Applying Feng Shui Principles to Your Living Room

Feng Shui, a Chinese system of geomancy using the laws of both Heaven (Chinese astronomy) and Earth for improving your life by receiving positive chi, has been followed for thousands of years to orientate buildings in auspicious manners. But don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it might sound and it certainly doesn’t take a rocket scientist to orientate your living room. Just some clean, clutter free, good quality air and good quality light are enough good feng shui basics for your living room. Ever watch TLC’s “Hoarders: Buried Alive?” Do you get claustrophobic just looking at it? There’s a reason and it’s called bad chi, or negative energy. It’s really quite simple. A clutter free room with a clear organization system is considered good feng shui because the room can breathe easy and so can its inhabitants. And believe it or not, your kids can help you keep the living room clean when such a system is in place because everything has its place so there’s no question where things belong. It’s a matter of clear communication. When it comes to choosing colors for your living room using feng shui principles, it’s best to know which direction your living room faces. For south facing living rooms, fire and wood feng shui elements should be encouraged using reds, yellows and shades of greens and browns. Balance is also an important and you’ll want to do your best to incorporate all five feng shui elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Many homeowners incorporate water into their living rooms by hanging mirrors over their fire place mantels or on table tops or with small aquariums of fish. Wood is easily incorporated with wood tables and wood arm rests and legs on couches and chairs. Many use silver or gold plated photo frames to bring in metal. Plants are an excellent way to bring in the earth while candles or a fire in the fireplace are the most obvious ways to incorporate this fifth feng shui element into your home’s living room. When it comes to arranging the furniture in your living room the best feng shui is an arrangement that provides a clear, unobstructed flow of energy or chi. Face your chairs and couches toward each other to encourage warmth, coziness and social-centered feng shui energy. To accomplish this you can stand at your living room’s entrance and visualize energy like water flowing through the room asking yourself if this stream of water would flow freely and smoothly and where if any place it would get stuck.   Once your furniture is arranged be sure there are is no sha-chi or sharp-energy pointing at your seating area. This could be the corners of tables angled toward couches rather than in line with them or even picture frames or art on a wall. It may take a few days of sitting in your seating area and arranging your pictures, art, mirrors and any water features in different ways but the results of good chi and the flow of energy in your living room will be well worth the effort. As you arrange the furniture and other items in your living room, your goal is to create a space that nourishes you, supports your energy and makes you and your family feel safe, happy and content.