Channel your Home Chi with a Flare for Feng Shui

The Chinese tradition of feng shui has been used for over 5,000 years. Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly common for homeowners to practice the tradition when decorating or arranging their furniture. Some may argue that the practice is superstitious, religious or philosophical. I, on the other hand, must stress to you that this is merely hearsay.

Feng shui is an artistic science of which is based upon the laws of nature. Its main purposes are to deepen love, improve health, raise your spirit and increase wealth. To some, this may sound mythical, but it is intriguing to see how little alterations, such as the way you place and distribute your furniture can affect the way your chi (energy) flows.

Whether you buy your furniture from Laura Ashley, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer or bargain retailer Furniture Traders is irrelevant. However, the way in which you position your household and office furniture is highly significant, in particular, when aspiring to harmony.

By incorrectly placing furniture, you are interrupting your chi flow. Recently, I have used feng shui to rearrange my home and found an array of useful tips when doing so.

Space is fundamental to feng shui when regarding furniture. By cluttering your home with too many tables, chairs, and other obstacles, you are simply blocking the chi flow. It is helpful to leave spaces between the floor and furniture, wherever possible, whilst each item of furniture should be a substantial distance from each other. For example, place your dressing table at least two or three feet from your bed.

In feng shui, it is believed that the main door is the entrance of all opportunities. By arranging your furniture in a way where any sofas, chairs and beds are facing or in view of the door, you will allow these opportunities to travel. In addition to this, the entrance should be well lit – a dark, gloomy entrance discourages chi.

The way in which you place pictures and paintings affects the way the chi travels. By placing your pictures and paintings at eye level and above a piece of furniture, you are maintaining the balance and making your home an aesthetic success, in particular when the items are large.

Balance of Ying and Yang is also a significant element of feng shui. If items are tall, you should add low things, if a colour is bright, you should add mild colours and if an item is horizontal, add a vertical one. It is crucial to strike a balance as this will prevail a feeling of goodness.

Feng shui strongly indicates that a fireplace is crucial to stimulating and enhancing happy living and good flow of chi. It is advised that a fireplace should be a central feature of a living room, and homeowners should make provisions for one wherever possible.

So remember, whether you have new, discount furniture or expensive antiques, it is essential to consider spacing, positioning and most importantly; the flow and channel of chi. Practising this Chinese tradition might just make the little differences needed to a lifestyle which can be chaotic at the best of times. It certainly has helped with mine!