old-fashioned common sense to us (our top tip for anyone selling their home is to declutter to get the best price). Here are some other basic rules of feng shui. See what you make of them.

The front door is seen as the main portal, as it’s how the outside world sees your home. It must be clean and clear of obstruction.
The kitchen is a source of nourishment, so it must be spotlessly clean.
When arranging seating, chairs should face each other to facilitate communication.
In the bathroom, the toilet lid should be kept down to prevent prosperity going down the drain.
Indoor plants are good as they represent improved productivity and cash flow.
A small cat or frog ornament on your desk will bring you prosperity and luck.