Here’s how to cultivate good energy in every corner of the house.
It’s often said that your home is a reflection of who you are as a person, which is why it’s important to create a space with good feng shui — for it can positively influence your health, relationships, wealth and career. And who doesn’t want this in the New Year? So we went ahead and spoke to renowned feng shui master, Master Paw, to ask her all about feng shui home decorating tips for the year 2020.
How to invite positive energy to your home
If you’re looking to invite good chi or energy to the home, Master Paw suggests getting a crystal for your home. “Crystals act as tiny vessels filled with phenomenal energy,” says Master Paw. Having a crystal at home helps to promote energy flow in your space and heighten your energy field, which is why crystals are widely used to promote positive energy at home for they serve many different purposes — protection, healing and decorations.
Speaking of creating a good feng shui bedroom, the placement of your bed is also very important. Avoid putting your bed directly in front of the bedroom door and never line the foot of your bed with the door. It’s considered bad feng shui because lying in bed with your feet pointing directed to the door is called the coffin position — the dead were traditionally carried out feet first.
Finding the wealth corner at home
Every home has a wealth corner — that one area of your home that is considered the centre of money and wealth. It is said that the wealth corner is best for conducting business or managing finances for it will bring an abundance of wealth and fortune.
Master Paw says that the wealth corner is usually located in the corner, diagonally across the front door. This corner is the commanding position and tends to absorb and retain a large portion of chi, so setting up a workstation here will not only elevate your energy but also your fortune.
Activate and enhance the chi by placing a houseplant, like a money plant here. A crystal would work too. These will help bring wealth and positive energy to the home.
Which direction should your house face?
When buying a new house, Master Paw says it’s best to go for houses that are facing south or north as these directions are the most auspicious. Ancient China practises this as well — most palaces in China, such as the Forbidden City that was built over 5,000 years ago, is south facing.
Read more: What is house orientation and why is it important?
5 decor items to avoid if you want good feng shui
1. Dark and moody paintings
In feng shui, dark and moody paintings like a picture depicting autumn or even a sunset are not as favourable because they are often associated with sadness and ending. And these pictures are a sign of bad feng shui because they can lead to a lack of willpower and morale.
Instead, Master Paw suggests to hang pictures of blossoming flowers or galloping horses to liven up the atmosphere.
2. Decor of ferocious animals
Even though it’s cool to have a lion sculpture or leopard-print throw pillows at home, Master Paw advised against having any decor that is associated with fierce and strong animals like lions, tigers and bears. Their presence can create a bad aura to the house and the people as they exude Yuan Chi (resentful energy) and Yin Chi (sinister energy).
3. Decorative weapons
According to feng shui principle, using decorative weapons can invite Sha Chi (killing or attacking energy) to your home. If you like having decorative weapons, Master Paw recommends putting a Ruyi Bang — a magical staff wielded by the immortal monkey king, Sun WuKong — at home to invite good energy.
Read more: Feng Shui guide to main doors
4. Beware of odd numbers
What do you know? The number of items you have at home is also key to having good feng shui. Take the couple’s bedroom, for example, it’s a space that is meant for two people, so it’s best to have two of every item to signify the unity of the couple.
For example, if you’re buying a couch for the bedroom, make sure to choose a two-seater. A single-seater couch signifies solitude, while a three-seater couch implies that there’s a “third-party” in the bedroom, or in this case, your relationship.
5. Take shapes into consideration too
Aside from the quantity, you should also take the shape of the item into consideration, especially when it comes to dining tables. Master Paw says to always go for a round-shaped dining table because, in the Chinese culture, a round shape symbolises completeness and perfection. Remember to have an even number of dining chairs as well because it’s believed that good things always come in pairs.
Warding off bad energy at home
If you want to know if you have bad energy at home, look for these signs: dead plants and dead animals — these are considered bad feng shui because they weaken the energy in your home.
If you find yourself constantly “killing” your plants, maybe it’s not entirely your fault for being a black thumb. Master Paw says signs like this usually signifies that you have bad energy at home, which is why you can’t keep living things alive.
Worry not, there’s an easy way to flip things around. To get rid of bad energy at home, all you need to do is follow Marie Kondo’s footsteps and declutter your home. Toss things that no longer spark joy to you and always remember to keep your house clean, tidy and bright. So throw those curtains open in the AM to let all the natural light in.
Read more: How to organise your home
Best feng shui colours for your home
Warm and light colours are always the safest bet. Colours like white and beige may be conservative, but it exudes calmness, making it a good choice for your home. Besides, you can pair these universal colours with literally anything and it’ll still turn up nice.
That said, some colours work better in some areas. For example, earth and green tones are best to use it in the dining room — to boost one’s appetite and study room — it is said that green is the colour of the God of Literature, Wen Chang, so painting your study room in green will help boost productivity and brainpower.
There are good feng shui colours and then there are colours that you should avoid like red and orange. These bright and vibrant hues may seem like a good choice for your home (red is often associated with prosperity), but this is not the case. These colours are loud and triggering, and may cause people to feel restless and grumpy.
Black is another colour to avoid. Not only does it make the room look dark and gloomy, but painting it black also indicates a bleak future.
Read more: 8 best paint colours for small rooms
Other ways to create good feng shui for your home in 2020
1. Maintain a tidy home
A clean and tidy home is key to having good feng shui, so make it a habit to organise and spring clean your home every now and then to keep the good chi coming in. It’s especially prudent to keep the living room in pristine condition as it’s the place where chi and energy retain.
Never hang your laundry in the living room, the untidiness of the living room can block all the good chi from entering your home.
2. Keep your home well-lit
Bright lighting is encouraged if you want good feng shui for your home. It’s always best to get as much natural lighting as possible, so remember to throw your curtains open during the day to let the light in. Not only does this help to invite good chi, but Master Paw also says that it helps to attract wealth too.
3. Good ventilation
It’s not enough to keep your home bright and cheery, it’s also important to be well-ventilated — can’t be too stuffy or too airy. According to Master Paw, if your home’s too airy, the chi will be disarrayed and its disorientation will negatively affect your wealth and luck.
4. Avoid having too many mirrors
While mirrors are great for visually expanding a small room, having one or two is more than enough. Feng shui believes that too many mirrors at home may cause hallucinations because mirrors aggravate and cause the increase of yin (also known as negative Chi) energy at home.
5. Fix the crack
If you have a crack in the wall, fix it quick as Master Paw says this indicates that your family’s luck and fortune is declining. And if you find a crack in your bedroom, this could mean that there’s a rift in the relationship. Don’t worry, all you need to do is to fix it or use wallpaper to cover up the crack!