Contents
What is Feng Shui?
Basic Principles of Feng Shui
General Feng Shui for the Home
Feng Shui for the Entryway
Feng Shui for the Bedroom
Feng Shui for the Kitchen
Feng Shui for the Living Room, Family Room, or Den
Feng Shui for the Bathroom
Feng Shui for Your Property
Feng Shui for the Office
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Feng Shui for the Living Room, Family Room, or Den
The living room (or family room or den) is one of the home’s main gathering places. The family assembles there to relax and entertain guests. Feng shui provides rules to make the living room a comfortable area for residents and a welcoming space for visitors. These guidelines focus on balance, comfort, and camaraderie:
- Avoid sharp edges: Sharp edges, such as those on shelves and certain tables, sofas, and other objects, produce shar and therefore bad chi. If you can’t avoid sharp edges, soften them with fabric or strategically placed plants. To stop the bad chi that emanates from shelves, use closed bookcases that have glass doors.
- Color and décor: The color and décor of the room should balance yin and yang. For instance, if you have big, dark furniture (yin), try to complement that energy with bright yang colors on the walls or upholstery.
Furniture Placement
The placement of furniture in your living room depends on the location of the room’s doors and windows:
Doors
- Couches and chairs: These should face the door, or at least give people sitting on them a clear view of the door. Avoid placing chairs with their backs to the door.
- The guest of honor: This guest should be seated as far as possible from the door to make him or her feel safe and comfortable.
- Rooms with more than one door: Designate one door the main door and keep the other door closed. If both doors remain open, the chi will move through the room too quickly, providing no benefit.
Windows
Windows are sometimes called the eyes of the house. They symbolize your outlook on the world, so it’s important that all your windows:
- Open fully: It’s important to fix windows that are painted shut or stuck. Windows that open outward let in more chi than windows that open vertically.
- Stay unblocked: Plants, trees, bushes, and other foliage outside the home should not obstruct the window. Likewise, nothing inside the home should restrict your view outward—move furniture and other objects that obstruct your windows.
- Be clean and unbroken: Dirty or cracked glass hinders your view and interrupts the flow of good chi. Repair any damaged windows immediately.
- Don’t back sofas or chairs: As with your bed, place your couch with a solid wall behind it to give anyone sitting on the couch a feeling of safety and stability.
Before-and-After Living Room
The first image below shows living room furniture placed improperly (in relation to the doors and windows); the second shows furniture placed according to feng shui principles.
Electronics
The living room is a common spot for major electronic appliances such as televisions, stereos, and computers. These types of appliances create electromagnetic fields, which can generate an overabundance of yang energy. In order to keep the energy of such appliances in check:
- Don’t emphasize the TV: Position the TV so people in comfortable seats can see it but aren’t forced to stare at it by default, simply based on their location.
- Place the TV in a cabinet with doors: Close the doors when you’re not watching TV. If you don’t have such a cabinet, cover the TV with fabric when it’s off.
- Turn off your computer: When not in use, your computer should be stored in a cabinet with closing doors or covered with fabric.
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