Feng Shui room: recommendations for arranging the space

Many books have been written about the Taoist practice of symbolic exploration of space. Some authors call teaching an art, others – a science, and still others – a pseudoscience. This movement arose in Ancient China, where it found its practical application in many spheres of human activity: government, military, medical, agriculture, astrology, and everyday life. Today it is also used for various purposes, for example, adherents of this knowledge assume that feng shui of an apartment should help not only bring order to it, but also achieve success, increase material wealth, and find a life partner.

What is Feng Shu

Feng Shui as a movement originated more than five thousand years ago. It developed over many generations, influencing Chinese civilization and its culture. The philosophical base of this movement is very extensive, it includes many ideas based on a set of views taken from the I Ching (Book of Changes) and the Tao Te Ching (Book of the Path and Virtue). If the authorship of the first treatise is unknown, although some historians attribute it to the mythical Fu Xi, then the second was written by Lao Tzu (6-5 centuries BC).

For a long time, knowledge was secret, it was not written down, it was passed on from father to son. Trained masters were respected people, and important decisions were not made without their advice. Only since the founding of schools in the 9th century AD, after they laid out the basic rules on paper, did Feng Shui become a real teaching. However, no one in the world knew about him. The first information about this system in Europe appeared only in 1873, after the publication of the book “Feng Shui or Rudiments of Natural Sciences in China,” written by missionary Ernst Eitel.

The worldwide spread of the movement began from the moment Mao Zedong came to power, who considered this discipline to be contradictory to the new communist ideology. The masters who fled from the Celestial Empire dispersed to different countries, where they continued their practice. Gradually, the philosophy of the direction began to spread among ordinary people. It reached its peak of popularity in the United States at the end of the 20th century, after Thomas Lin Yu significantly simplified the teaching by creating symbolic (isoteric) feng shui.

The new system formed in 1986 was very different from the traditional one, which included complex calculations, formulas, and laws developed over centuries. An American of Chinese origin divided his living space into different zones responsible for love, wealth, success, career, health, etc. In addition to the correct arrangement of furniture and interior items, to activate a certain area, various figurines, amulets, and talismans began to be popularized to improve everyday life and solve life problems.

Unlike simplified teachings, classical Feng Shui is an entire science based on centuries-old observations of nature. Literally translated as wind and water. The main goal is to search for favorable flows of qi energy, which is the basis of all things. In the traditional view, there is no concept of zones. Each house, like a person, is unique, the energy of the home is calculated individually, taking into account time and space, to determine the direction of arrival and accumulation of positive qi energy.

Feng Shui Basics

The main characteristics of the teaching were systematized by two basic schools, based on different but non-contradictory positions. The school of forms (landscape) was formed in the southern provinces of China. She teaches the principle of the influence of terrain and the energy produced by the landscape on a person. Masters living in the north of the country created a compass school (of three periods), which is based on knowledge about the dependence of all things on the cardinal points according to the traditional Lo Pan compass.

Recently, many new educational directions have emerged that combine and interpret the knowledge of both movements. Unlike classical feng shui, their concepts do not require much time to study, but they do not carry true knowledge. For example, such establishments include: Black Hat, founded in 1986 by Thomas Lin Yu; “Eight Life Positions”, existing since 1995. Regardless of the chosen point of view, in order to understand the principles of Feng Shui, you need to know its fundamental principles:

• Qi energy. Translated as life force, vitality, spirit, breath. Qi is the energy of the material and immaterial world. It is all-encompassing and elusive, in constant motion, but never disappearing. There are several types of qi, which are manifestations of the same energy: human, social, heavenly, natural, domestic. All of them affect a person's life. Correctly directed and concentrated flows provide prosperity, fame, prosperity, and good luck.
• Yin and Yang. These are the two original forces that govern the Universe. They are opposite to each other, but do not contradict each other. If yin means the dark side, passivity, the feminine aspect, then yang represents the light direction, activity, the masculine aspect. Together they symbolize harmony. They cannot exist separately, and when yang reaches its peak, yin arises in it, and vice versa. The infinity of the process can be seen in the illustration of the traditional symbol.
• Theory of Wu-shin (Five Elements). Xin is defined as movement and change. According to Chinese ideas, any phenomenon or object is a synthesis of the qualities of five elements: water, fire, wood, earth, metal. Each of them has its own characteristics. They all generate and simultaneously destroy each other. Only by achieving balance between them can harmony and prosperity be achieved.
• Bagua symbol. The sacred octagon, built on the basis of the eight trigrams. Bagua has nine main sections - 8 equal sectors and a center. Each part corresponds to a specific compass direction, one or more values. All parties are of equal importance and are in constant interaction; the weakening of one of them can lead to negative consequences for other aspects.

