Welcoming Feng Shui into our spaces

Image 1- Feng Shui in an interior space (Tolle, M., 2023)

Established over 6000 years ago, the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui has clearly withstood the test of time. It has been used for centuries to create a balance of energies and bring in positive energy into a space. In this blog post, I will explore the different Feng Shui principles and how they can translate into a physical space.

There are several principles, or laws, to Feng Shui. To start, chi is the vital force or the energy (Cho, A. & Khare, S., 2025). This can be badly showcased in a space by either including little furniture in a large room or having lots of clutter in a small room. This is a clear example of how energies in a room can cause chaos if not treated correctly. Another key principle of Feng Shui, which is key in interior layout and design is the commanding position. This refers to always having a clear line of sight to the door, from the space where most of the time is being spent (Cho, A. & Khare, S, 2025). Finally, there are 5 natural elements (earth, metal, wind, water, fire) and it is key to balance these in the space; decorating with plants or balancing colours and decluttering spaces can help to incorporate this (Cho, A. & Khare, S., 2025).

In terms of incorporating these principles into a physical space, it is important to fulfil the needs of every individual space and balance the energies. For instance, the front entrance should be well-illuminated, welcoming and free of clutter (Mpichras, Z., 2025). For the kitchen, the commanding position is the stove, therefore, when at the stove, your back shouldn't face the entrance as this can pose a danger and bring in negative energy into the space, which can throw the balance off (Mpichtas, Z., 2025). It is therefore crucial to make the stove (which also symbolises wealth) the centrepiece or at least the starting point of the layout or design (Sessums, Z., 2020). In a bedroom, it is key to treat the bed (commanding position) with positive energy- avoid placing it under sloped ceilings, fans or chandeliers as this can create constriction and bring tension and negative energy into the space (Mpichtas, Z., 2025). Furthermore, TVs promote unrestful sleep, so eliminating them from the bedroom can help bring serenity and calmness to the room (Mpichtas, Z., 2025). The bed represents you, so treating it well and placing it so that it radiates positive energy can only do good for us (Sessums, Z., 2020). Finally, in the workspace, the desk is the commanding position and represents your career (Sessums, Z., 2020). Therefore, the drawers and cabinets should be clean and free from clutter; in addition, the desk shouldn't face the wall, if possible. The most active energy, such as windows, should be to your left (male side of the yinyang), meaning the quiet and calm energy, such as walls, should be to your right (female side of the yinyang) (Mpichtas, Z., 2020). Using metal in the workspace can bring clarity and sharpness, as well as productivity (Sessums, Z., 2020).

To conclude, Feng Shui is an important practice within our spaces and should be constantly used to assess the energies and balance of a space. This can brighten up and bring a lot of character and charm to a space.

References:

Cho, A., & Khare, S. (2025, February). The Basics Principles of Feng Shui. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-feng-shui-1275060#:~:text=The%20five%20feng%20shui%20elements,you%20balance%20these%20five%20elements.

Mpichtas, Z., (March 2025). Feng Shui: a beginners guide to getting the layout of your house right. House and Garden. https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/feng-shui-what-bedroom-house-tips

Sessums, Z., (March, 2020). 7 Simple Ways to Use Feng Shui in Your Home. Architectural Digest. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/simple-ways-to-use-feng-shui-in-your-home

Tolle, M., (2023). https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/living-family-rooms/g45328436/feng-shui-living-room-ideas/