Interior Design and Style - Feng Shui

It was during the 1980's and 90's that the whole concept of Feng Shui interior design and style started to become popular in the western world. The technique has been used in China for thousands of years and is an interior design idea which is aimed at creating harmony and balance in the home and hence in the life of the owner.

This method of interior design uses a number of rules about the placement of furniture and the types of materials, colours and shapes used in the home to produce harmony. There are five main elements which are used in Feng Shui and each one is represented by certain colours. Each of these elements represents a mood or feeling.

• Metal: Silver, grey, gold and white for wealth and prosperity
• Earth: Orange, brown and yellow for health and wellbeing
• Wood: Greens for new life and renewal
• Water: Blues and blacks for positive energy
• Fire: Reds, pinks and maroon for heat and light

One of the basic tenants of Feng Shui is the idea of “chi” or energy. Chi helps a room's energy to flow properly through the placement of furniture and objects. It is important to have space between things, giving the energy room to flow through the house.

There are a number of basic rules when it comes to creating a Feng Shui-friendly space:

• Clear the clutter: It is clear that a cluttered or untidy house will not have the optimum Feng Shui, so this is the best place to start if you wish to make your home more harmonious.
• Orient your furniture with an eye to how it looks and feels as the home or room is entered. Furniture should face the door to the room as it is considered to be unlucky to not see who is entering.
• Keep corners well lit by using lamps or reflective mirrors. Dark areas of the room do not promote a good flow of energy.
• Use green plants throughout your home. They are considered to be a good way to bring life into the home.
• Curved furniture can make a square or rectangle room look less boxy and will naturally lend itself to creating a pathway through the room.
• Use the colours outlined above to create the feeling which is required for that room. For example a workspace such as an office may benefit from a metal colour scheme for wealth and prosperity while a family room may require plenty of positive energy.

Feng Shui may not be for everyone, but it cannot be denied that some houses or rooms feel different when you walk into them. It can seem as though the placement of the furniture is just “right” and we don't really know why. It could be that the principles of Feng Shui have been used and the room has an energy which we can sense.