Integrating some vertical shapes and lines in your home represents growth and expansion. Add some lighting where the light travels upward. Add a tall plant to a corner. If you have the space, add floor to ceiling book shelves or storage cupboards. Work with the parameters you have to create the feeling of height.
3. CLUTTER FREE SPACES
In Feng Shui, clutter is believed to take up valuable space that new incoming energy needs. The advice is to keep your home clutter free as possible...not always possible with children!!
An important area that needs to be clutter free is the Entry to your home. In Feng Shui your entryway represents the way energy enters your home and your life...the advice is to keep it clean and clear or to have designated places for items within the entry. A Feng Shui expert advises "if the space allows, try to include a shoe rack, hooks for coats, and storage for rain gear/umbrellas. It's important that all these items have their 'own place to call home' as they hold the energy of the world beyond your front door."
4. REMOVE OBSTACLES
When it comes to furniture, Feng Shui experts tend to agree that the focus should be on keeping a good traffic flow and avoiding sharp corners and angles that interrupt this. It is said that energy flows much better around curves than in straight lines.
5. ADD PLANTS
Feng Shui principles tell us plants embody life energy, and by introducing them you are adding vitality to your home. Indoor plants also counteract negative energy. Without going into specifics there are certain plants that bring specific types of energy to a home...eg. Aloe Vera combats bad luck and negative energy and is known for cleaning air and reducing toxic chemicals. The Jade plant is known as the money tree because the round leaves symbolise good fortune (this can come in the form of money, health, or fame).
6. USE COLOUR AS A MOOD ENHANCER
Another powerful element in Feng Shui is colour as it creates energy. Colours can also evoke different effects;
Yellow: Sunny, Nourishing, Happy (Fire or Earth Element)
Red: Passion, Courage, Romance (Fire Element)
Green: Growth, Health, Vibrancy (Wood Element)
Orange: Social, Open, Optimistic (Fire Element)
White: Innocence, Freshness, New Beginnings (Metal Element)
Blue: Calm, Tranquility, Peace (Water Element)
Gray: Clear, Detached, Neutral (Metal Element)
Purple: Royal, Mysterious, Noble (Fire Element)
Pink: Gentle, Soothing, Loving (Fire Element)
Black: Unknown, Infinite, Absorbing (Water Element)
Brown: Strength, Grounding, Stability (Wood Element)
And finally...
7. INCORPORATE METAL
Metal is apparently great to incorporate into your home office as it helps with clarity, sharpness of thought, calming and balancing energies, it can help with productivity as well.
If this is something you're interested in incorporating into your home or office on a very basic level, you can see, it isn't really that difficult to apply. In fact, by starting with these 7 principals, you will definitely improve on the function & flow of your space. There is however a lot more to this practice that extends beyond the confines of the building. If you wish to take this more seriously, then it's wise to engage with a Feng Shui expert to fully consider all parameters of your home or office.