It is impossible to present all the concepts of Feng Shui in one article. But no less important are: the magic square Lo-shu, closely associated with the Bagua symbol; energy sha, si and shen; time of day that influences decision making; ruler, one “quantum” long (432 mm); four defenders protecting the outside of the house from different sides; other symbolism.

Main taboos

Feng Shui is the teaching of harmonious life. It is used in various fields. Used as a method of preventing physiological and mental diseases. Also, experienced craftsmen can help with building a house, organizing a workplace, arranging the interior, and choosing the most suitable time to open a business. As in every science, there are rules and prohibitions. In order not to be distracted from the topic under consideration, let us dwell in more detail on what should not be done when arranging a one-room apartment according to Feng Shui.

First of all, you should pay attention to your place of residence. You should not buy housing near a busy highway; the constant flow of cars takes away positive energy. If possible, it is better to settle outside the city near a lake or river, or, as a last resort, in a residential area near a park or square. It is also worth taking a closer look at your neighbors. Neighborhood with disadvantaged people implies a lack of positive energy around, which can negatively affect life as a whole.

An important factor is the internal arrangement of the house, here the following prohibitions can be distinguished:

• Junk and garbage. You cannot store unnecessary things in the apartment, as they collect sha energy.
• Broken items. Housing is compared to a living organism; accordingly, a faulty thing disrupts the entire balance and leads to a loss of qi.
• Combination of kitchen and living room. It is prohibited to remodel or combine a kitchen area and a place to relax in a single room. Luck accumulates in the hall.
• Floors of different levels. Podiums, multi-level structures, even differences in floor covering in different rooms break up the energy space and split life into several pieces.
• Bathroom and toilet. The doors to the bathroom, as well as the toilet lid, must be closed. The premises must be kept clean. Fix a leak in a pipe or tap immediately.
• Doors and windows. They should not be located opposite each other. It is also not allowed to place a trash can in front of the entrance.
• Ventilation. To maintain harmony between yin and yang, it is necessary to ventilate the house. You cannot keep the windows closed all the time, even in winter, so that the qi does not stagnate.
• Mirrors. They are prohibited from being placed opposite any door in the spouses’ bedroom. If they are broken, cracked, or chipped, then you need to get rid of them.
• Bagua zones. Zoning of the home must be carried out in accordance with the sacred octagon.
• Negative things. It is forbidden to keep objects that cause sadness, despondency, or fear in the apartment. It is worth abandoning terrible figures and paintings depicting violence.

Tips before using the Bagua net: general cleaning

Before moving on to Bagua planning, I highly recommend paying attention to your room and its general condition.

The fact is that Feng Shui is about harmony, and harmony certainly cannot exist among chaos, disorder and clutter. So look at every area and room in the house. Conduct an analysis of all spaces: which zone “sinks” the most, which one requires the most urgent cleaning, which one needs to be redone completely.

Carry out a global cleansing of the apartment. Look in all the closets, on the shelves, everywhere where “no human has set foot in a long time.” I assure you that you will find a lot of interesting and, for the most part, unnecessary things. So, you can safely throw it away to free up space for a happy life.

Dirty, cluttered places, images reminiscent of unpleasant events or people are the most sources of negative, overwhelming energy - Sha energy. When you clean your home, you will see for yourself that it has become easier to breathe, because you will get rid of the garbage, even if not in its literal meaning, that has been weighing on your shoulders for many years.

