How To Apply The Art of Feng Shui To Your Home

How To Apply The Art of Feng Shui To Your Home

Posted by Doug Gardner on 22nd Jul 2014

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophical system which focuses on harmonizing people with their respective surrounding environment. While its origins date back some 5,000 years ago to the Yangshao and Hongshan cultures, it remains a highly popular and equally effective interior design and decorating technique. This week we’re going to take a closer look at the art of feng shui, revealing how anyone can incorporate this ancient system into their home.

One of the first steps in achieving feng shui is to eliminate the clutter. Going back to the basic principle of this system, it’s designed to create a balanced, harmonized relationship between the person and his or her environment; therefore, allowing clutter to fill your home will take the environment in the opposite direction.

Removing clutter is a task that’s easier said than done, especially for homeowners who struggle with limited storage space. However, this is a critical component in achieving a harmonized environment. Go through your home and eliminate any and all clutter, including furniture, clothes, junk mail, etc. If you don’t need or want it, get rid of it.

With the clutter removed from your home, you can now focus on the flow of foot traffic. Ideally, you should have clearly defined paths for guests and family members to traverse through your home. If furniture blocks the normal flow of traffic, it can negatively affect your home’s feng shui, so make sure all couches, recliners and other furniture is kept out of the way.

Air quality is another component of feng shui in the home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental dangers. That’s a pretty shocking statement given the countless number of other environmental dangers. You can improve the air quality in your home, and subsequently promote the art of feng shui, by changing your air filter and using an indoor water fountain. Indoor water fountains catch dust, dirt, bacteria, and mold, preventing them from floating through the air.

Lastly, you must define the bagua — the energy grid — of your home. Certain areas of a home are connected to certain areas of your life, and using the bagua system of feng shui provides a greater understanding of the connection between you and the environment.

Are you a feng shui addict? Let us know your thoughts on this ancient Chinese philosophical system in the comments section below!