You’ve no doubt heard designers, architects and interior decorators talk about feng shui, the ancient Chinese art and science that focuses on how to best balance energies in a room in order to ensure its inhabitants good health. Even though feng shui has become popular in the Western design world only over the past few years, it’s a practice that dates back nearly 3,000 years to China, where many different schools of thought developed regarding how to best use space, create positive energy and create living and working spaces that are beneficial to all occupants.
Feng is the Chinese word for wind and shui is the Chinese word for water – in Chinese culture, these two elements are associated with good health. Feng shui developed from ancient traditions that believed all land and space is alive with chi (energy), and that the way land and space is arranged and used will bring either good or bad fortune to the inhabitants, depending on if it generates good or bad energy.
Although there are many different feng shui schools, some basic feng shui practices for your home and office can be understood and applied by anyone. For people who desire a deeper knowledge of feng shui and its many schools, there are courses available designed to provide a much more in-depth understanding of this ancient practice. But for those who want to start with the basics and create a healthier, more balanced home or office, there are several steps you can take to begin the feng shui process.
- Clear out all clutter. Getting rid of clutter in your home or office is an essential part of creating positive energy. Clutter disrupts the daily flow of your life as well as the flow of positive energy, so take the time to get rid of everything you don’t love.
- Use colour to your advantage. The colours you use in your home or office will be determined by what type of energy you seek to bring into your space.
- Don’t forget your office or workspace. It’s easy to get preoccupied with feng shui home design while neglecting your work environment. There are basic steps and changes you can make in your office in order to generate positive energy.
You can use feng shui to create living and working spaces that are beneficial to your health and your success. Whether you want to study a particular feng shui school of thought in-depth or just use some basics and apply them to your life, there are plenty of resources to guide you along your feng shui journey.
