Create positive energy flow at home with feng shui

Di LISA KLEIN

The search for harmony and balance in life can seem endless, especially with so much external noise coming from all angles.

One’s home can be a both a much-needed sanctuary and support system, and a helpful tool for creating such an environment there lies in the age-old practice of feng shui.

“Feng Shui is a rich tapestry of ancient knowledge, but at its core, you could say the practice is about living in harmony with our environments – creating an open dialogue, a fluid channel, between our inner and outer worlds,” said Julia Sarasola, an interior designer, feng shui practitioner and vintage curator in upstate New York.

Let it flow

Thought to be the oldest continuing geographic tradition in the world, feng shui originated in ancient China around 1000 B.C.E. Translating to “wind water,” it centers around the belief that the energy of spaces and objects affects the flow of qi, or “breath,” the vital life force.

In practice, feng shui was first used to determine the best sites for burials and buildings, and the best layouts for tombs, gardens, city blocks and other architectural elements. Later, and now in more modern times, it has been used to determine the best placement of objects inside the home.

“Feng shui is a mindfulness of space, paying attention to the details of your environment,” said Anjie Cho, a New York-based architect and feng shui educator. “It’s a practice that acknowledges that we are interconnected and interdependent with our environments.

“Objects, walls, the space that flows around them – of course this affects your life,” Ms. Cho said. “Do you hit a wall every day, literally and/or metaphorically? What are the doorways that you walk through, the thresholds that you cross, the transitions you journey through?”

When it comes to current-day interior design, feng shui principles can be a perfect starting point for making sure that your home is affecting you in a positive way, bringing the type of energy needed in each space.

“It’s helpful to change your space to change your life,” Ms. Cho said. “And most people long to come home to a space that supports them and offers ease rather than obstacles and stress.”

Using feng shui principles at home isn’t always about just the placement of objects and furniture, Ms. Sarasola advises, but also how your space and the objects in it are aligned with yourself. For example, removing uninspiring pieces from a crowded hallway will allow energy to move “smoothly through the space.”

“We are energetic beings by nature,” Ms. Sarasola said. “When we receive a hug we feel supported; a compliment we feel uplifted.

“The same sensations can happen when working with feng shui. When we mindfully harmonize our spaces, we are nurturing and supporting our inner selves by reflecting an exterior space that makes us feel good.”

Following are a few basic tips from Ms. Sarasola and Ms. Cho to get you started in feng shui for your interiors.

Living room

• Incorporate green plants and fresh flowers to create balance in family life. “Living green plants can be included with the intention to bring in a wood element for kindness and flexibility,” Ms. Cho said.
• Declutter or rearrange the room, starting by removing or relocating nine objects.
• Set up furniture for engaging conversation, with seating facing each other and a place for every member of the family.

Kitchen

• Remove toxic and expired items regularly, as the kitchen represents how you nourish yourself.
• Use the stove on a regular basis to avoid a feeling of lack.
• Keep the stove clean and functioning properly. “The stove represents wealth and prosperity,” Ms. Cho said.

Bathroom

• Keep the space clean.
• Always keep the doors to bathrooms closed, especially near bedrooms, kitchens and front doors. “Bathrooms lean into a downward, draining energy,” Ms. Sarasola said.

Home office

• Use a solid, heavy wood desk for stability.
• A high-backed chair will support you in your career.
• Incorporate energizing colors, such as yellows, oranges and reds “if you’re feeling stuck or lacking inspiration in your work,” Ms. Sarasola said.

For more about feng shui and how to incorporate these principles in the bedroom for better sleep, read “Good night,” in the latest issue of Luxury Portfolio magazine.