Feng Shui is one of the guiding principles to look to when attempting to spruce up your home and add a little balance to your life.
Founded more than 600 years ago, it is the practice of arranging objects in the home to encourage the natural flow of energy. It also extends to choosing layouts, materials, and colors that add natural energy to a space or building. As such, you can use feng shui right across the home, from the kitchen to the porch.
We want to focus on how to feng shui your living room. What are some of the ways to bring a natural flow of energy into your living spaces for a peaceful, comfortable, and balanced life?
Design the room for function
The first step is to bring function to your living areas. Ask yourself a simple question: What’s the room’s primary purpose? Is it for leisurely activities? Is it for entertainment? Of course, living rooms serve multiple purposes. However, identifying the area’s main purpose will help you design it to maximize that purpose.
For instance, you’ll be able to bring in the right furniture in line with the identified purpose. You’ll also be able to bring in the right accessories.
Introduce fresh air
Once you know the purpose of the space, plan for free airflow throughout the area. Letting air into your rooms is important because natural energy, or chi, resides in the air around us. Maximum airflow also ensures enough oxygen levels and eliminates airborne viruses and bacteria.
A super-easy way to bring more natural air into your home is to have several openings throughout the space, including doors and windows. But, more importantly, make sure to open all the windows for a minimum of nine minutes every day.
Invite natural light too
Lighting is a critical part of feng shui because light improves mood and uplifts our spirits. On the other hand, darkness triggers depression and lowers energy vibration. More importantly, dark spaces feel less inviting. So, you need to find ways to invite more natural light into your living room.
A few ways to draw more natural light into your living room include installing large windows and doors, replacing wall space with glass blocks, and using lighter window treatments.
Minimize the clutter
It’s also very important to keep your living room organized, and free of clutter as energy flows better in spaces with minimal items. This doesn’t mean getting rid of everything you own. Instead, it’s more about creating pathways for free airflow throughout the space.
An excellent way to go about it is to take an inventory of what is useful and what isn’t. Then, keep only the items you need while donating or giving away what you don’t. If you’re not sure, keep the item but store it away.
Embrace color
Another way to feng shui your living room is by choosing your colors wisely. Why? Because color has a big impact on mood and general wellbeing. It’s even more important when you consider the amount of time we spend in the living room.
Unfortunately, choosing colors to feng shui your living room can be a little tricky. We recommend relying on the five elements of the Bagua map. Generally, though, choose warm colors, including reds, oranges, yellows, ad even pinks, and purples.
Create balance throughout the room
The whole point of feng shui is to create balance. So, you must make sure that there isn’t an overpowering element in the room. Instead, every item should supplement or complement the next one.
For instance, offset textures to create a more cohesive space. If there’s a lot of metal in your room, add a few soft accessories, such as pillows and rugs, to soften the area. Similarly, add pop-up colors and wood to warm up an area with lots of whites and pastels.
Add plants to add life to your room
Indoor plants reduce stress levels. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology shows that plants in your home or office can make you feel more comfortable, soothed, and natural. Additionally, plants are therapeutic and have been shown to sharpen attention. They also boost productivity and improve indoor air quality.
Perhaps this is why the feng shui tradition stresses the need to embrace indoor plants. The type of plants you bring in is completely up to you as long as you manage them well.
Summary
There are endless benefits of practicing the age-old feng shui tradition in your home. It alters how natural energy (chi) flows around and throughout your surroundings, which can have a massive impact on your happiness, health, energy levels, and passion for life. Now you know how to feng shui your living room.
