The belief of Feng Shui is a practice of positioning items such as furniture and idols in specific positions so as to create balance with the spiritual and natural world. The ultimate goal of Feng Shui is to channel forces of energy and to establish harmony between the individual and their environment. In our Asian culture, the philosophy of Feng Shui is called the Tao, which means “the way.” Taoism is the way of nature, and Feng Shui reflects that nature in all of its basics.
A house with good Feng Shui starts with having a personality. Small details like the arrangement of furniture and specific trendy pieces can be put together to represent your personality. It is important to set the furniture in away that ensures easy and convenient accessibility of movement around them, and the chosen furniture should easily match the particular style you are going for.
THE 5 ELEMENTS OF FENG SHUI
Five interconnected phases of life make up the elements of the Taoist tradition, namely Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. A Feng Shui practice usually aims to balance these five aspects in a home and in each of the living areas. In order to incorporate the elements you need to define where the energy should be focused. From there, you can enhance the energy in that room by adding recommended colours or shapes.
EARTH
The first element is Earth, widely known to be grounded, stable and reliable. Earthy tones such as brown, orange, and yellow are usually suggested for people who wish to focus their Feng Shui on health, knowledge, partnerships and relationships. Flat surfaces with sharp edges are some of the details to take note of when choosing furniture so as to further enhance this element. Such examples of furniture with these features include square tables, chairs and corner-angled mirrors. Frames of landscape images or paintings also help to strengthen the Chi of the space.
WATER
The second element is Water, with which comes the ability to flow, flex, and transform. Deep shaded colours such as black and midnight are usually associated with this element and can be beautifully impactful as an accent wall despite being overwhelming in some spaces. As water can take the shape of any form, they are naturally known to be wavy and curvy, and furniture with these features should be present in spaces where their Feng Shui is focused on their career. Other furniture that helps to further enhance this element include having aquariums as they hold water, or even mirrors and other reflective surfaces.
WOOD
The third element is Wood and its potential to create expansive moods and exude warmth. Nature-inspired colours such as brown, green and blue are usually associated with wood, and they are all beautiful colours for walls and curtains they also create growth and signify a new beginning in life. Plants with green leaves are also a great way to introduce the wood element to a room. With wood often comes designs that are columnar and rectangular, hence choosing furniture with these features would be the right way to go
FIRE
The fourth element is Fire, which represents energy, optimism and inspiration with its red and orange colours. While red is considered one of the most stimulating colours, orange is strong and authoritative. Generally, these are not recommended for use in bedrooms, where cooler, calming tones work better. In a living room or dining area, however, these colours look great and are especially effective when paired with brick. Incorporate candles and mirrors in the decor to enhance the fire element and your space is good to go
METAL
The final element is Metal–often associated with beauty, joy and efficiency. It is connected to articulation and how we express ourselves. Bringing in white, grey, and metallic colours help to activate metal qualities. You can introduce the metal element by painting their walls white or light grey, and these walls are also excellent neutral backdrops for artwork and other decors. Furniture that is round edged, circular or spherical helps to further enhance the elements in your space. Nature-inspired materials such as stones and rocks, and small metallic planters, bookends or sculptures can add to the décor.
A BLESSED YEAR AHEAD
With 2022 being the year of the tiger, filling up spaces with tiger prints and elements allow for better Chi within the area. However, if these bold prints are out of your comfort zone, small details are as powerful when added up to ensure good energy in your home. Consider minimalist pieces such as tiger paintings to hang in your living room or tiger patterns for your bedding to fill your room with powerful energy. If you wish to seek professional advice on crafting unique pieces for your spaces, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here for a free consultation.
