Are you keen to rejuvenate your personal space and your life? Are you looking to embrace positive energy and make your home into a haven of peace and relaxation? The ancient art of feng shui may be just what you’re looking for.

What is feng shui?

Feng shui is an ancient practice that originated in China about 3,000 years ago. Literally translated, ‘feng’ denotes wind and ‘shui’ denotes water, elements that are traditionally linked to good health in Chinese culture. As strong health is generally considered fortunate, some practitioners of feng shui choose to loosely translate the term to 'good fortune'.

The practice itself demands that people come to understand the many ways in which the placement of objects in a given space can affect their lives and sense of overall well-being. As such, the ability to detect and harmonise with the energies in a room is fundamental to feng shui and can help people make important interior design decisions when it comes to organising their home.

So how can you embrace feng shui? These simple feng shui tips for your home are a great place to start.

1. First things first: clear your clutter

It may seem tedious or like an impossibly big task, but decluttering your home is essential when practising feng shui. This means recycling, donating or throwing out old items that have served their purpose or that you no longer love. 

Decluttering can be tiring and time-consuming, but it will pay off in the long run. Indeed, you may be familiar with the recent Netflix phenomenon that is Marie Kondo, who has been encouraging people to start clearing their homes of items that do not ‘spark joy’. This is a great technique and very simple to adopt.

2. Ensure that the air in your home feels fresh

Once your house is free of clutter, you will need to start thinking about the air quality of your home. Indeed, it is easy to overlook the importance of fresh air in a room, but it can have many health benefits and help to keep one’s mind clear. One of the best ways to improve your home’s air quality is to pick up some air-purifying plants.

3. Ensure that your home gets plenty of light 

Rooms that receive plenty of light are perfect for achieving feng shui. In this way, it may be a good idea to invest in lighter curtains or to try moving furniture around to allow as much natural light as possible to flood into your home.

4. Tidy your front entrance 

Cultivating a welcoming entrance to your home will ensure that guests feel welcome and will clear a path for positive energy to easily enter your property. Start by removing any debris and making sure railings and steps are clean and tidy.

5. Give a bioethanol fireplace a shot 

A smart way to feng shui your home is to adorn the place with a bioethanol fireplace. As well as keeping the air much cleaner than traditional fireplaces, a bioethanol version can instil a feeling of warmth and contentment in visitors.

6. Purchase some incense

Occasionally, you may feel negative energies resonating in your home after a difficult day. Counter this by burning a little incense. As well as clearing stagnant chi, it will make your space smell beautiful.

Whilst incense can make a great addition to your home, however, it is important that you take safety precautions to avoid damaging your property (or, indeed, yourself).

7. Fix intrusive sounds

Do your doors or windows squeak when you open them? Perhaps you have a particularly creaky floorboard? Intrusive sounds can impinge of the feng shui of your home, potentially affecting your mood and wellbeing. Fortunately, these kinds of issues can usually easily be addressed with a little oil or by employing simple DIY tricks. 

8. Hide distracting items

There’s nothing more tempting than a black laptop screen in today’s digitally addicted world. Unfortunately, digital distractions can seriously harm the positive energies in your home. To keep your chi in check, try hiding television screens behind an attractive tapestry or placing laptops in a wicker chest when not in use.

9. Keep to a regular cleaning rota

Maintaining a clean home is fundamental when practising feng shui. If you’d like a helping hand keeping your house clean all year round, this article from My Domaine is a great place to start.

10. Pay attention to how colours make you feel

Deciding on a colour scheme for your feng shui living room or bedroom can be difficult, particularly if you’re trying to follow trends or advice from friends and family. When practising feng shui, however, your main priority should be how colours make you feel. If green makes your room feel energetic and optimistic, for example, you should follow your instincts.

11. Move furniture out of your flow space

Achieving a positive flow space basically means creating and designing a space that is free and easy to navigate and doesn’t feel restrictive. If your sofas are arranged in an awkward position and are constantly tripping people up, for example, it is a good idea to rearrange them. 

12. Hang artworks high up

Feng shui practitioners believe that anything that draws a person’s attention upwards can improve their mood. Hanging artwork towards the ceiling will help to do just this.

13. Light up dark rooms

Are you finding it almost impossible to get natural light into your space? Don’t worry - a decent lamp will also do the trick. There are literally ample ways to brighten up your house with lights.

14. Surround yourself with meaningful ornaments

Collecting ornaments with deep personal value can work wonders when it comes to boosting the feng shui of your home and making you feel good.

15. Find reflective items of furniture

Reflective pieces of furniture such as mirrors or metallic tables will ensure that positive energies continue to flow throughout your home. Try to avoid going overboard, however, as ultra-shiny rooms can cause sensory overload. 

16. Leave spaces on both sides of your bed

Restricting the space around your bed can hinder the positive energies and chi flowing around your room. In this way, it is a good idea to avoid placing a bed against a wall.

17. Think about the masculine and feminine elements of your decor

Achieving a balance between masculine and feminine energies is a fundamental part of feng shui. To ensure that these energies are balanced in your home, try placing robust wooden pieces of furniture against soft blankets or upholstery, for example.

18. Place your house number in a prominent position

According to feng shui experts, placing a prominent and attractive house number on your door is a great way to find wealth and success in life.

19. Be picky when it comes to your artwork

Art has the potential to carry very strong energies, so it is important that you choose your pieces wisely. For example, paintings that feature people that are lonely or sad can damage positive energies, regardless of how beautiful they are. Opting for neutral or uplifting images can make a big difference when improving the feng shui of your home.

20. Employ a variety of furniture shapes

One of the top feng shui principles is 'balance', and owning furniture pieces that differ in size and shape can help improve the flow of positive energies around your home.

21. Avoid placing chairs or sofas with their backs to windows or doors

Most people feel more comfortable and contented sitting in rooms where they can clearly see all of the windows and doors. In this way, it is important to consider the position of your chairs and sofas very carefully.

22. Place some fruits on your dining table

Different fruits have different forms of energy according to feng shui traditions, and placing them around your home can help to spread a variety of positive vibes. Peaches, for example, are a symbol of immortality, whilst apples are associated with peace and good health.

23. Take Sia’s advice, get a chandelier

Crystals are fundamentally important in feng shui tradition and can help bring feelings of calm and prosperity to a room. In this way, purchasing a new crystal chandelier can lead to instant positive chi.

24. Avoid placing clutter under your bed

When it comes to practising feng shui for your bedroom, try to avoid cramming items under your bed. This can interrupt the flow of positive energy in the room.

25. Keep a well-maintained garden 

Feng shui is not just about interior design. Indeed, energies can also pass in and out of your house so it is important to maintain a welcoming and attractive garden throughout the year. 

26. Get creative with storage space

An important part of feng shui home decorating is incorporating enough storage space so that chi can easily flow through your rooms. 

27. Decorate your front door 

According to feng shui practitioners, the front door is traditionally known as the ‘mouth of chi’. Chi is essentially the positive life force that flows through living beings and is vital to contented living. Decorating your door with a tasteful ornament will help to boost positive chi.