Feng shui is a term that is used a great deal in conversations about home décor and senses of domestic space. It is also a term that is often misused or used as a crib for describing smart room design. Feng shui is so much more than a lightly-furnished living room, though; it is a traditional practice with serious history and one which concerns itself with the flow of energy in life and the universe. Still, it has some useful lessons to teach us in the world of interior design. What exactly are those lessons?

This article is a guest post.

dresser beside sofa

Open Up Your Rooms

While some aspects of truly traditional feng shui may be harder to grasp than others, there is a central aspect that can be used to guide the more practical changes you make to your home: flow. Typically, as long as your changes induce a good flow – of air, energy, and movement – they are positive changes.

One large-scale example of this relates to the doorways of your home. In many cases, internal doors can form blockages – stymying the flow of air and energy, and making for a stuffy, stilted-feeling space. Removing some internal doors allows the rooms to flow properly into one another and allows you to flow between rooms with ease.

This principle is perhaps best applied to the structure of rooms, though. Tight spaces closed off by furniture are not conducive to home harmony; replacing your bulky units with fitted furniture can help open out your spaces, and make vital room for the flow of bodies.

Minimalism over Maximalism

In-home décor circles, there has been something of a pitch battle raging between minimalism and maximalism. For some, the eclectic mix of furniture styles and textiles serves to liven a space, while others find such décor limiting. Within feng shui practice, clutter is considered to be a barrier to energy flow and something to be avoided.

As such, to fully embrace feng shui in your home, you may want to get a little ruthless with your possessions and personal effects. The objective is not to render your home barren but rather to create balance and space for flow.

Clean Your Windows

Keeping your home clean is a good habit to keep in general, let alone in service of your feng shui aims. However, there are some specific benefits that regular cleaning can bestow, particularly with regard to cleaning your windows. Keeping your windows clean means that light can always flow into living spaces unobstructed, keeping rooms light and full of energy in the process.

feng shui brown wooden bed frame with white cover beside brown wooden nightstand

Check Your Commanding Position

Lastly, there is the matter of ‘commanding position’. This describes the resting places you should take in rooms such as offices and bedrooms, with the essential position that you should not be in line with, or facing away from any entryways. For the bedroom, your bed’s headboard should be backed against the opposite wall to your bedroom door, and offset so as not to put your bed in immediate view. This enhances the energy of the space, and allows you to figuratively retain control of it.