Feng Shui: A Guide to Elemental Color

When it comes to choose interior design elements and color combinations, I've always preferred applying the principles of feng shui. Feng shui, in translation, means wind, water and energy - or Chi.

Chi needs to flow through our surroundings like wind and water flow in nature. The art of feng shui is to bring our intentions (consciousness) into harmony with our surroundings (matter) - to bring support rather than constant challenges into our life.

We bring balance into our home by focusing our intent on the many aspects of feng shui, including the healing properties of color. The harmony of color in feng shui teachings is a powerful transformative process, and one of the best ways to choose interior design color combinations.

I've come to enjoy the process and result of feng shui color principles so much that I can't imagine going back to traditional interior design models, or seeking out an interior designer.

I have created feng shui categories below for you, so you can begin applying subtle or dramatic changes to your home through color/element harmony, based on the compass direction of rooms within your home.

Feng shui can seem complex at first, but once you explore and learn a little about feng shui you will easily express yourself and your intentions through your interior design.

A Guide for Elemental Colors:

Fire=Red, Pink, Orange, Purple, Deep Yellow

Metal= Gold, Silver, Metals, White, Gray

Earth= Earth tones such as Tan, Beige, Light brown, Light yellow

Water= Blue, Black

Wood= Green

Color Guide for Elemental Colors based on Compass Directions:

South - Fame and Reputation:

Use the element Fire, particularly in the hue of red in this direction; candles, fireplaces, ovens are good energy in this direction. A red/green combination is nurturing in this direction.

South- West - Marriage, Romance and Relationships:

Pink (fire) is the color associated to this direction, but some find darker shades of yellow positive as well. Positive color combinations are pink/green, and green/blue. In your south- west corner add pink pottery and articles in symbolic two's.

This will nurture the sense of sharing in a relationship. Two pink candles can add a supportive dynamic - perhaps choose ceramic candles.

West - Creativity and Children:

The color white, and shades of metal (gray, silver, copper) work best in the metal sphere of your Ba Gua. Excellent color combinations are yellow/metallic, for earth nurtures metal.

Refrain from applying red for fire exhausts metal. Consequently, does an overabundance of water. Metal appliances, computers, televisions are excellent here, as well as earth pottery and the like.

North- West - Networking, Compassion, and Helpful People or Guardians:

The north-west color is white and the element is metal. Yellow/metallic works here, red/metallic not so good. Appliances and ceramic earth products work here and metal pot plants including metal ornaments and fountains.

The North - Career:

Black/Blue is the color of the north and water is its element. Black/blue and metallic blue are excellent combinations for the north direction. Yellow/blue, red/black, and red/blue are not so good in the north.

Use fountains, ponds and fish tanks in the north, and metal containers nurture the water. Remain conservative with the element wood, as wood exhausts water so this is not a great area for plants, or the color green.

North- East - Learning, Education and Knowledge:

The element is earth in the north- east, and its color range is of the earth colors: beige, tan, ochre, light brown and light yellow. Red/yellow is an excellent choice of colors for the north- east.

Fire nurtures earth, but remain conservative with metallic objects and color ranges with earth as metal exhausts earth.

The East - Health and Family:

The element of the east is wood, and the color is green. The color combination of green/red and green/blue are best in this direction.

Pots of herbs, plants, bamboo plants and bamboo window coverings are great here; so are fountains as water nourishes wood.

South- East - Wealth and Prosperity:

The south- east color is green and the element is wood. Most of the same applies to the south- east as in the east direction above. Bamboo, plants, fountains are all nourishing in this direction.

Avoid yellow/green color combinations and downplay the fire element. By adding wood into this direction (wood feeds fire), you are instantly nurturing fire.

Some red is excellent, but it is best to downplay actual fire objects such as fireplaces, candles, and floor lamps. A combination of blue and green is beneficial. Therefore, a combination in your South- East room(s) of red-green-blue can truly bring a sense of nurturing and healing, if this is what you are looking forward to achieving for this space.