Feng Shui for the Home

The act of applying feng shui to your life, and to the arrangement of furniture in your home, is much easier than you may think. The idea of feng shui stems from a Chinese appreciation of organization, cleanliness and thorough planning which coincides with the channeling of Qi(chi), or the natural energy of the world around us.

The first step to feng-shuing any home is to open up space. Small increments of space add up so make as much room as possible. Consider forming bookshelves or cabinets along the walls and try to do the same with the backs of furniture. This will prevent you from feeling walled in and also create fluidity as you move from room to room. Next try to determine how to position your furniture and decorations. Try to utilize vertical space as much as possible. For example, if you have two book shelves-- one smaller than the other-- consider stacking one on top of the other. Also, feng shui may also incorporate getting rid of old things or unnecessary accessories. Extra clothes, chairs or kitchenware will be gladly accepted at thrift stores or donation centers. Needless to say, freeing up space is, in my experience, the most important aspect of applying feng shui to an American lifestyle.

Once space has been freed up go around and collect any nick knacks or 'stuff' that only clutter shelves and space. If some of these items are too nostalgic to stuff in a box, consider hanging it on the wall. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, a vast majority of room space goes unused. The benefits of building 'up' instead of 'out' can make relaxing at home much more enjoyable. Don't be afraid to put some stuff away in the attic if needed. Clutter can often work against the functions of feng shui. Next, arrange extra furniture, rugs and decorations by their variations in color, size and texture. The walk from the doorway to the living room should just 'feel' right. Things like symmetry, attention to detail and precision may seem obsessive at the time, but you'll be thanking yourself for the effort later.

Finally, adjust lighting and function according to your lifestyle and needs. Try to balance out the amount of natural and artificial light in each room. This will help keep up with the sensation of balance and harmony which represent the main premises of feng shui.

Now all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your new home. With less clutter and more room (along with more pleasing color schemes and correlations), a once average home or apartment can become something like a haven. Keep in mind just how much time the average human being spends in the home. The Chinese consider feng shui to be an essential part of their lives, and for the right reasons. Applying these ideas to your environment can improve attitude and health. The schematics of feng shui are flexible, especially when applied to the fast paced, technological world we're living in today. Feng shui should, above all else, serve as an example of how other cultures can contribute to one another. Try out some of these tips and find out for yourself. I think you may be quick to agree.