How do you incorporate Feng Shui in your Living Room and what exactly is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui, literally meaning “wind and water,” is a traditional chinese concept of linking the destiny of man to his environment.
Everything around you makes you feel something, when you look or touch it. It has a ch’i. Ch’i is the animating life force that is everywhere; it “permeates your home, physical surroundings, the rivers, roads, trees, and all people.” This hidden force may be divided into sha (negative) ch’i or yun (positive) ch’i.
Adding Feng Shui in your Interior Design
In Interior Design, Feng Shui is an art of arranging objects, structure, and colors to achieve harmony and balance. It works like a meditation where each object of the room and color of the space help you achieve your life goals by emitting positive energy and helping you emotionally towards that goal. Here are 7 tips to help you start:
1. Planning
Decide an ideal aura for your space.
The first step is to become aware of what you want to feel when you come home. Do you want to feel safe? relaxed? energetic?
According to Laura Cerrano, a Feng Shui expert “the presentation of your living room sets a certain feeling, emotion, mindset, and energetic frequency before you venture into the rest of your home.”
Notice how you function in space
The second step is to recognize how you or your family function and use the space.
- What activities take place or will take place in the living room.
- Will it be used mainly to relax, interact, or leisure?
- How many people will use the living room and how will they like to use it?
- Will there be guests?
- Would anyone use the space to sleep?
2. Renovating
In the Feng Shui living room, doors shouldn’t open up into other doors or directly face other doors. It’s to be avoided as it creates a tunnel or labyrinth effect which reminds us of suffocation, being trapped, or being tired. If this is the case in your architecture, try investing in some upgrades.
3. Colors
Use bagua map to guide you.
To create a Feng Shui living room, determine the best colors for yourself with the help of a Bagua Map. In Feng Shui, each color is considered to be an expression of one of the five Feng Shui elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Each element in a Bagua Map oozes different energies which you can see below.
Keep the wall colors simple
One of the common mistakes people make in Feng Shui home is that they start painting all four walls according to the table and forget the other important rule of Feng Shui which is to keep things simple and declutter.
Bright colors on the walls contribute in making the space look chaotic and deranged. They confuse the eyes while lighter colors work more as a good background for the decor. Choose lighter wall colors to naturally invite a sense of balance and flow but accent with a pop of color.
4. Use all the elements
Feng Shui is all about harmony, so you need to create a balance in decor and furniture material. One single material shouldn’t overpower everything else in the room. Use a variety of textures and finishes. For example, if you are using a metal and glass coffee table in the room and have some metal stands as well, try to soften things up a bit with some soft wood tones, textiles light in color such fluffy pillows, wall decor, and in-door plants.
5. Sofa placement
When it comes to sofa placement in the living room, Feng Shui seeks that the person feels comfortable in the space. If there is a wall in the back, the person on the sofa will feel more at ease as he is aware that no one could be staring at him from the back. There should be a clear view of the door. If it’s not possible, place a mirror strategically to achieve the goal.
Don’t put two sofas across from each other. This is one the biggest no-no’s! People don’t like to face each other directly. It creates discomfort. Place accent chairs on an angle to create a conversational area that flows with conversation and contentment. In addition to this, you can also add a coffee table and center decoration to minimize discomfort and to create a more peaceful environment.
6. Air and Natural light
Lighting is an often-overlooked in Feng Shui. However, good lighting and fresh air is one of the most important parts of good Feng Shui. When we see things clearly it eases our mind but it’s also necessary to be aware of how much light you like in the room and fix it accordingly. Try to illuminate dark corners and shadows in the room for consistency.
- Let the sunlight in
Natural sunlight is crucial to all life on this planet, and it’s positive energy increases the mood. Make sure not to block your windows with any piece of decoration or furniture. If you have small windows use mirrors to reflect good light in the room.
- Use good ventilation
Furthermore, use outside facing windows to have more ventilation in the room. Another rule of thumb for Feng Shui is to open your windows everyday for at least 9 minutes to decrease negative energy.
7. Declutter and Personalize
“One of the easiest Feng Shui principles to remember is to not let clutter accumulate in your living room or in any room for that matter, some may debate this and say it doesn’t matter, and yet science has proven the negative mental and physical effect excess clutter has on the human mind and body,”
Laura Cerrano, Feng Shui Expert
- Eliminate items with bad energy
Everything you don’t use has to go. Don’t keep any item that doesn’t bring you joy or isn’t associated with a happy memory. A piece that has been given to you by your ex-lover, or a friend and family member you don’t talk to anymore, let it go!
- Add plants
Have a good amount of natural plants in the living room. Some plants like bamboo and aloe vera ask for much less care and can grow very well in-door.
Everything around us affects us either in conscious or subconscious level so incorporating pieces that you love, and placing them in the best locations will ensure the optimal flow of energy. Use this 7 tips to help you create a more balanced living room.
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Hi, I’m Kimberly, the owner of KH Home Design serving Connecticut. With my streamlined process, exceptional customer service, and impeccable design sense, I’m here to transform your home into a stunning reflection of your personal style and needs. As a multi-award-winning Interior Designer with a passion for design and a deep understanding of psychology, I create spaces that not only look amazing but also feel amazing to be in. Book a Complimentary Call today to get started on creating the home of your dreams.
