Good feng shui energy is possible without windchimes and endlessly exotic items
Feng shui decorating can be fun and powerful, when you know what you are doing. The term feng shui decorating means different things to different people, because there are many stereotypes attached to feng shui. At its best, good feng shui decorating creates a harmonious, beautiful and happy space with proper energy for its intended use; be it a home, an office or a garden. At its worst, unskilled feng shui decorating creates weak, conflicting energy that visually resembles a cheap Chinese restaurant struggling to attract customers.
A good feng shui home is not easily detectable by visual signs; it is in the overall energy rather than in the presence of specific items. If one can look and say “This space has definitely been feng shui-ed!”, know that this is a red flag. Having windchimes, many fountains, lucky bamboo plants and money frogs in any given space, be it a home or an office, does not make it a good feng shui space. Good feng shui decorating means using feng shui wisdom to create harmonious energy in any home, no matter its decorating style is modern, classical or mid-century. Good feng shui decorating will never scream for attention or fight with the style of the home, but rather create an energy that is vibrant, happy and harmoniously complimenting the already present identity of the home. You can have excellent feng shui decor in any style, because in a nutshell, feng shui decorating means you know exactly which colors, shapes, images and specific decor items to use in specific bagua areas of the home. You can do that in any style and in any space without disturbing the visual field, or the aesthetic preference of homeowners.
To master the powerful, yet subtle art of genuine feng shui decorating, you have to understand the theory of five feng shui elements and all the intricate ways these elements express themselves. Once you understand the language of these elements, as well as know how these elements are expressed in various decor items, you will become successful in your feng shui decorating. I know this might sound a bit too complicated, but if you want to achieve lasting results with your feng shui work, there is no way around it. Of course, you can always place a pair of Mandarin ducks in your feng shui Love area or a money frog in your Money area, but this will be a big waste of time. So, how do you start with mastering the art of feng shui decorating? You start by understanding the five feng shui elements on a practical level, and not just the theoretical one. Play and experiment until you are comfortable with at least several main expressions of each feng shui element. Let’s start by understanding the five elements.
image: potterybarn.com
