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Consumer Reports: Feng Shui Tips for Every Room in Your Home
I was just sourced for an article in Consumer Reports about feng shui. Here it is:
Feng Shui Tips for Every Room in Your Home
How to channel positive energy throughout your home and reinvigorate your life
By Perry Santanachote
It’s springtime, finally! For many people, that also means it’s time for spring cleaning. But if you haven’t already, consider also applying feng shui principles to your home. You don’t need to buy anything—all it requires is an intentional approach to your surroundings.
Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is an ancient Chinese discipline that literally translates to “wind water” and focuses on how to optimize the flow of positive energy—known as qi (pronounced chee)—in your home. “It’s basically considering how energy flows through your house as water or air naturally would,” says Jessie Kim, a feng shui consultant in California. “You want your home to be a space where you can relax and retreat, and feng shui is all about creating that space to make you feel recharged and rejuvenated so you can tackle the world the next day.”
The theory of feng shui is that the layout of a home and the placement of objects can maximize energy flow and improve your health, prosperity, and luck. But it’s also about balance. Master Pun-Yin, a feng shui consultant in New York, says that in order to increase the flow of qi, the five elements—water, earth, fire, wood, and metal—need to be in balance with each other. Think of it like a yin-yang quality, but five ways.
- Water is tied to intuition, sensitivity, fluctuation, and the flow of emotions.
- Earth represents practicality, stability, conservatism, and responsibility.
- Fire is associated with action, passion, ambition, and courage.
- Wood symbolizes organization, growth, persistence, and creativity.
- Metal assists with confidence, creativity, materialism, and making friends.
“You might realize something is off if you’re lacking clarity, motivation, serenity, or success in life,” says Pun-Yin. A feng shui consultation can offer more personalized insights, she says, incorporating Chinese astrology and an individual’s inherent five-element profile, but a good starting point is to follow some general rules.
Make Feng Shui Work for You
Talismans, such as dragons, tortoises, and laughing Buddhas, are associated with the commercialization of feng shui and are not necessary. “Unless you get to the root of the energy imbalance within your mind and your space, no crystals or tacky trinkets can alter your destiny,” says Pun-Yin.
“Just because you read somewhere that a golden toad is a great thing to have for prosperity, don’t have one in your home if you don’t like frogs,” says Kim. “Feng shui has to work for your personality and your décor. Creating a good feng shui space doesn’t mean it has to look like a Chinese restaurant exploded in your house.”
The things in your home should mean something to you (they should spark joy) and represent where you want to be in your life—kind of like dressing for the job you want. Some things from your past are fine to display, but don’t let them take over your space. “Be intentional about what you put inside your home and relentless with getting rid of junk,” says Kim. “Looking forward to the future will keep you growing as a person.”
Create Energy Pathways
Think of energy going through your home like a wind current or water stream. Look for potential blockages and leakages. One major leakage would be a front door that lines up with the back door. “You don’t want energy coming in the front door and immediately draining into the backyard,” says Kim. “You want that energy to meander through the house and refuel people living in it before making its exit.” Room dividers, bookcases, and tall plants are all great ways to divide up a room and create clear energy pathways.
Also, open the windows at least once a day to let in fresh air. “Make sure you get good circulation going,” says Kim. “Air conditioners, fans, and air purifiers are fine, but fresh air is better. And don’t let these appliances overrun your space or get in the way. Make sure they’re not blowing directly at you when you’re sitting or sleeping, too. It weakens your energy.”
Feng Shui Tips for the Entryway
Make an Entrance
Level up your front door, especially if you live in a condo or apartment building where yours is one of many. Kim says to make your door stand out so it attracts good energy by hanging a wreath or setting out a fun door mat. If your homeowners association doesn’t allow any fun, at least wash your door, making it cleaner and shinier than your neighbors, and make sure the numbers are clearly marked. “If people and qi can’t find you, it’s like good opportunities passing you by,” says Kim.
Declutter
The front door is the energy portal to your home, says Kim. Proper entranceway feng shui will make it feel welcoming. Make sure the area is clean and clutter-free, as in no pile of shoes or packages.
Set the Tone
The first thing you see when you open the door sets the tone for the entire home, so have pleasing objects on the major meridian positions to welcome you home with warmth and comfort, says Pun-Yin. These positions include the wall facing the entry, the corner diagonal to the entry, and the end of the hallway.
