Your homes design can significantly affectyour overall happiness.
What is feng shui?
Feng shui is really an art that celebrates science, says feng shi expert Gabrielle Santiago.
Credit: Victoria Pearson
Its purpose is to achieve harmony and balance between humans and their environment.
What Is Feng Shui?
The right balance cultivates happy, organized spaces thatsupport our well-being and daily lives.
Credit: Lisa Romerein
The Chi
One of the most important factors is a rooms chi, or energy.
The traditional bagua is an octagon (the word bagua means eight-sided in Chinese).
Feng Shui Tips for a Happier Home
What is feng shui meant to do?
Credit: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Tofoster a harmonious feelingin your home, try these simple ways to incorporate feng shui.
According to the philosophy, excessive clutter can impede the flow of energy in your home.
Open up the traffic flow.
Credit: Helen Elizabeth Norman
Choose feng shui furniture arrangementsthat allow open pathways into and around rooms.
Blocked traffic flow results in blocked chi, Wong says.
Rounded corners are preferable to sharp edges because they allow for a smoother traffic flow, she says.
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Design a welcoming entry.
Bring in feng shui plants.
However, beware of spiky or pointy leaves.
Plants with rounder, softer leaves help ensure youre not subconsciously on edge, Wong says.
Utilize the command position.
The best spot is often located diagonally from the door with a solid wall behind you.
This represents your ability to effectively handle opportunities or threats that come into your life.
As Wong explains, this can be traced back to our animal instincts.
Create yin and yang balance with feng shui colors.
Wong recommends keeping darker colors lower to the floor to provide a solid foundation.
Then, applylight colors on wallsand ceilings for a balanced, open effect.
The opposite utility (light-colored floors with dark walls) can lead to an imbalanced feeling.
Remember that the goal isnt to achieve perfect feng shui.
Focus on small changes that help you feel more relaxed and content.
Your home is a reflection of yourself, Santiago says.
The positive changes you make are positively and beneficially reflected in your life.
