Why Feng Shui Design Really Works

The environment around us has a lot to do with our mood. Don’t believe it? Think about how you feel when your home is a disaster, compared to when it’s spotless. A messy environment leads to stress, while cleanliness calms us down.

Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese practice, is based on the belief that your home or business should be designed to promote the proper flow of energy. The idea is that when your space feels good, your life improves. It might sound like weird science to some, but there are plenty of people who swear by Feng Shui, claiming it led to major life improvements such a better job, finding a partner, improved health and more.

What Does Feng Shui Involve?

Feng Shui is a complicated practice, but the foundation is simple: creating a space with balance and harmony. One of the most important principals is that there’s a specific place for every object, from furniture pieces to your iPad. The practice emphasizes balanced and proper placement of every object in a room, and eliminating clutter.

We can’t get into all of the specifics here (we’d be writing a book), but here are some basic Feng Shui principles for how certain items should be placed:

• BED - The ideal Feng Shui position for the bed is diagonally facing the door (but not with your feet pointing directly at the door). The idea is to be facing a wall but with a clear view of the door. The headboard should touch the back wall. The positioning is believed to promote better sleep and provide security.
• DESK - Not everyone has an office, so this can be hard to do. But the optimal position for a desk is similar to that of a bed - diagonally opposite from the door and facing it. This is thought to be a power position that allows you to think more clearly. Feng Shui advises against placing a desk facing a wall.
  * ELECTRONICS - Feng Shui advises moving as many electronics as possible out of the bedroom to promote restfulness and relaxation. When that’s not possible, keep them as far from the bed and in the off position whenever possible.
• PLANTS - Plants are an important part of Feng Shui, as they are believed to promote good luck, prosperity and good health. Plants that point upward, such as orchids or bamboo, are thought to boost energy.
• LIGHTING - Feng Shui is all about maximizing natural light. Since we don’t have daylight 24 hours a day, Feng Shui does make use of artificial lighting such as incandescent bulbs, but it rejects fluorescent lighting.

Even if you’re not much of a spiritual person, you can see how the principles of Feng Shui could improve your mood. We all know that natural light promotes a good mood, for example, or that electronics in bed disrupt restful sleep. Incorporating just a few of these principles can make you feel more relaxed.

Hiring a Feng Shui Designer to Improve Your Home - and Life

Learning the ins and outs of Feng Shui could take years. Fortunately, you don’t have to do the learning. Many people who are interested in the practice hire a Feng Shui designer or consultant to create balance and harmony in the home or at work.

The job can be as minimal or as comprehensive as you want it to be. You can hire a consultant to come in and give you a few tips, or you can hire a designer to rearrange and redecorate the entire home or office in the spirit of Feng Shui. Look for someone who is certified by an organization such as the International Feng Shui Guild or the Feng Shui Institute of America. That ensures the person is knowledgable.

Consultants and designers have different ways of billing for their services. Some charge by the hour, while others charge by the square foot or the job. A home consultation usually costs anywhere from $200 to $500, depending on the size of the home and the depth of the consultation. Many times these are followed up with a written report of recommendations. Business consultations start at $300 to $600.

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