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Feng Shui - What is it and how does it work?

Uncategorized Mar 07, 2021
 

As Designer's we have to keep up to date with the latest materials, trends, building codes / requirements etc ...a week does not go by where we don't learn something new. This week it is the principles and concepts of Feng Shui!

You may be wondering why we are learning about Feng Shui...we are currently working on quite a few large scale renovations and one project in particular has us analysing and questioning our new concepts a little more closely than the other projects.

With every new design project we take on, it is always our intention to deliver the best possible outcome when it comes to the functionality, flow and feel of new spaces. All of these aspects must be considered with the clients lifestyle & beliefs in mind & with this particular project, we need to be mindful of the principles of Feng Shui. Over the years, we have had clients wishing to incorporate Feng Shui into their design to some degree, but every now & then we get a client who takes this very seriously & will engage a Feng Shui expert for us to consult with. This ensures the client that all aspects of design & layout are fully considered in line with the principals of Feng Shui.

This has definitely piqued our curiosity as to how the elements and principles of Feng Shui are going to be applied to our concepts. We love learning new things & will always do some research in order to be across and understand the feedback the Feng Shui expert will be providing us with. 

We are by no means experts, as this practice can be quite involved & requires years of study, but we thought we would share with you what we have discovered as the basic understanding of it's principals.

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice that charts the balance of energy, or chi, via scientific calculations.The five elements of Feng Shui are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Their correct presence and placement in our homes stimulates Chi and promotes our wellbeing.

The goal of Feng Shui is to invite positive chi into your home so that your life feels both energized and balanced. By definition it means 'wind & water'. According to the principles of Feng Shui, the placement – and omission of – items throughout the home can have an effect on our energy and wellbeing depending on their direction and position, as well as how different colours and objects interact with one another. 

The Principles

1. COMMANDING POSITION 

One of the most important principles is the commanding position. Essentially, this is the position of some important pieces of furniture. A Bed (represents you), a Desk (represents your career), an Oven (represents your wealth). Though you may not be able to move your oven, it’s probably fairly easy to get your bed and desk in a better position. The main thing here is to be able to see the door when using these items—can you see it when you’re in bed or sitting at your desk? You shouldn’t be directly in line with the door, but shouldn’t have your back to it either. All this comes into play so you can receive optimal positive energy.

2. VERTICAL ELEMENTS

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.

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