If you find it difficult to part with some things, use the following tactics: think about the last time you remembered an item, have you used it over the past year, or better yet, over the past few months? If the answer is “no”, I want to make you happy – such a moment will not come, so without any doubt, take everything to the trash heap or give it to those in need.

The next object of your attention is breakdowns. Review any appliances that are not working. Further, there are several ways: get rid of them if they are of no value, or repair them. Use everything you have, even small things like a burnt out light bulb in the farthest corner of the house.

The last thing you should deal with is faulty items. This can be attributed to cracked dishes, which can no longer be called complete, but it’s also a pity to throw away half-working devices. You will also have to part with this, since storing faulty things redirects the same energy to other areas of life. Check home greenhouses for dead plants. Plants personify life and breath, so keeping dried trees means neglecting your own condition as well.

Colors and their combinations (according to Feng Shui)

According to the doctrine, a person’s life is directly influenced by colors; health, wealth, and success depend on their correct combination. They can be used according to the principle of the theory of the five elements (wu-xing), which is a product of the interaction and struggle of yin and yang. Each element has its own color scheme, namely:

• water – blue, black tint;
• tree – green;
• fire - red;
• earth – yellow;
• metal – white, silver, metallic.

Each background has its own characteristic. For example, red has powerful energy, blue represents calm, green symbolizes harmony, balance and wisdom. To combine them correctly, one should rely on the principles of birth, destruction, and weakening of the elements. First, let's look at a positive combination of shades:

• gold and red - union promises good luck and money;
• black and white - symbolize the two principles yin and yang;
• yellow with white - means the desire for power;
• green and red - will help you achieve fame.

As already noted, the elements can not only strengthen each other, but also oppress. Therefore, not all colors can be combined with each other. For example, water and fire will conflict with each other, therefore red and blue are incompatible. By the same analogy, due to the hostility of the elements, you cannot combine white and green, black and yellow, blue and purple, and other shades.

Useful tips for each zone: how to activate?

Each zone is subordinated to its own element. In the east there are more of them than the four we are used to (Water, Fire, Earth and Air), and in the description of the zone, belonging to a specific element of existence comes first. In second place is the secondary element, which supports and helps the main one. The third position is occupied by the shade that best reflects the sphere and brings good luck in it. It is harmonious with the two elements of the sector. Each direction has its own number, which you can also focus on.

Features of creating an interior in different rooms

The question related to the arrangement of an apartment most often arises when buying it, when it is empty and not cluttered. For those people who decide to make repairs, or radically change their lives, it is initially necessary to carry out general cleaning, get rid of broken and unused things, and eliminate all faults. Only after this can you start decorating your home according to Feng Shui. It is worth considering that each room in the house has its own characteristics and must be decorated in accordance with certain rules.

Hallway/corridor

The hallway always follows the front door. Its size is not important, the main thing is the design and layout. These parameters determine whether the Shen will stay in the house or rush to leave it. The energy should enter a spacious and bright room. If the corridor is small, then it is necessary to visually enlarge it with the help of mirrors. And due to the fact that such rooms rarely have windows, it is necessary to properly organize an artificial lighting system, install sconces, and select a central chandelier that diffuses light.

The staircase (if any) should not be located opposite the entrance. Existing utilities must be hidden under finishing materials. Doors to the bathroom, bed, fireplace, viewed from the entrance, also provoke the shen to leave. The kitchen facing the corridor must be closed at all times. It is also very bad if the doorways that open into the hallway are located opposite each other. Then the energy cannot decide where to move and is reborn into sha, bringing failure and illness.

Living room

The living room is the spiritual center of the entire home. It must be spacious and bright. It is necessary to attract the maximum amount of positive energy here, so you need to make a clear path and remove all obstacles that impede the flow. To do this, a bright carpet is laid in the corridor, or the path is decorated using flooring. Sconces and paintings are hung on the walls, wind chimes and crystals are installed.

