Creating a Feng Shui Home | Creative Soul in Motion

Feng shui has a variety of tools to optimize your chi. Some are mystical and complicated. Many are common sense and focus on clearing clutter and improving the utility of a space. The study and practice of feng shui can be as simple or involved as you want it to be. So, even if you are not interested in the mystical aspect or do not want to spend a lot of time learning the art, feng shui still offers many easy ways to make your home more organized and comfortable.

Although detailed tools are available to perfect the process, some universal principles apply to all feng shui practitioners. Good feng shui comes down to optimizing your home?s space, flow, light, and balance.

SPACE: Open, organized spaces are essential. A good cleaning session can put you on the road to a much more harmonious home. When choosing what to keep, consider both the psychological and physical aspects of the item. Sentimental items can be positive or negative forces on your home?s chi. Be willing to let go of the things that hold bad memories. Once the clutter is cleared, assess the space. You want open areas with lots of room for the air to flow. Mirrors can reflect available light and open up a small or dim area.

FLOW: Good flow is an outgrowth of organizing your space. Chi cannot flow if it is repeatedly blocked by junk and misplaced items throughout the house. Special attention should be placed on the entryway of the home. Water fountains and house plants oxygenate the air and assist in air flow, and open windows bring in additional fresh air. Finally, consider the design scheme of the house. Make sure it has a pleasing and logical flow from room to room.

LIGHT: Good lighting opens up an area and improves its flow. Open the curtains and doors when possible and let the natural light in. If natural light sources are limited, look to reproduce that effect with ambient lighting and reflective objects such as mirrors and crystals.

BALANCE: The goal of feng shui is to create balance in your surroundings. Balance is accomplished in several ways, most notably by use of the five elements of feng shui: wood, metal, earth, water, and fire.

The five elements are at the heart of feng shui. Each element represents a certain personality type and corresponds to specific shapes and colors. Learning how to coordinate and balance the elemental forces will create harmony. Balancing the five elements is a lot like a game of ?rock paper scissors.? There is a natural flow and order between the elements, and you do not want one element to dominate another. Consider the circular aspect of how the elements relate to each other (for example, how water nourishes the earth but destroys fire) in order to enhance their powers.

WOOD: Wood is associated with green and brown colors and rectangular shapes. Wood personalities are creative and social. Wood is an organic substance, and its energy can be increased by having plants and pets in the home. A home library with a collection of books also helps enhance the creative wood forces.

METAL: Metal is associated with the color white and circular shapes. Metal personalities are compulsive and organized. Metal presence can be increased by decorating with gold and silver items with rounded edges or by using metal wind chimes.

EARTH: Earth is associated with the color yellow and square shapes. Earth personalities are soothing and compassionate. Earth elements can be increased by decorating with terra cotta, jade, and rocks, concentrating on entryways and the bedroom.

WATER: Water is associated with the colors blue and black as well as curved lines and shapes. Water personalities are wise and creative. Water elements enhance the flow of the home but also create an element of disruption. Consider an aquarium or water fountains to increase your water energy.

Photo Credit: Istvan Takacs

FIRE: Fire is associated with the color red and triangular shapes. Fire personalities are bold and energetic. Fire can be easily dominating or destructive, so a little goes a long way. Using a fireplace, cooking over a gas flame, and lighting candles all provide controlled sources of the fire element to the home.

Simplicity is key when space is tight. The basic principles still apply, but emphasis should be placed on clutter removal and organization. Every item in the home should be carefully chosen and thoughtfully placed. Intelligent organization improves the flow of the area. Choose a unified color and design scheme to further improve the flow and organization of the home.

Finally, concentrate on optimizing a few of the major energy centers of the home such as creating an inviting entryway and placing your bed in a power position (facing but not in the path of the door, with a solid wall behind you). Even these small changes will offer the feng shui benefits of a happier, more harmonious home.

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Stephanie Woodard is a freelance author writing on behalf of Gaiam TV. She is an avid animal lover who is currently writing Cats in the Belfry; about her family?s small army of pets. Stephanie thinks we all find spirituality in our own ways.

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