Feng Shui Tips for the Kitchen
Safeguard the Stove
Kitchens are seen as the prosperity and health hub of the house. “You fuel yourself and your family in the kitchen, so you want to make sure your flame—in this case, the stove—is protected,” says Kim. “An open window or doorway next to a gas stove weakens the flame, and that’s less energy going into your food.” For the same reasons, you also want to keep your stove clean and in good condition.
Feature Fruit
Place a bowl of fruit in the middle of your kitchen island or dining table to attract prosperity and health energy to that space, says Kim.
Coordinate Your Cookware
Having cookware and small kitchen appliances in coordinated colors or textures tie together and ground the kitchen’s energy field, says Pun-Yin.
Feng Shui Tips for the Living Room
Rethink Your Seating Arrangement
Each room has a commanding position, which is essentially an anchor point that allows you to control the energy in the room. It’s always farthest from the door but not in line with it, so you should be able to see who’s coming without being able to see directly out the door. Your sofa and main chairs should be in this commanding position, says Kim. You want to avoid configuring seating that forces people to have their backs to the door.
Soften the Edges
Remove anything with sharp edges or shiny surfaces that instantly get fingerprints and smudges on them. “The idea is to make this room soft, comfortable, and welcoming to your family and guests,” says Kim. “Make it conducive for people to gather, not like a sterile museum.”
Clear off the Coffee Table
A clutter-free coffee table is ideal, but if that’s unavoidable, Pun-Yin says to at least include something that soothes your mood. Fresh flowers or a plant, for instance, might induce good relationships in your life. (Take note: Dried flowers and dead flowers will do quite the opposite. Fake flowers are better, but they’re still not emitting the same kind of energy that fresh blooms would.)
Feng Shui Tips for the Bedroom
Reposition the Bed
Avoid having your headboard under a window or on the same wall as the door. “You want to be in the commanding position, so make sure you can see the door without being directly in line with it,” says Kim.
Only Calm Energy Allowed
Bedrooms should only be for sleeping, resting, and reconnecting with your partner. Electronics, books, bills or paperwork, and plants—anything that produces active energy—should not be in the bedroom. (Plants become active at night to produce oxygen, so they’re considered active energy.)
Even for kids, make sure to create a space for them to recharge and rest so they can grow healthy. Kim says active items, like toys, stuffed animals, and video games should be in the living room or another playroom. If it has to be in their bedroom, put it in a cubby or a cabinet that they can close up and put away at night.
Be mindful of where you place mirrors in your bedrooms, too. Kim says to make sure your body’s not being reflected in the mirror while you’re sleeping because mirrors are constantly reflecting and moving, just like water. “When your body is reflected in the mirror, you’re basically next to a wave that it is constantly crashing into you,” she says.
Propagate Parity
“If you share a bedroom with a partner, create an even ground,” says Kim. “Make sure both bedside tables are the same size, and use the same light fixture. You want to create a balanced relationship of both of you helping each other out.”
Feng Shui Tips for the Bathroom
One-Way Traffic Only
“When you dump things in a bathroom, you don’t want anything to come back out—literally or figuratively,” says Kim. Keep bathrooms clean and keep your toilet lid closed. If it’s a bathroom that is not in use regularly, keep the sink drains closed. Some people put river rocks in the sink and shower to cover up the drain, but it’s still usable.
Clear the Air
Pun-Yin says to avoid stagnant and humid energy in the bathroom by using a dehumidifier. Alternatively, keep the door partially open.
Have Fun With It
“People tend to view the bathroom as the last thing to decorate, or they shut the door and try to hide it,” says Kim. “But it is there, so why not make it fun and exciting? Meaning, energetically colorful, bright, and sparkly. Make it a space that you and your guests enjoy as well. Make it part of your home.” Plants, paint, towels, and decorations are all fair game.
Feng Shui Tips for the Office
Be a Boss
Again, prioritize the room’s commanding position and place your desk there. “Try to avoid having your back to a window,” says Pun-Yin. “If you can’t, counteract the energy imbalance by placing a plant behind your chair or hanging a piece of jade from the back of your chair.” Jade is a stone that is believed to improve the balance of energy.
Keep an Eye on the Prize
Place objects that represent your past achievements behind you, preferably on a bookcase, and place something that motivates you in front of you, so you’re always looking toward the future.
