The practice of feng shui is becoming more common. The basic idea is to make your interiors feel more harmonious, hopefully giving you peace of mind.

Feng shui is actually an ancient Chinese art, originating more than 3,000 years ago. People living in remote communities would adorn their homes with various objects, hoping to harmonize their physician environments and improve how they felt. 

The phrase “feng-shui” translates directly as “wind-water” and comes from the Daoist principle of Qi. The idea is to elevate the energy of spaces in your home so that they feel more positive. 

Ancient Chinese farmers originally used feng shui to figure out the best places to build their homes and grow crops. However, rulers also used the concept to build their palaces and temples.

Recently, feng shui has become a more widely appreciated and respected practice. Interestingly, the Chinese no longer prioritize it as much as they used to, but it is finding increasing popularity in the West. 

So, what should you do to make your home abide by feng shui principles? Here is a list of things you might want to try: 

Keep Your Bathroom Calm And Restful

Many people install bright spotlights in their bathrooms to wake them up in the morning. But this trend actually works against feng shui. Instead, the room should feel soft and gentle. 

The best way to achieve this effect is to adjust the lighting to something that feels less harsh. Instead of opting for multiple white spotlights, choose natural light bulbs instead. (These come with a special filtering coating that increases the red and orange content of the light). Also, consider putting your bathroom lights on a dimmer, even if that means you need to place the switch outside. This way, you can set lighting levels just right, helping you feel cozier on dark winter mornings. 

Arrange Your Furniture With Intention

The next step is to arrange your furniture to reflect the flow of energy in a room. This concept comes back to the notion of Qi, the life force that flows through everything. 

You can do this by: 

• Ensuring that seating areas face each other
• Clearing away any clutter that might block the flow of energy in a room
• Avoiding placing furniture with sharp angles or corners facing a doorway
• Avoiding placing furniture in a location where it could block a pathway or gangway

If you are not sure how to arrange the furniture according to feng shui principles, use a Bagua Map. These help you determine the flow of energy in your space by dividing up the room into nine areas reflecting various aspects of life, including health, money, love, and careers. You can find them online and then use them to construct the perfect arrangements in your rooms. 

Keep The Temperature Pleasant

No matter how beautifully you set out your interiors, it is challenging to keep them feeling pleasant if they are too hot or humid. That is why modern feng shui places an emphasis on residential HVAC. The temperature should be perfect for your body and the season. 

In the summer, for example, a feng shui interior aims to attract as much natural light as possible without it feeling too humid. By contrast, in the winter, rooms should still feel inviting, but they don’t necessarily need to be toasty. 

As always, feng shui is about creating a balance, even if that means going against nature. 

Hang Mirrors In The Right Locations

Hanging mirrors in the right places is another critical aspect of feng shui. Practitioners recommend against placing them directly opposite windows and doors as this can create a sense of unease. 

Instead, put mirrors adjacent to the entrances to your rooms. Use them to increase a sense of space and reflect light where appropriate. Do not use them for anything else. 

Make Your Bedroom Calm And Peaceful

As you might expect, feng shui practitioners pay a lot of attention to the bedroom. It is the most restful part of the home, so it is critical to creating a calming atmosphere. 

General feng shui recommendations for this room include: 

• Avoiding any clutter that could affect your unconscious mind
• Choosing a comfortable and supportive mattress
• Using soft lighting
• Placing soft furnishings, such as pillows and cushions, on the bed and strategically around the room

Feng shui is very much a personal practice. Therefore, an approach that works for one person may be inappropriate for another.

When it comes to your bedroom, you will want to keep practicing and experimenting to see what works for you. Even if you create a carbon copy of a supposed “feng shui” interior, it may not affect your emotions positively. 

Add Natural Elements

The next step is to add natural elements to the room. For instance, it is a good idea to include plants, stones, crystals, and water features in the room. 

Natural materials have the ability to change how you feel much more than synthetic furnishings. Being close to nature reminds you where you came from. It brings you closer to the natural world, something we have largely forgotten in modern society. 

Organize Your Space

The heart of feng shui is organization and decluttering. The more you can empty the space, the more receptive it will be to you. 

Here are some decluttering and organization tips for your home that could help you achieve a sense of harmony: 

• Get rid of old items you no longer need or love
• Create a storage system that works for you by buying bins, shelving, or other storage solutions
• Regularly review and maintain your space to prevent clutter from building up again
• Make it a habit to declutter on the weekends
• Eliminate items you don’t use or love. Follow Marie Kondo’s advice to sell or donate anything that no longer brings you joy
• Make more use of the vertical space in your rooms to prevent clutter from clogging everything up at ground level

Once you achieve a feng shui interior that works for you, you will notice that you start to feel different. Your home suddenly becomes a place that builds you up instead of dragging you down.