Unlock the Feng Shui Secrets of Your Living Room
By Happy
Feng shui, an ancient art and science devel–oped thousands of years ago in China, is the practice of balancing energies in any environment to assure health and good fortune for the residents.
The home is meant to be a serene, peaceful and inviting space for the family to relax and recharge. Within the home, the living room is a place for socializing. Thoughtful decoration in this space adds welcoming warmth and is a reflection of the owner’s personality and lifestyle. By implementing feng shui into the room’s design you can create an optimum flow of positive energy.
From a feng shui perspective, the living room should harmonize the co-existence of Heaven, Earth and people. Therefore, the ceiling represents Heaven, the floors represent Earth and the walls represent people. A light-colored ceiling symbolizes a clear sky and a dark-colored floor complies with the feng shui concept of a stable ground. A neutral color on the walls blends with the colors of the ceiling and the floor to signify harmony between Heaven, Earth and the residents.
For key benefits, the ceiling should be designed so that the center of the ceiling has the greatest height, while the ceiling on all four sides is at a lower height. This design not only avoids direct light to the eyes, but also brings an ambient feeling for people in the room. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, this design creates a concave shape that forms a “heavenly lake” which improves the overall feng shui in the house as it symbolizes the accumulation of wealth and good fortune. Hang a crystal chandelier in the center of this “heavenly lake” to complete this magical setting.
When it comes to furniture arrangement, place the main sofa against a wall. In feng shui terms this reflects stability and support in life. If a wall isn’t available, place a small cabinet, sofa table or screen behind the sofa to create an “artificial” support. Avoid placing a sofa under any horizontal ceiling beams as this would create the psychological effect of oppression. In addition, avoid placing a sofa against a window as the rush of energy could be very harmful to your health.
A living room with good feng shui is filled with natural sunlight. For the walls, use neutral tones with an accent of color. Bold colors stimulate conversation while pastel shades attract family fortunes and create a homey feel which brings peace of mind. Avoid brilliant colors such as red as they tend to cause visual and mental fatigue which can lead to fighting between family members.
Avoid keeping the living room extremely tidy and clean. Auspicious living room accessories can play a role in enhancing fortune, but choose them carefully. On the wall, hang Chinese calligraphy that symbolizes wealth, health and longevity, or paintings that depict beautiful and peaceful atmospheres. A beautiful vase symbolizes peace, health, luck and happiness, while the shape of the vase symbolizes the collection of wealth and energy. Add a few plants to improve the energy field and regulate the feng shui. Lush, leafy green plants also purify the air. Accessories with sharp edges, such as swords, as well as pictures or sculptures of fierce animals, such as eagles or tigers, create anger and impulsiveness. You would be wise to avoid such hostile decorations.
A well-designed living room provides guests and family with a sense of security and friendship. To ensure the lasting effect of feng shui, nurture a kind heart, full of love and gratitude, and continue to practice good deeds to attract good karma and energy.
