WHEN it comes to home renovation, you want to get the maximum benefit for your money. That means hiring the right professionals for the job and using the best building materials.
But what about ensuring the right chi in your home? This is the practice of Feng Shui, and if applied properly, can positively influence your wealth, career, health and even your love life.
Feng Shui acts as a guide to create harmony and balance between the yin and yang, two energies with different properties. It is a complex practice, but it is always possible to renovate your home to stimulate positive chi without investing in bagua maps and Feng Shui compasses.
Here are some basic Feng Shui rules when doing home renovation:
MAIN DOOR
As the main door serves as the main entry point of chi to your home, you should always avoid aligning your it with other doors (especially the back door) or windows. This is because chi needs to fill your home with nourishing energy, instead of flowing in and out hastily.
Also ensure that your door is sturdy and made from a strong hardware, and not rusty and breaking apart.
KITCHEN
The kitchen is one of the three important pillars of a good Feng Shui at home (the bedroom and bathroom being the other two) because it is where nourishing food is prepared and cooked to provide energy for you and your family.
It also houses the five elements of Feng Shui — Fire (stove), Water (sink and fridge), Wood (table), Earth (tiles) and Metal (metal handles, cooking equipment).
Avoid positioning your kitchen at the front of your house or close to the front door as this can signify eating and nutritional problems, while it also encourages guests to leave promptly after eating.
BEDROOM
Master bedrooms should have enough sensual energy and be calming to promote sleep. Therefore, remove distractions like televisions, computers, exercise equipment, paperwork and clutter.
Bedrooms should be brightly-lit and have the right colours based on the bagua area and personal Feng Shui elements. For example, if you belong to the Wood element, it is best to avoid fiery colours like red and orange as they belong to the Fire element, and opt for blue and brown as they belong to the Water and Earth elements, respectively.
BATHROOM
Bathrooms shouldn’t be facing the kitchen or the front door as they are considered bad Feng Shui. To promote positive chi in bathrooms, keep them spotless and clutter-free. Also, take efforts to beautify their aesthetics, including adding aromatherapy essential oils and plants.
It is not always necessary to display Feng Shui items like Chinese coins, bells, dragon ships and crystal ball fountains. They may look out of place, especially if you want a modern-looking decor.
Instead, basic Feng Shui is all about setting up your home layout to improve the flow of chi. You can have a home with strong Feng Shui energy without sacrificing a modern design style. Most importantly, keep your home clean, use the right colours, and make sure that there is plenty of light in your house to help balance Feng Shui energy.
This article first appeared in Recommend.my — Malaysia’s #1 home improvement site