Living Well At Home
How to Use Feng Shui for the Perfect Room
Coming home needs to feel like a reward. You manage stress all day, so when you step through that front door, we want those problems to close behind you. But how do you start cultivating a peaceful place? Let’s go back to the beginning. Like the very beginning. The beginning of say, 5000 BC, when the Yangshao and Hongshan cultures invented the calming, balancing practice we now call feng shui.
The Invention of Feng Shui
For those of us who love astrology, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how connected the stars are to feng shui. Feng shui started long before the compass was invented. Chinese astrologers would use a gnomon, aka part of a sun dial, to determine their place in the universe. A big part of feng shui is centering yourself and connecting to what is around you. Knowing how your rooms relate to the outside world is the first step of designing your peaceful layout.
For example, do your living room windows face east or west? If you have eastern-facing windows, you’ll feel all that wonderful morning light, but things could feel cold and dark in the winter seasons. For optimal happy feelings, add glowing warmth to your room. Try a TV stand and integrated electric fireplace, like this one shown below.
Use Feng Shui to Organize Your Room
Designing a room is like being a host at a restaurant. When you walk into a restaurant, the host greets you and takes you to the best seat. When you walk into, let’s say your bedroom, where would be the best seat? At a restaurant, you wouldn’t want to sit the near the door because there’s too much energy: cold breezes keep coming in, large crowds of loud guests congregate there, and people are constantly walking behind you. The best seat would be away from the door and close to a window with a nice view.
We call this ideal place the command position because it is the best place in the room to sit and enjoy yourself. Use the rest of your furniture pieces to support the command position. Now let’s go back to that bedroom layout. If possible, the command position is having the bed furthest away from the door and near a window. This way you won’t feel that bustling energy but still enjoy the view and light.
How Feng Shui Improves Your Energy
For those who still think feng shui is bit out there, let us harken back to our primitive instincts. As humans, we are tuned into the energy all around us. Whether we are aware of it or not, our brains and bodies respond to different atmospheres and occasions. For example, if your living room window reveals a busy street, it could be hard to relax on the couch where everyone can see you. However, if you set up a desk in front of the window, you will feel more comfortable because you are in a professional mode. Try using an adjustable desk to help you stay balanced between sitting and standing; we like this one from Tresanti.
Another smart way to harness positive energy is to understand how you naturally flow throughout a room. If you have a living room that leads to the back patio, it might feel better to keep the space clear of coffee tables. Instead, try side tables that have a larger surface area so guests can place drinks within reach.
Find Your Style
Want to learn more about how to match your personality to your interior design? Read our next article, which is all about finding your home style.