The layout of the room itself must be done according to the Bagua octagon. First, a center of gravity is selected, which is created around one of the sectors; it is advisable to give preference to family, marriage, or, in extreme cases, wealth. It is better to place a place for guests or the head of the family to relax near the fireplace; it should not be located opposite the front door. The sofa and chairs must stand with their backs to the wall.

There should not be a lot of furniture, plants, or various accessories in the room. The central zone should be left free. If there is a low table there, then it should be decorated with a vase of yellow flowers. When creating an environment, you need to take into account the color design, which is carried out according to the wu-shin theory. However, you cannot focus on one shade, so as not to drown out the other elements.

Kitchen

The kitchen room is one of the most visited places in the entire house. Her condition reflects the well-being of the family. It should have a lot of free space for comfortable movement. Under no circumstances should this room be used as a passageway; additional exits anywhere are prohibited here. Items should be placed taking into account the five elements. The stove must be removed from the refrigerator and sink. The elements of fire and water should be separated by wood.

The kitchen should not be cluttered with extraneous things. The work surface must be kept clean. Spices, jars, and kitchen utensils should be kept in closed cabinets. Open shelves, sharp corners and objects create negative energy. The refrigerator cannot be placed in the south; it is better to choose the western side. It is necessary to monitor the balance of all elements, wood should not prevail over metal, fire over water, and so on.

Bedroom

A person spends a third of his life sleeping. At this moment, he is relaxed and defenseless, most susceptible to the influence of energy. The bedroom is an intimate area; the interior should be calm and peaceful. The general decoration and color palette must correspond to the size of the room. For a small room you should choose airy, pastel colors that create a feeling of space and freedom.

The main attribute is the bed. When placing it, it is worth considering the basic rule - it should not be located opposite the doorway. At the same time, it is installed so that a person can sleep with his feet or head towards the window. No overhanging objects should be placed above the bed. The premises should be kept clean. Foreign objects that do not correspond to the function of the room must be removed.

Children's

It is advisable that the children's room be located near the parent's bedroom in the eastern part of the house. A favorable atmosphere in the room where the baby spends most of his time is important for his health. After all, here children not only sleep, but also play and study, therefore, it is better to shift the balance towards yang. The interior should be bright and lively, but in moderation so that the child does not get too excited before bed.

It is better to place the workplace in the northeast, in the corner of the room. You should also provide as much free space as possible here. It is also necessary to remember about raising a child, teaching him from childhood to order and cleanliness. To do this, you should provide cabinets with a closed front and bedside tables with drawers where the baby could store toys, textbooks, and personal items.

Cabinet

Mental activity depends on well-being, mood, tone. Therefore, when decorating an office, both the arrangement of furniture and the color scheme are equally important. The best colors for decoration are a combination of green and red. The main attribute in the room is the table. It should not be facing the front door; sitting with your back to the window is also undesirable. You should leave plenty of free space in front of it.

You can’t make an office in a walk-through room. However, it is not always possible to allocate a separate room for these purposes in an apartment. In this case, select a free space in the living room, bedroom, or on the balcony. At the same time, it should not conflict with the overall interior. Particular attention should be paid to lighting; it should be multi-level. The workplace must be kept clean at all times.

Bathroom and toilet

The bathroom is the place where accumulated qi energy leaves the house. It should be located in the northern part of the house, but not opposite the front door. The doorway in the room must be constantly closed, as well as the toilet lid. The bathroom and toilet must be separated by a partition or solid wall. In apartments where these zones are combined in a single space, you can install screens, curtains, and wardrobes.

In Fe Shui there are no strict recommendations regarding the style of rooms. It doesn’t matter what style is chosen, the main thing is a competent and comfortable environment. In finishing, preference should be given to natural materials such as wood, stone, metal. To expand the space, you should use functional, spacious furniture. Required attributes: bath bowl, mirror, sink.

