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7 Feng Shui Fixes For Interior Design Mistakes
Feng Shui is the ancient eastern practice of balancing Qi, a catch-all for energy, in architecture and design. No one wants terrible qi, so learning to create positive spaces for the flow of qi is essential to ensuring that bad energy doesn’t damage your spirits or fortune. Below are seven easy fixes for interior design mistakes with the help of Feng Shui and expel bad energy from your home or office space.
While there are many schools and methods of Feng Shui, the balance aimed for a dichotomous detente between yin and Yang in this ancient art. So how do we achieve this balance in practice in our daily lives?
Yin and Yang
Depending on the school of thought you choose, balance is achieved between Yin and Yang by adhering to universal schematics. In one school, the Aspirations Method, this schematic relies on the earth’s polar orientation, using cardinal directions to achieve balance. In another school, the Black Sect, it depends on orienting areas of your life.
As with many ancient practices, the problem with Feng Shui is that there is little standardization. The Western conception of Feng Shui holds that the elements of successful balancing are literal, i.e., fire, water, earth, wood, wind, metal, and air.
All of these stem from the five expected elements, and as offshoots, these concepts are easy to understand as materials that direct the influence of Qi. Feng Shui’s conception is less complex and perhaps a little more folksy, and what’s even better, it is easy to implement in your daily life.
Feng Shui Fixes For Interior Design Mistakes: Invite Prosperity
#1. Water
So achieving balance with this element doesn’t mean splashing the occasional bucket of water across your floor! That would be crazy. Instead, it’s easy to understand the ancient wisdom behind including this element.
Water cleanses and purifies, and humans have ritually cleansed themselves in it for thousands of years, lived by bodies of water, and relied on water for survival. Achieving balance concerning water is an essential ancient principle in Feng Shui that can be observed in architecture throughout China, for example, in the Forbidden City.
What’s my easy fix then, you ask? Well, ideally, live facing the water or near water to tap into the tremendous energy its motion can bring into the balance of your life. However, we can’t quite swing that beachfront property for some of us (who live on a budget).
Ok, then, what about a minor water feature? Try a recycling fountain (especially a solar fountain since they’re better for the environment).
#2. Fire
Again, it does not fire what we’re looking for to achieve balance… We don’t want to burn the place down… It’s more about what fire symbolizes for our space. And in this case, fire is light and warmth. Light will open up your space and bring with it the warmth of Yang. Practice:
A skylight or lots of natural light will bring the balance of fire into your space. If you can’t manage natural light because you live in a dark room or basement, try bringing in mirrors or LED natural bulbs that help bring the warm feeling inside.
#3. Interior Design Mistakes: 7 Feng Shui Fixes: Earth
Earth represents not only a handful of dirt but also the life that springs from the soil. It interacts with all of our other elements. That doesn’t mean we need to set a pile of dirt on our table. So elements are represented by-products of the earth.
#4. Gardens
Gardens are significant in Feng Shui-influenced Chinese architecture. Adding a little vegetation to the inside will spruce it up, no pun intended, and bring life to your space. Which feeds right into air practice.
A good form of practice is a garden, maybe a little bonsai tree to enliven your surroundings. It is not only the plant’s life that will bring a vigorous new life, but your tender devotion to the plant will revitalize you. Although, you can always opt for a succulent that requires much less care.
#5. Air
Airflow is one of the most important aspects of Feng Shui. Though it is not considered “an element” in some schools, it is part and parcel of other elements.
A plant’s respiration can enhance your space, purifying air, but more importantly, airflow also brings balance to water and fire. The movement of air carries the earth and transports the seeds of life. As a symbol, this represents vitality, the motion of life. Without the motion of life, our space becomes stale in any school of Feng Shui.
Make sure to orient your space to open air, which works well if you can face a body of water as the water and the air move in tandem. If not, try orienting furniture and windows so that a clear motion path creates a flowing space.
We already see the importance of the Western architecture movement, but it is especially pronounced in Chinese buildings and interiors influenced strongly by Feng Shui principles.
#6. Metal
Metal furniture or buildings can seem cold, but metals are in everything. Our blood carries iron, copper, and manganese, which can be found in our chemical makeup. Seeking that balance in our everyday lives, we cannot omit metal from the vital Feng Shui tool kit. Metals, though not all of them, are in their nature magnetic.
This magnetism works within our body, atmosphere, and outer space to keep universal order. By placing our metal object facing North, you can align your area with things’ natural order.
Practice: Metal is more brutal to implement in design because of its lack of attractiveness and popularity in contemporary furnishing. Choose a modern metal sculpture to complement the design of your room.
#7. Interior Design Mistakes: 7 Feng Shui Fixes: Wood
Wood is a solid record of a life seasoned with time. A beautiful tree has lived and now humbly provides furniture or decoration with its body. The importance of wood in Feng Shui is the significance of giving thanks. More importantly, it remembers to give gratitude daily, which creates personal growth and success.
Growth and success lead to wealth and happiness. Situating our wood item in a way that complements our other elements and positively directs Qi can be tricky because wood can seem out of place with some other elements.
The practice is simple find a piece of wooden furniture, and it is more challenging to place it while respecting the balance you seek. Try a natural wooden table. Best if it is reclaimed wood brimming with the love and energy of its past life.
Conclusion
Implementing these seven accessible practices will help to bring balance to your space while both directing and affecting Qi positively. Remember, of course, Feng Shui is at once a simple and complex practice.
It is intuitive but contemplative, as its more obscure practitioners would have you believe. All of these things are true, but the above simple steps will help you begin to explore how to effectively direct the power of Qi and orient your life more positively.