“Design is coming to grips with one’s real lifestyle, one’s real place in the world. Rooms should not be put together for show, but to nourish one’s well-being” -Albert Hadley.

It has been said that for a room to feel homey and comfortable, it should look curated and not decorated.

However, this does not mean to say that a few decorating tips will not come in handy—particularly if one of your primary endeavors for this new year is to give your home a new look. To ensure that you can look forward to a year filled with good fortune and prosperity, it would not hurt to make a few redecorations and furniture arrangements according to this year’s Feng Shui.

In this year of the rabbit, luck will certainly favor you should you make some appropriate and tasteful redecorations around the home. Whether you are adding finishes or giving your affordable condo for sale in Cubao a kitchen makeover, a few design touches here, and there will certainly elevate your space’s overall feel. But, more importantly, there are endless possibilities to transform your space and make it feel brand new. If you are yet to find a design inspiration, read below for some Feng shui home decor tips.

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER FENG SHUI IN YOUR HOME INTERIORS?

You may be one of several individuals who do not believe in luck, but you should not be quick to dismiss it.

Incorporating Feng Shui into your home decorating endeavor does not always have to mean that you staunchly believe in it. In fact, Feng Shui appeals to many people because it is a clever way to design spaces that promote a harmonious and balanced living environment. As a result, it creates a sense of positivity and well-being. Balance, one of the core principles of Feng Shui, is evidently seen in your places, making it aesthetically pleasing. More importantly, some of Feng Shui’s design principles combine natural materials and thoughtful design that evoke calmness and tranquility.

Also, Feng Shui’s holistic approach to design and living makes it a favorable way to design areas at home. This is because the principles of Feng Shui also consider the effects on one’s health and well-being. With that, many home decorators and homeowners believe that the application of Feng Shui in their areas will improve the natural flow of energy within their homes. All that said, applying Feng Shui is one way of creating a harmonious living environment.

YEAR OF THE RABBIT AND FENG SHUI PRINCIPLES

In this year of the rabbit, lucky colors are apple green, azure blue, red, and pearl white. That said, design elements in your house should reflect these colors in addition to the elements they stand for. As 2023 is the Year of The Water Rabbit, it has elegant, peace-loving, and adaptable characteristics—all of which you can incorporate into your home decorating endeavor. It is also said that this is the year of healing. So, to create positive energy, bringing the earth element into your home and adding the gemstone jade to help you channel all the good luck into your abode.

FOUR WAYS TO APPLY THE LUCKY COLORS OF THE YEAR TO YOUR HOME INTERIORS

a.) Use colors sparingly

One of the rookie mistakes homeowners make is to completely overwhelm a space with the lucky colors of the year, thinking that in doing so, they will be even luckier. However, using lucky colors sparingly instead of overpowering spaces with them is much preferable. Having more auspicious colors does not automatically translate to more positive energy. As said above, Feng Shui is still about harmony and balance.

b.) Strategically place colors in essential locations

Add auspicious colors only in the most valuable sections of the house, such as the bedroom, which will encourage better and sound sleep. You may also incorporate them in the kitchen to promote wealth and prosperity.

c.) Add neutrals

Create balance in a space by adding neutral colors as well. With auspicious colors overwhelming an area, your room can easily look cluttered and overbearing. That said, balance the color scheme to present a more cohesive and unified feel in the overall design.

d.) Mix and Match

Ultimately, Feng Shui is about harmony and cohesion. Many homeowners may wish to incorporate it but end up with a disjointed look when combined with the rest of the palette. Luckily, lucky Feng Shui colors are not absolute, so you can try several combinations using different hues and shades and apply the ones that go well with your existing color scheme and furniture.

FENG SHUI FOR SPECIFIC AREAS AT HOME

1.) Bedroom

Considered an important area in the house, your bedroom serves as your sanctuary—a retreat after a long day where you can safely recharge. That said, the Feng Shui in the room should increase the potential for relaxation. Do this by placing the bed in a commanding position, which means that the door should be visible from the bed, but they should not be facing each other. Also, allow energy to flow freely in the room by removing clutter. Do not shove it under the bed, though, as this still obstructs the energy flow in the room.

The lucky colors are blue and green, which are also great for your bedroom. No need to repaint the walls; just incorporate the colors into pillows, bed sheets, curtains, or throws. Do not forget to add earth tones to attract positive energy and make the bedroom as nurturing as possible.

2.) Kitchen

Regarded as the heart of the home, the kitchen remains to be one of the busiest areas in a living space. There are plenty of ways you can incorporate Feng Shui into your kitchen. Like the bedroom, your kitchen stove should take a commanding position in the area. Likewise, it needs to be free of clutter (which means you should also keep a neat and organized refrigerator). Additionally, make it a point to dispose of broken items in the kitchen.

For the color, experts suggest using yellows and brows for nourishment. The year’s lucky colors are also excellent choices as they symbolize vitality. Finally, keep your kitchen bright and well-lit at all times to attract positive energy.

3.) Living Area

Ideally, your living area should be a spacious and clean environment with good lighting. A few well-placed potted plants to draw the beneficial chi of the wood element would not hurt either. When it comes to choosing plants for your living area, opt for the ones with rounded leaves. Avoid thorny shrubs and cacti. Feng Shui followers also suggest incorporating an aquarium to maximize good energy flow. Lastly, be sure that none of your furniture has its back toward the doors or has any sharp edges. As much as possible, their shapes should not be pointy. The same design principle applies to any sculptures you have within the house.

4.) Bathroom

Feng Shui experts recommend that the bathroom should never be in the direction of the house. A good location for placing your washroom in the home is in the northeast. This is because bathrooms have the lowest energy source, meaning they need to be placed in this direction. Feng Shui experts also recommend using light and warm hues such as light blue, green, peach, pink, white, turquoise blue, yellow, and creamy white. Wicker is also a good material to use in the bathroom.

Mellow lighting complemented with the use of oval mirrors is encouraged. Experts strongly advise against the use of any suspended harsh lights. Finally, it is advised to do frequent deep cleaning and decluttering washrooms.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR FENG SHUI 2023

Creating and attracting harmony need not be difficult. Below are a few guidelines for redesigning your space at home according to the principles of Feng Shui:

*Avoid using sharp things in sculptures, plants, and the like.

*Always close the lid after using the restroom

*Allow natural light to flow inside the home

*Never position the back of any furniture in a room’s entryway

*No furniture should have a corner facing the bed, and desk angles should have rounded corners.

*Consider having a fish aquarium that is vibrant and well-kept (do not keep it in the kitchen or bedroom)

*Choose plants with round leaves, and avoid spiky plants.

BOTTOMLINE

While incorporating principles of Feng Shui for interior design is not mandatory, it is an excellent way to create a cohesive and harmonious home environment. At the end of the day, the principles of designing a home are a personal choice that depends on one’s beliefs, values, and preferences. While Feng Shui can help other people bring balance and harmony into their living spaces, it does not always work for everyone.

However, it is worth noting that designing a home that feels comfortable, functional, and reflective of one’s preferences is what truly matters in decorating your spaces. If taking recommendations from Feng Shui experts can help you achieve those, it may be a good fit.