Traditional Feng Shui with a Modern Twist

Feng shui is an ancient practice that dates back centuries. However, its roots in the past should not be taken as an indication that there aren't still plenty of ways to work it into modern life. At the heart of feng shui, one will find a focus on maximizing the benefits of positive energy while minimizing the effects of negative energy. In today's challenging world, who couldn't use an extra dose of positive energy? If you'd like to take traditional feng shui techniques and give them a modern twist for your contemporary life, here are some tips that can help.

Let in the Good

It's important to understand that every time you open a door or a window, it's an opportunity for energy to enter your home. The goal is to welcome and encourage the positive energy, while blocking and discouraging any negative energy. As a general rule, it's best to leave doors and windows open as much as possible. However, it's also a good idea to close doors and windows whenever you sense negative influences outdoors. For example, if there is a road construction project going on in your neighborhood, the jarring noise of the construction can be very detrimental to your home's positive energy. In this case, it's best to keep windows and doors temporarily closed. In fact, you might want to play soothing music or enjoy the sound of an indoor fountain to further minimize the effect of the jarring sounds.

Furniture Tips

When arranging furniture pieces in your home, it can be helpful to think of your floor as a riverbed. Ideally, you should try to place your furniture pieces in a way that would allow water to flow smoothly around them. By doing so, you'll be ensuring that positive energy can also flow smoothly through your rooms. It's also important to choose furniture pieces that are properly proportioned to your rooms. If your rooms are small, try to avoid oversized pieces of furniture. However, you also want to avoid placing small pieces of furniture in large rooms. The goal is to maintain plenty of comfortable space without making things seem too sparse and uninviting.

Clutter Control

Clutter control is extremely important if you want to encourage positive energy. Just as is the case with mental and emotional clutter, physical clutter can drain your energy and spirits. If you notice that you've been feeling a bit down lately, look around your home. Chances are you'll find small islands of clutter sitting on the floor in the corners of your room, or little stacks of papers and paraphernalia piling on your tables and countertops. By simply clearing up these areas, you might be surprised how much better you feel.

Add a Bit of Nature

Since nature is a wonderful source of positive energy, it just makes good sense to include it in your home. Try adding a couple of houseplants or perhaps a few vases of freshly picked flowers. A small indoor water fountain or a fish tank can also be a good addition. Just make sure that you always take good care of your nature features. If your fish tank becomes dirty or your flowers and plants wilt, it's a sure bet that negative energy won't be far behind.