Mirrors in the interior feng shui

Any mirror has an impact on the surrounding space and the internal state of a person. Its placement should be approached with extreme caution. Each room has its own rules for the placement of reflective elements:

• In the hall. If the most accessible room looks hospitable, chi energy will fill the apartment or house continuously. For the mirror to work to restore strength, it must be hung at an angle of 90° from the door. Large mirrors that allow you to see yourself in full height have a beneficial effect on your health and retain your inner value.
• In the bedroom. When choosing a suitable place, you should consider the location of the bed and other furniture. The intimate area should not be reflected in the mirror, as this will double the number of people and pose a threat to the union. Also, you should not attach such an item to the headboard. The best option would be a floor mirror or on a stand with an adjustable function.
• In the living room. The place of the greatest concentration of qi energy must be organized correctly. It is better to point the mirror at beautiful accessories, paintings, and living plants. A frame made of natural wood is suitable as a frame. This way the energy of health and prosperity will be activated.
• In the bathroom. To prevent the movement of qi energy from slowing down, the mirror in the bathroom should be round. The presence of a frame is mandatory, otherwise the energy of the water element will leak. It is not recommended to hang a reflective element on the door.

Flowers and plants

The correct selection and arrangement of living plants not only harmonizes the energy in the house, but also has a beneficial effect on the internal state of all household members. When choosing flowers, their shape, shade and size of buds are taken into account. The best options according to Feng Shui are those that stretch upward as they grow and have rounded leaves.

Indoor plants can release feminine and masculine energy. For men, dracaena, asparagus, and all types of citrus fruits are suitable; for women, crassula, violet, and begonia. It is not recommended to keep dried plants indoors. They will absorb positive energy and have a negative impact on the microclimate.

Paintings and panels

You can decorate your home according to Feng Shui using various wall paintings, drawings on photo wallpapers, reproductions, and photographs. You should choose decorative elements only with positive energy. You should discard the canvas if it causes even the slightest feeling of anxiety. These include abstract drawings. Paintings donated by unpleasant people should not be hung in your home.

In order for the canvases to start working and attract positive energy, they should be activated in a certain area under the auspices of one of the elements. Mountain landscapes are suitable for the northern sector. In the West, it is better to post photos of children, crafts and other derivative works of creativity. The southern zone is suitable for placing items of personal achievements. These can be all kinds of certificates, diplomas and other attributes.

Love zone

The love zone is an equally popular part of the home, its place is the southwest. The love sector is ruled by Fire and Earth.

A proper environment will help improve the relationship between spouses. An important rule: to attract love into your home, all talismanic objects must be paired. These are fish, dolphins, pillows, cups, candles, etc. A popular talisman is a pair of doves.

How to arrange furniture

Furniture arrangement is one of the secrets to success in the practice of Feng Shui. If the bedroom is in the marriage zone, then arrange the bed like a king. There is no need to overload the room with ruffles, hearts and other symbols so that the feminine energy does not predominate and suppress the masculine. One or two talismans are enough.

The same principle works with all talismans. Determine what is most important to you at this stage of life and choose the appropriate patron.

The colors of the love sector are pink, beige. Choose wallpaper, furniture, and decorative elements in these shades to maintain a harmonious atmosphere.

Zones and their distribution in the apartment

All Feng Shui zones in the apartment should be designed purposefully. They are equal in greatness and exert a certain influence. When forming energy flows, you should rely on the Bagua grid. This will help strengthen the influence of qi many times over and highlight the most important points for well-being.

Career zone

The northern career zone is fully responsible for relationships at work, social status, and salary level. This space should be given special attention if you need to increase your income or establish contact with investors or your boss.

You can arrange a career sector by highlighting it in the total area of ​​a house or apartment, or a specific room. There must be a lot of metal objects and wooden decor. You can put an aquarium, install a floor mirror. In the northern zone there is no place for earth elements, so it is better to remove indoor plants and standing water.

Zone of wisdom and knowledge

To activate the wisdom zone, you need to correctly form the northeastern section. The dominant element here is earth, with fire acting as an additional element. Acceptable colors are brown, yellow, red, orange. It is better to avoid black, blue, and green.

Items in the knowledge and wisdom zone should be square or triangular. Miniature pyramids and photo frames are suitable. Since the zone number is 8, an appropriate number of decorative figures or books can be placed. The walls are decorated with paintings depicting the earth and geographical maps.