If you need more specific and custom guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!
The Power of Positive Relationships: How Friends and Family Impact Our Lives through Feng Shui
Do you feel like those around you are supportive to your well-being? Feng shui can help you attract and maintain positive relationships with your friends and family.
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice of creating harmony and balance in your surroundings, and we can use it to maximize your relationships with friends and family.
When you enter your home from the front door, there are three areas we need to look at: The Love & Relationship Corner, the Family Area, and the Helpful People Corner.
The Love & Relationships Corner is the back-right of your home. This area is believed to have an impact on your romantic and social connections. To enhance the energy in this area, be sure to place objects like throw pillows, bedside tables and towels in pairs – even if you are currently single. Try to use symbols that represent love to you in order to attract positive energy and good relationships.
The Family Area is the left side of your home. This area represents the support and guidance that you receive from your loved ones. To enhance the energy in this area, be sure to add your family photos and family trees (except on top of a fireplace). Whatever you add here should promote a sense of togetherness and support in your home.
The Helpful People Corner is the front-right of your home. This area represents the energy that attracts and nourishes new friends and work associates. Add objects and pictures that remind you of the types of people you want to attract into your life.
Focus your energy on attracting and cultivating people around you that help you feel good about your life. I’ve recommended in a previous blog post that you occasionally declutter your friends. Unfriend and block, if you will, the contacts in your life that emotionally and physically drain you.
Friends and family play a vital role in your life. They’re important to your emotional well-being. Incorporate feng shui principles into your home so you can attract positive energy in your relationships. Remember that a strong support system is key to living a happy and fulfilled life.
If you need more specific and custom guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!
Feng Shui for Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day is a special day for couples to celebrate their love and affection for one another. But for those who are single or looking to improve their current relationships, it can be a difficult time. Fortunately, feng shui offers a variety of ways to attract love and romance into your life just as it did in mine. As a feng shui consultant, finding love has often been the most likely reason why people contact me for advice.
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice that uses the principles of energy flow and balance to create harmony in your living space. By making small changes to your home or office, you can improve the energy in your relationships and attract positive energy for love and romance.
One of the most important areas of your home to focus on is the Love and Relationship sector. This area is associated with love and relationships, and is considered to be the most important area to focus on when looking to attract a partner or improve an existing relationship.
To activate this sector, you can place items like love symbols, such as hearts or happy couples, in this area. You can also use the colors red and pink to decorate this area, as they are associated with love and passion.
Another important area to focus on is the bedroom. The bedroom is where you spend a lot of time, and is where you will be most intimate with your partner. To create a harmonious and romantic energy in your bedroom, you can use the colors red and pink, as well as place symbols of love, such as hearts or happy couples. You can also place a picture of you and your partner in the bedroom, as it will create a strong connection between the two of you. Try to keep everything such as matching bedside tables, lamps, throw pillows and towels in pairs, even if you are currently single.
In addition to these tips, you can also use feng shui to improve your own energy and attract love and romance. You can do this by keeping your living space clean and clutter-free, as clutter can block the flow of energy. You can also focus on self-care, such as taking care of your appearance and dressing nicely, as this will make you feel more confident and attractive.
Feng shui offers a variety of ways to attract love and romance into your life this Valentine’s Day. By making small changes to your home and focusing on the Love and Relationship sector, as well as your bedroom, you can improve the energy in your relationships and attract positive energy for love and romance.
If you need guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m always available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!
Home Buying Checklist for Good Feng Shui
When the real estate market was hot, it was difficult to even get an offer in on a home, let alone be picky enough to win a bidding war for a home with good Feng Shui. With interest rates and home inventory on the rise, it’s no longer a great time to sell a home. But that’s a good thing if you’re looking to buy a home with great Feng Shui.
When I work with home builders, I advise against site plans that include cul-de-sacs, T-intersections, overhead power lines, and other Feng Shui no-no’s, especially in Feng Shui aware areas. If home builders don’t take my advice, they are often forced to significantly reduce pricing to unload their homes with bad Feng Shui. But there are several homes already on the market and we need to know which ones have good Feng Shui and which ones have bad Feng Shui.
