Have you ever walked into a house and thought “I really like this house, it just feels good”? Perhaps it is the secret work of Feng Shui in practice. The concept of Feng Shui has been around for centuries and more recently has been used in Contemporary Interior Design. Cambridge.org defines Feng Shui as “an ancient Chinese belief that the way your house is built or the way that you arrange objects affects your success, health, and happiness”. Google defines Feng Shui as “(in Chinese thought) a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi), and whose favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when siting and designing buildings”.
Feng Shui in Chinese literally means wind and water and Chi means energy, the vital life force of the universe. Feng Shui’s main goal is to shape your homes energy (chi) to add value to the quality of your life. So, what are some of the basics of Feng Shui? First and foremost, it is about balancing the Yin and Yang energy by balancing use of the five elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water and by using the Bagua map.
Yin and Yang in Chinese philosophy describes feminine and masculine energy. Yin and Yang are two halves that are interconnected and interdependent even though they may appear to be opposites. In Feng Shui it is the balance of these energies that is important.
The first of the five elements, wood, represents upward growth and strength and it represents new beginnings, family, wealth and gratitude; its colors are green and blue and its shape is rectangular. Fire symbolizes purification, regeneration, transformation and change; its colors are red and orange and its shape is triangular. The Metal element is associated with letting go, accepting and clarity; its colors are white and grey and its shape is circular. Water, as a Feng Shui element, represents movement, flow and being connected to one’s inner truth; its colors are blue and black and its shape is represented by curves and wavy lines. The last element, earth, represents nourishment, stability, support and caring patience; its colors are light brown and yellow and its shape is represented by the square.
Now that you know the elements, how do you use them? The Bagua is a grid like map used in Feng Shui to help analyze the energy of your space. It has nine different zones that represent different energies and the areas that those energies apply to in a home. According to Cheryl Grace, “The Bagua map is the ancients’ powerful template correlating important aspects of your life with various parts of a space and identifying energetic patterns in each area. You can superimpose this template over a piece of land, your house or apartment, or your office or business location, as well as an individual room or even a surface such as a desk”.
By using the elements, their colors and shapes in the correlating areas of the Bagua map, you can start to balance the energy of your home, bringing more harmony to your daily life. It may be easier than you think to bring these elements into your home, something as simple as custom pillows and custom curtains, could make a big difference. As always, remember it’s your home and by following a few simple interior design tips, you can have fun creating a home that makes you feel great!
Design Team
The Contemporary Curtain
A brand of PKB DESIGN LLC