Travel zone

The northwestern section of the mentor and travel zone should be as light as possible. Metal objects and various figurines of selected deities are welcome. A personal talisman should also be located here. This will activate the beneficial influence of the sector and help you get ready for a flight or long trip.

In the travel zone you should place motivational photographs of the areas you want to visit. These can be photographs of irregularly shaped historical landmarks, beautiful yachts, landscapes, mountain peaks.

Family and health zone

The eastern sector of the studio apartment is responsible for the well-being of the family. To stimulate the family and health area, it should be kept clean. There should be a lot of indoor plants in this area. The disembarkation process should take place with the participation of all family members. Also, crafts made of wood, flowerpots with flowers, objects of the water element (aquariums, paintings with a waterfall) would be appropriate here.

The marriage area is the perfect place for family photos. Believers can organize a prayer altar here. This should be a very bright place, so if there is not enough natural light, you should install wall sconces and floor lamps. The same conditions are suitable for single people.

Children and creativity zone

This area should be arranged according to Feng Shui in the western part of the apartment. Zone colors are white, silver, gold. The supporting elements of the sector are metal and earth. To receive positive energy from the children's area, it should be kept clean at all times. Children's drawings, funny crafts, and toys should be placed here. This will help awaken the child’s interest in creativity and communication with adults and peers.

To increase the conductivity of energy, scented candles or bags with scented herbs are placed in the creativity sector. The aromas of citrus fruits, honey, cedar, and mint have a beneficial effect on all family members. The correct arrangement of elements and a detailed description can be seen in the photo or video.

Wealth Zone

This site is located in the southeast. For the free circulation of wealth energy, only clean space is required. It is necessary to get rid of all old, broken and non-functional things.

In an apartment, according to Feng Shui, wooden elements are responsible for the money sector. Suitable colors are gold, purple, green. To activate this zone, it must be fed with water. To do this, an aquarium is placed here, a fountain is installed, and good lighting is provided.

Zone of love and marriage

This site is located in the southwest. Several techniques are used to activate the love and marriage sector. These can be paired things, for example, candles, lamps, any trinkets. Which symbolize strong relationships and love.

The main element of the marriage sector is earth, the complement is fire. In this zone, objects of pink color, all shades of red, orange, sand, and gold should be actively used. To maintain an ideal atmosphere, the love sector should be furnished only with beautiful decor, and scented candles should be lit periodically.

Basic principles: zones, talismans, activation

You should start arranging your apartment according to Feng Shui with the Bagua grid, which is divided into nine sectors: the eight cardinal directions and the center. Each feng shui zone is responsible for a specific area of ​​life: wealth, health, love, mentors, travel.

Each of the Bagua zones has its own color and element. Certain talismans are used to activate positive energy.

But not everything is so simple: the Bagua scheme must be correlated with the location of rooms, windows and doors, and the characteristics of the owner of the house. For example, if the wealth zone falls on a toilet, then special rules will apply for its design.

For a one-room apartment or studio, the Bagua grid is applied similarly, according to the compass. But some zones will not be covered, and this also needs to be taken into account.

How to choose the right apartment according to Feng Shui

When going to view an apartment, be sure to take a compass with you. First of all, you need to start by assessing the immediate surroundings. It is undesirable for there to be a cemetery, morgue, or prison near the house. Various memorials. Favorable facilities include parks, schools, and kindergartens.

Using a compass, you need to determine the side of the world towards which the building's façade is facing. Then you need to stand with your back to the front door and determine the main direction of life. It is undesirable that when entering an apartment, the first thing that catches your eye is the toilet door. The optimal shape and layout of new housing is a square or rectangle.

Let's sum it up

If it seems to you that it is quite difficult to form the Feng Shui of an apartment, the zones of which require so much attention, it is also worth noting that you may not have to change anything in your apartment! Often people, listening to their own instincts, do many things exactly as they should be! Apply a Bagua grid to the floor plan of your apartment and try to see if your own interpretations match the actual picture. In any case, if something is wrong, you can always correct the situation by getting closer to your own happiness and harmony! Once you do this, the desired effect will not be long in coming!