While feng shui literally means wind-water, the philosophy actually refers to a system of laws that determine the arrangement and orientation of various items within a building.
When it comes to interior design, the focus is more on the use of colour, the benefit of symbols and the placement of furniture.
If you’re seeking harmony in your home, these feng shui tips will help you cover the fundamental five elements – fire, earth, water, wood and metal – thought to enhance your living space and improve your life.
Colour
What’s important to you right now? Is it happiness? Finding love? Attracting wealth? Finding peace? Decide on what it is you want in your life and find a colour to match that desire.
1. Yellow
Lift spirits with yellow, the colour of happiness and warmth.
RISE UP: Add happiness with yellow, yellow and more yellow including this ‘Sunflower Blooms’ print from our Spring collection.
2. Gold
Welcome abundance with gold, a colour that’s associated with money and wealth.
GO PLACES: Live long and prosper with this ‘Golden Dragon’ print, golden ottoman and golden chest.
3. Red
Invigorate a living space with red, the colour of fire – a symbol of sun and life that will bring joy, excitement and sexual desire. Very hot!
ON FIRE: Transform your living room into something very hot and exciting using this ‘Enterprise In Red’ abstract print.
4. Blue
Blue is calming, healing and relaxing – a perfect colour for the bedroom.
CHILL: Channel relaxing energy with this calming ‘Deep Blue Ocean’ print, ideal for the bedroom.
5. Eggplant
Feeling fancy? Eggplant will create a sense of mysticism or nobility while purple adds romance.
IMPERIAL: This eggplant ‘Fallen Leaves’ nature photography print combined with an eggplant wall will add mysticism.
Symbol
While the key here is making sure the symbols hold resonance to you, you also have to actually fall in love with the images. So if you desire prosperity, but aren’t a fan of fish it’s just not going to work.
Find a subject that you, as an individual, truly appreciate – that holds profound meaning and visual appeal.
6. Koi fish
Koi have a powerful and energetic life force. Swim against the current like Koi to achieve good fortune, success and prosperity.
HIGH ENERGY: Swim with the fishes everyday with this ‘Koi Fish In Pond’ print.
7. Butterflies
If you’re single, butterflies (symbolising freedom) will bring a number of suitors to your door giving you the freedom to choose the one for you. If you already have a partner, the butterfly ‘love cure’ will invite commitment and devotion.
FREEDOM: This ‘Butterfly Flowers’ print will help invite love into your life.
8. Water
An ancient symbol of abundance, water will attract bounty your way. The refreshing blue colour will provide a deeper connection to life’s mysteries.
REFRESH: Add this stunning ‘Crystal Clear’ wall art print to a living space and watch as abundance comes your way.
9. Nature
With 24 seasons in the Chinese agricultural year, nature is an extremely important part of the culture. Using nature in a home helps us live in harmony with our environment.
HARMONIOUS: Create unity with this gorgeous ‘Tropical Waterfall’ landscape photo print combined with lush plants.
10. Invite love
This is more about removing than adding. Remove everything in a room that’s going to distract you from love: dirty undies, an old basketball, a cat’s litter tray – you get the drift. Add a symbol of romance and you’re ready to attract love.
ROMANCE: This ‘Meadow With The Love Heart Tree’ surrealism print will add the zeal needed to attract love.
Interior Design
It’s all about spatial relations. The arrangement of seating is actually quite logical. For example, placing a sofa against a wall and positioning furniture where no-one’s going to bump into it.
Using shapes and images of nature will help actualise the inclusion of the five elements.
11. Sofa against a solid wall
A sofa should not sit in the middle of a room, but against a wall – as far as possible from the entry and preferably with a clear view of the door.
SETTLE DOWN: Think grand with this ‘Golden Kaleidoscope’ print, but be wise when positioning a sofa.
12. Mix of shapes
Using a mix of shapes will help cover the obligatory five elements. Circles = metal. Triangles = fire. Squares = earth. Rectangles = wood. Too easy really!
FUSION: Use this ‘Zen Circle On White’ print as your metal element feng shui cure.
13. Meaningful travel
For stronger spiritual connection, it’s important to surround yourself with items of meaning. Perhaps a beautiful travel print will fit the bill.
MEANINGFUL: Choose a travel print like this ‘Daigoji Temple In Autumn, Kyoto’ to enhance a sense of spiritual connection.
14. Lucky bamboo
A popular feng shui cure, lucky bamboo brings a peaceful and wise energy into your home. If you’re not great at keeping plants alive, a wall print may be a better cure.
PEACE: This ‘Bamboo Jungle’ print does not require watering which makes it very lucky indeed.
15. Gender balance
If yin is the feminine and yang is the masculine, yin/yang is about combining the two to achieve a balance of energies. The way you achieve this in your own home is completely up to you.
BALANCE: This ‘Vintage Monarch Butterfly’ print provides the perfect, charming combination of masculine and feminine.
