Feng Shui Decorating Tips

Feng shui is the ancient tradition of using the placement of items to create a positive flow of energy or chi.  This ancient Chinese art can be practiced in any room of the house and even in your outdoor living areas and purports to bring positive changes to your life simply by using the right colors and placement so that you are attracting good energy.  According to practitioners, the placement of everything from your bed to your doorways to your toilet should be considered in Feng Shui decorating.

Feng Shui works with nature and uses the five elements - wood, water, fire, metal and earth.  These elements interact with each other and have productive and destructive cycles.  Each element is represented by a color and using these colors in your decorating is the easiest way to  employ the principles of the five elements in order to bring harmony into your home.

One of the big things you can do to start on your Feng Shui journey is to get rid of all the clutter in your home.  Clutter is a sign of stuck energy and should be removed.  If you have it around your front door it may get in the way of new opportunities.  If your bedroom is cluttered it may have an adverse affect on your relationships.  Get rid of the clutter and you may start to feel less anxious and more at peace.

Color is another important element in Feng Shui decorating.  All colors have a certain energy and can be used in your home to help bring in relaxation, provide a positive energy for wealth, promote longevity, enhance creativity and just about anything else you want to bring into your life.  Contrary to what a lot of people think, you don’t have to plaster these colors everywhere - a little bit goes a long way.

Another central element in the practice of Feng Shui is the placement of furniture and other elements in your home.  Where you place your furniture is key in order to keep good energy flow through your home.  You want to be sure that energy can move freely throughout the space, so you don’t want anything blocking the doorways.  Also having too much furniture so that it is too cluttered will have a negative impact on energy.

There are many rules to Feng Shui decorating and one could easily get overwhelmed.  However, you don’t have to become an expert in Feng Shui to have positive results.  Simply employ a few of the techniques a little bit at a time and you might see great rewards.

Feng Shui History

Feng Shui history goes back at least 5000 years and is based on the concept that everything is made up of energy or Chi.  It uses nature and placement to make sure that the energy in any environment is balanced and flows properly.  While we often associate Feng Shui with our homes, its principal should be applied to everything including outdoor areas and even the construction of cities and neighborhoods.

The principles of Feng Shui include the five elements earth, wind, water, metal and fire.  These elements are all associated with a color and each one can be used to balance the other.  This balance of energy is critical because everything around you is connected and if one thing gets thrown off kilter it can affect other areas causing a domino effect which can have bad results in many areas of your life.

Over the years of feng shui history, many different disciplines were combined and today a map is used to determine where to place things in your home, office or outdoor living space.  This map shows you where all the areas are that concern your health, wealth, relationships and success.  By using certain colors and placing certain objects in a particular way you will improve the flow of energy and thus your success in these areas.

In ancient China, Feng Shui was a closely guarded secret of the Imperial Court.  Indeed, its practice was considered so powerful that if an enemy got hold of it the results could be devastating.  Feng Shui masters were forbidden to give this knowledge to outsiders.

Needless to say, today Feng Shui is practiced throughout the world and with great success.  Much like the ancient Chinese prospered in the villages when they applied Feng Shui techniques, many people are finding that when they apply these techniques to their homes and offices they also prosper.  This prosperity has driven a need for experts in this area and many people are now offering their services as Feng Shui consultants who will make sure your home or office has the right flow of energy.

While the exact Feng Shui history is not known, what is known is that the basic principles go back for many thousands of years, perhaps maybe even to the beginning of modern civilization.  This interesting philosophy which served ancient civilizations can now be applied to your modern home to turn to bring in more health, wealth and happiness today.

Feng Shui Symbols

Feng Shui symbols are an  integral part of this ancient art and can be used in many ways to improve your life.  There are many different symbols that one can use to improve anything from your financial situation to your love life.  Some of these must be applied in a specific way in order to invoke the desired outcome but one thing you should always keep in mind is to use symbols that strike a chord with you and not just place a symbol that has no meaning because you read about it in a book!

Along with other items, Feng Shui statues are often used as symbols.  The three legged moon frog, for example is associated with longevity and can be used to increase your luck and prosperity when placed inside your front door facing into your home.  A golden dragon turtle placed in the South East corner of your home or office can bring prosperity.  A pair of golden pigs are great to use when first setting up a home or business as they are thought to bring  happiness and prosperity.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable Feng Shui symbols are the good luck coins - 3 tied together with a red ribbon.  This is a symbol of sharing your wealth and luck and is said to bring positive Feng Shui to both those who give them and those who receive them.

Bells are another important symbol in Feng Shui and when placed outside your home, they bring good news and prosperity.  There is a rule to using these though, if your house faces between the North and West use metal bells otherwise stick with ceramic.

The wealth bucket is an interesting Feng Shui symbol as it is supposed to be  kept hidden away but can bring wealth and prosperity.  Fill a metal bucket with coins and place it inside a drawer or cabinet (anywhere where it will not be on display) in the northwest corner of your office or house.  Another way to increase wealth is to place 3 plants in the south east corner of your office or house.

Goldfish and Koi have been revered in Chinese culture for centuries so it’s no wonder that they are used in Feng Shui to bring prosperity.  Having a bowl with 3 live goldfish or statues or pictures of 8 Koi is said to be a good way to bring prosperity into your home.

Using Feng Shui symbols is a great way to bring health, wealth and prosperity into your home or business!