9 Simple Feng Shui Tips to Improve Your Home

We’ve previously shared with you 7 Tips to Improve Office Feng Shui, and with Chinese New Year coming and households getting ready with their house-cleaning and decorations, we figure some of these simple feng shui tips for your home won’t be amiss.

#1 – No more squeaking or creaking
Squeaky hinges and creaking floorboards are pretty annoying, and can get on your nerves sometimes, especially when you need some peace and quiet. However, long-term exposure to the squeaking, creaking sounds that may sometimes resemble crying can negatively affect your mood and well-being. Oil those hinges and secure the floorboards to create more positive energy, plus you’ll find that opening doors and windows will be so much more smoother and you won’t have to tread on eggshells in the middle of the night when going to the fridge for a snack. 😉

#2 – Repair leaky taps and toilets
Drip drip drip drip. Just like all the squeaking and creaking, the constant annoyance of leaky taps and toilets can get to you over time. Even worse, it can slowly and sneakily drain your finances over time if not fixed. Invest a few dollars and some time for some fix-it-yourself solutions, or get a plumber or technician to repair bigger problems. Don’t leave them unchecked, as these small inconveniences can add up to to bigger outflow of income and resources.

Photo from House of Doors

#3 – Use the main door
The main door of your house is where the flow of energy, or chi, enters, so it is important to use the main door so that positive energy can enter your home. From a feng shui perspective, allowing chi to flow into your home will increase the amount of good energy and opportunities in your life. Who doesn’t want that, right? If you’re the type who often uses a side door or back door to enter your home, it’s time to get into the habit to use the front door more often, even if it’s just to get the mail or water the garden.

#4 – Oh, and make sure it can open all the way (at least 90 degrees)
Doors represent opportunities, so what’s lurking behind your front door is also important. For example, does your front door open completely and easily, or is it blocked because you store things behind it? When your front door does not open fully, your energy is stagnant and opportunities may not “open” for you. Remove objects from behind your front door and watch your future prospects open as well.

Photo from Good Housekeeping

#5 – Plants = Positive energy
We all know that plants are good for the environment, but did you know that they are also an integral part of feng shui too? Lush green growing plants are a good addition to any garden, as it represents life and good energy. Fresh flowers will also help to brighten up any given space, and the blooms can add a much-welcome positive energy to your home. Bamboo in particular is a very popular plant for good feng shui, which you can plant outdoors, or get the small ones in pots often sold before and during Chinese New Year to be placed indoors. Besides that, if there are empty spaces above your kitchen cabinets, you can also add some potted plants (real or fake doesn’t matter) to chase away the dust and stagnant energy. It will also make your kitchen look much better and cosier.

Image from The Cure Safety

#6 – Close the bathroom door!
Besides the obvious smell factor (nobody wants to smell stinky #2), keeping the bathroom and toilet lid always closed is a good move in terms of feng shui. The bathroom is the place where most of the waste (dirty) water is carried away from the home. Always keep the bathroom door closed to keep it contained, and keep the toilet lid closed – especially when flushing – to prevent wealth and finances from being flushed out of the house, as water is always related to wealth in feng shui.

#7 – Cover up the TV
No, it’s not because that creepy ghost girl from The Ring might crawl out. The active/static energy of the TV screen, as well as the electronic aspect of it, may disrupt the calming, quiet energy that helps promote rest and relaxation in bedrooms. While the ‘harmful rays’ usually refer to conventional CRT TVs – most homes now have LCD or LED TVs installed instead – it is still a good reminder that having less electrical or electronic items in the bedroom will be more conducive to good quality sleep. Covering up the TV can reduce the negative vibes as well as beautify your sleeping space.

You can even buy tv covers for every interior style, from lacy to utilitarian.

Photo from vin_ann

#8 – Mirror, mirror on the dining room wall
You will find that many Chinese dining establishments have a mirror hanging on their wall facing the dining area/table, but do you know what it means? Food is a symbol of nourishment and abundance, and having a mirror in the dining area will serve to double the effect, thus representing more prosperity. Just make sure the mirror doesn’t reflect a door leading outside, or wealth and opportunities will be reflected right out of the house.

#9 – A clean stove brings wealth
There is a Chinese belief that every year, the God of the Kitchen (灶神) will come to ‘inspect’ each house’s kitchen. If he finds a nice, clean, well-kept kitchen, then the house and family will be blessed with prosperity and good luck; on the other hand, if the kitchen is dirty and messy, let’s just say that it won’t be a very good year for the household. So, make sure your kitchen is clean and tidy – it not only brings good luck, but also ensures you have a positive cooking and dining experience!

Need more feng shui tips for your home? Register an account at Estate123.com where you can post your property listings for FREE and get invited to special events and activities like feng shui talks or movie nights! 😉

References
Feng Shui for Real Life (link)
Inhabitat (link)
Love To Know (link)