If you’re not a believer in Feng Shui, that’s fine. Please note, however, that most of the Feng Shui suggestions I provide also have more modern and practical reasoning. Besides, if you ever intend to eventually sell a home with good Feng Shui, it’s likely to sell faster and for more money than homes with bad Feng Shui. You like money, don’t you?
The following checklist will help if you’re looking to buy or build a home and you don’t want to compromise on harmony and balance. However, this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all that is good or bad in Feng Shui. Avoiding homes that don’t keep with the checklist below is your best option because such home issues are difficult to remedy. If I didn’t list an issue, that probably means it is relatively easy to cure later during an individualized Feng Shui consultation. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Home Location
⬜ No Corner Lot: While a corner lot home may come with a little extra land, they also provide bad Feng Shui. An overwhelming amount of energy inundates corner lot homes, so they should be avoided at all costs. From a practical sense, corner lot homes also have more disturbances like car and foot traffic. More info…
⬜ No T-Intersection: Overwhelming energy is also an issue for homes at a T-intersection, especially those at the top of the T. You’ll notice also that such homes often have concrete blocks along their sidewalks because sometimes cars end up mistakenly driving right into the house. Avoid homes at a T-intersection. More info…
⬜ No Cul-de-sac: The idea of neighborhood kids playing street hockey at the cul-de-sac can be an enticing reason to buy a home on one. But if you want to avoid potential money and health issues, I will also suggest you avoid buying a home on a cul-de-sac. On a cul-de-sac, energy sweeps through like a vortex while headlights from cars turning in front of the home cause a frequent disturbance. More info…
⬜ No EMF Radiation: If you’ve read my blog post on electromagnetic fields (EMF), you’ll know that we should probably avoid sources of electrical energy. Anecdotally, I have found that they disturb sleep. The jury is still out on several studies that may prove more harmful effects of EMF. Have you ever stood under major power lines and heard zapping or humming sounds that they emit? Yeah, I would just completely avoid homes near, and especially under, major power lines, cell towers, and other objects that radiate significant electromagnet fields that you can measure at the house. More info…
⬜ No Cliffs: You should not have a home at the top of a cliff, whether it is at the front or back of your home. While the view might be amazing, you just won’t get the positive energy you need. It would be better to have a home that backs up to a hill that is higher than your home, as this helps capture the flow of any energy headed your way. Just make sure there aren’t any loose rocks up there!
⬜ No Large Bodies of Water: Avoid large bodies of water behind your home as this will douse the Fame & Reputation Area of the home. Having a view of the lake or ocean in front of your home, however, is just fine because it supports your Career Area. Just don’t be right along the shoreline because that energy can be overwhelming.
⬜ Not Below Street Level: The vertical location of the base of the home compared to the street level is rather important in Feng Shui. The best scenario is if the bottom of the home is a little higher than the street level. We want to avoid homes that are lower than the street level because career opportunities will pass over you and because those homes are more prone to flooding.
⬜ Front Door Visible From Street: The front door should be clearly visible from the street so that positive energy can flow to your home. Objects like large trees would block visibility from the street and would therefore block energy coming into your home. If there is a small tree, see if there are any rules that would prevent you from moving it. More info…
⬜ Front Door Doesn’t Face Neighbors’ Doors: To avoid confrontations with your neighbors, make sure that your front door does not directly face any of your neighbors’ doors.
Home Shape Aligns with Bagua
⬜ Rectangular Shape: I only suggest homes that have a top-down view of the home that is generally rectangular in shape so that it can match with the Feng Shui Bagua. Otherwise, I would avoid purchasing it. More info…
⬜ Front Door Location: Make sure that the front door is aligned with the outside edge of the rectangular outline of the home. Avoid homes where the front door is recessed in much. Any parts of the home hanging out beyond the door will be outside of your Bagua.
⬜ No Missing Sections: If there is a significant section of the rectangle missing (L-shape or C-shape, for instance), you are likely missing an important section of the home’s Bagua, like your Prosperity & Wealth Corner or your Love & Relationships Corner.
⬜ No Protrusions: If a section of the home is protruding out (other than just the garage), that area will be outside of your Bagua. Anyone in that space would feel left out and any designated functions in those spaces, such as a home office, may be ineffective.
⬜ No Open-Air Courtyards: If you have an open-air courtyard in the middle of your home, you are likely missing an important section of the home’s Bagua for your Health Area.
