Feng Shui is fascinating to me and I am interested in learning more about how to improve the energy in our homes through interior design. Today I am thrilled to have a Feng Shui expert give us some tips.
Cristin Zegers {yep, spelled just like me!} is a Feng Shui Consultant and Mom of three based in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She believes that our homes are our havens and should embrace us, reflect us, and inspire us. Using the ancient practice of Feng Shui and her own intuitive guidance, Cristin strives to empower people with the knowledge they need to create spaces that nurture them and support the work they do within themselves every day.
{image source House Beautiful and designer Christopher Maya}
Think of that house you walk in to and you immediately feel at ease. We all know of at least one house like this. We can’t quite put our finger on it, but it’s welcoming and comfortable, and lingering for hours in this space just leaves us feeling good. Chances are this house has good Feng Shui. The words Feng Shui actually translate to wind and water—kind of like the unseen and the seen. A house with good Feng Shui has good flow, which is something that we not only see but we feel.
Feng Shui has been around for centuries and the essence of this ancient practice is just as applicable today as it has ever been. No matter what your taste, budget, or decorating style, basic Feng Shui principles can be incorporated into your own home creating a space that embraces you, supports you, and leaves your family and your guests feeling energized and positive.
Here are five key areas to focus on in your own home to turn your house into a haven of positive energy:
{image source House Beautiful and designer James Radin}
1. Deal with the clutter. Seen and unseen—remember? We can’t have overflowing closets and mysteries under our beds and feel at ease. Energy gets hung up in these places and therefore affects us internally. A cluttered home equals a cluttered mind, so start purging with abandon and see how much freer you feel.
{image source Marnie Rose and stylist Lauren Nelson}
2. If you don’t love it, set it free. Our belongings hold the memories and thoughts we attach to them. Everything you own should lift your spirits, and if it doesn’t, pass it along so maybe it can do that for someone else. You’ll be opening up space for something more spectacular to enter your life! So if you’ve been looking at that coffee table and cringing for years, here’s your permission to take it to the curb (or the donation center). You’ll be so glad you did.
3. If it’s broken, fix it. Now. Feng Shui teaches us the relationship between parts of our house to areas of our life. A leaky faucet or broken stove could be connected to financial challenges. Wobbly table legs or unstable chairs could be indicative of unsupportive relationships. We need to treat our belongings like precious members of our family and take care of them. Clean, mend, tighten, polish—give your love to your belongings and they will love you right back in ways you may not even know.
{image source Patrice Cowan Bevans Interior Design}
4. Put yourself in the power position. When you lay in bed, sit at your desk, and relax in your favorite chair, make sure you can see the entrance to the room. Having your back to the doorway leaves an unsettling feeling, like you’re not protected. Position yourself so you won’t be startled when someone enters. The only exception to this is the placement of your bed. Do not have your feet directly in line with the door of your bedroom. Even moving your bed one foot, so you don’t look past your feet and out the door, can make a big difference.
{image source Palmer Weiss Interior Design}
5. Take a tour of your home from an energetic point of view. Where your eye goes the energy goes. Those comfortable, peaceful homes have meandering paths for energy to follow. Long, dark hallways and staircases are like shooting rapids for energy flow. Position your furnishings to support an easeful movement throughout your space. A clever use of mirrors can aid the auspicious circulation, as can light and color. Take a walk through your space and see what angles you can soften and paths you can slow down.
Being mindful of these five Feng Shui guidelines in the arrangement and everyday inhabitance of your home can result in abundance you haven’t recognized before. Looking upon your place and your belongings with gratitude creates that positive glow you recognize. It makes people want to be there, and it’s an environment that supports your goals and dreams. Live in a space that reflects the life you want to live…then live it!
How do you incorporate Feng Shui principles in your home today?
