Powerful. Tranquil. Energizing. Entertaining. Productive. Soothing. Envision a place that evokes these emotions. The energy these spaces convey influences how we feel when we occupy them. Everyone’s home should reflect their unique energy and desired ambiance. My role as an interior designer is to listen to these visions and design with intent, using tools like Feng Shui.
Feng Shui—the ancient Chinese art of placement—is about being mindful of a space’s energy and intentionally shifting it to achieve balance. Think of the holiday season: Decorating with a Christmas tree or setting a festive table for Passover or Easter shifts the home’s energy. Similarly, adding a front porch to enhance historical character or a pool for entertaining adjusts the space’s energy to align with the client’s desires.
Feng Shui practitioners work in various environments—from classrooms to offices to homes—enhancing the design process to create spaces that support and nourish inhabitants. Balance, represented by the yin-yang symbol, is key. Each client’s balance is unique: A family may want a playful, productive atmosphere, while empty nesters may seek a space for entertaining.
Using intuition and active listening, practitioners determine necessary adjustments, like updating furniture arrangements, the most important of which is the command position, meaning you are facing the door but not directly in line with it. When we are not in command, our back and necks are exposed causing our brains to release stress hormones even if we are not conscious of it. This increases feelings of insecurity, anxiety and a lack of control. For example, placing a desk—which represents our careers—so that you are facing the door but not directly in line with it gives one the feeling of security, clarity and can improve focus. Placing your bed in command, again not in line with the door but with a direct view of it, can provide more restful sleep. Being able to see what is coming toward you both physically and energetically helps to calm the nervous system and lower stress.
Another way in which to use Feng Shui adjustments is by incorporating color, artwork, symbols or materials, textures and patterns that invoke the five elements: earth, water, fire, metal and wood. Adding a silver sculpture or gold picture frame (metal element) in your office can enhance clarity and communication. Incorporating a fireplace or candles (fire element) in your living room encourages social interactions and community. Implementing these adjustments with specific energetic intention is crucial.
Incorporating Feng Shui principles into interior design can transform living spaces into balanced, harmonious environments. By using these ancient practices, it is possible to create spaces that reflect individual energy and support overall well-being.