Inside the Home
⬜ No Front & Back Door Alignment: Try to avoid homes where the front door directly lines up with the back door in your sightline because your energy will just flow right out the back. More info…
⬜ Front Door Energy Flow: If you don’t want your energy to go down the drain, you do not want to see a bathroom or the kitchen when you open your front door. When you open your door to walk in the home, you should not immediately face stairs, another door, or a wall because you want energy to flow more freely through the downstairs areas.
⬜ Bedrooms in Back: In general, all bedrooms should be in the back part of the house. This is especially important for small children in your family. If you want calm, rested children, having them see the street from their bedrooms might be counterproductive. More info…
⬜ No Spiral or Grand Staircases: Consider a spiral staircase to be like a corkscrew, harmfully digging into a particular section of the Bagua in the home or office. Because of their often-circular nature, any energy that flows up the left side of a grand staircase just goes right back down the right staircase, completely bypassing much of the second floor of the home. More info…
Next Steps
⬜ Make an Offer: Timing is sometimes of the essence when making an offer on a house, but that doesn’t mean you should rush through a purchase without doing your due diligence. Make an offer with an inspection contingency, during which time you can make sure that the house is perfect as a home. More info…
⬜ Schedule a Feng Shui Review: Contact me to schedule a review before removing contingencies. This way, we can confirm that there aren’t any other major issues to be concerned with before you commit to the purchase. More info…
The information here is rather thorough. When you’re shopping for a home, here is a printable PDF version of this checklist.
Through my inexpensive Feng Shui Real Estate Review, I have helped thousands of people analyze homes they are looking to potentially buy to make sure they are getting a house with great Feng Shui. I also provide more thorough Feng Shui consultations for recently purchased homes without requiring investment in a bunch of silly trinkets. I can do the same for you with a Feng Shui Video Consultation.
2018 Year of the Earth Dog
What will my year be like? What is my fortune for 2018? Will I find love, wealth and a better job in 2018?
By Jessie Kim
On February 16th, those who celebrate the Chinese New Year will be welcoming in the Year of the Earth Dog. This promises to be an eventful year in which many will take a stand to help empower the universal values of dialogue and solidarity, both of which are characteristic traits of the dog sign. In society, this year could bring the rise of socially conservative movements within society. It will be important to avoid unnecessary conflicts and preserve karmic balance this year by showing empathy and tolerance towards all you encounter.
The Year of the Earth Dog will be dominated by the Earth element in its yang form which makes it a good year for lifestyle changes and to start new business ventures. For those whose Earth element is predominant, it will be a stable year which will inspire a more organized personal and professional life. Fire and metal are the secondary forces to the Earth dog which makes this a creative cycle. This creative cycle of Fire, Earth, and Metal means that those who choose honesty and fairness in their business ventures could see abundant wealth in 2018.
Feng Shui Your Holiday Gathering
You may cringe when you think of the arguments that often arise during family gatherings like Christmas. But, know that such holiday events can actually be harmonious.
Here are my simple tips on adding Feng Shui to your home and table for balance and happiness this holiday season.
Power Positions
When family and friends visit you for several days over the holidays, remember not to give up your “power positions.” Your power positions include the master bedroom and any rooms in the back part of the house. By maintaining your power position, you can keep guests from overstaying their welcome or getting overly involved in your life.
You may have to deal with this creatively if your typical guest room is in the back of the house. In this situation, try to swap out the guest room for the home office. Or set up an inviting area that can be used as a temporary guest room toward the front of the home, making sure guests feel welcome.
Table Setting
When setting the table, don’t let guests sit at the head of the table, Rather, always the head of the household should sit there.
Pull out your fancy china since you are gathering with family and friends who are your most prized “possessions.” This is not the time to use paper plates.
Furniture and Decorations
When arranging furniture and decorations, make sure that no sharp corners (poison arrows) point where people sit. Round or oval tables are best to avoid bad energy.
Keep heavy decorative items below the level of people’s heads. Having them high up can create nervous energy and encourage heavy conversations. With all of the recent news, it would probably be best to avoid heavy conversations!
Put all these tips to use and watch your holiday become a lot more harmonious!
Next Steps
Learn more about Feng Shui on my website.
If you are interested in improving your life through Feng Shui, I can help.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with Feng Shui. Contact me today!
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