Running through our busy lives we often wish there were a way to achieve more calm or just a little more time to accomplish things. It is possible to carve out tranquility and even increase energy right in our own homes. As Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our dwellings, and afterwards, our dwellings shape us.”

Feng Shui, the ancient Eastern practice of correct furniture placement and creating a ‘Zen’ or tranquil atmosphere, suggests that our entire being is actually influenced by the space around us. Feng, meaning ‘wind’ and Shui meaning ‘water’ combine to create color and design elements in your home that can bring both relaxation and serenity or heighten energy and productivity.

Feng Shui Map

Five Elements and Color

Just as nature includes the components of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood – the human body contains these elements as well. A well-balanced Feng-Shui home keeps in mind the Five Elements when designing to ensure all are represented so proper energy can flow in the space.

One of the easiest ways to bring in Feng Shui is through color. Warm colors can energize, lighten and animate your state of mind. Cooler color choices can soothe, relax or rejuvenate you.

Paint a room the ‘wrong’ color choice and achieve a whole different reflection than what you were trying to achieve. Picked blue because you thought it energized your front stoop? Well, in actuality it is creating a soothing, serene welcome to your and your guests. A great outcome, but not exactly what you were going for…

According to the principles behind Feng Shui, color can even impact something as simple as your doorway. A red doorway inspires passion as you enter the home, a blue one offers a place for serenity, infuse yellow for a center of happiness and joy.

Confused as to what color brings what Chi? This is where a valuable Feng Shui tool comes in – The Bagua Map. This little blueprint of color holds the key to creating the correct Chi and color correlation in your space.

feng shui home floor plan

Feng Shui Color Tips

  • In Your Kitchen – Painting your kitchen white allows the colorful dishes you prepare to speak for themselves. The kitchen’s element, which is naturally Fire, (hot reds, greens and yellows) is overcome by the element Metal (represented by the stark, pure White) thus creating the best balance in this space.
  • In Your Bedroom – Rose, blush and subtle pinks create a perfect setting to increase love, so it is a natural bedroom color choice. Greens and blues allowing for calm and peacefulness are also great choices.
  • ​In Your Dining Space – Eating together, flowing great conversation and sharing love are all achieved when you paint a dining room pink, green or blue. These colors are all stimulating, appetite-inducing choices that are great for keeping your hungry crowd satisfied.
  • ​In the Bathroom – This high-traffic area can become an area of tremendous rush, as you get ready in the morning or at the end of a long day. Painting the bathroom in warm grays, blues, pinks or even white will create calm and serenity. These are often colors seen in a spa because they induce thoughts of the Water Element that offers purification for both mind and body.

Whatever room you choose to begin your Feng Shui journey, remember that your space has the power to define your state of mind and increase the energy for your well-being. Choose color wisely and your home will pay you back with more restful nights, more energized days and more abundant relationships.

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Kate Smith
Kate Smith is an optimistic, expressive, artist, designer, writer and color fanatic. With her warm and witty style, Kate teaches you to clearly see, understand and be inspired by color. Then she guides you step-by-step to develop your own unique color sense-ability and achieve results you never dreamed possible.
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