Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art of arranging things within a space in such a way as to create a good flow of energy that leads to balance. Sometimes referred to as geomancy, it focuses on the way the “qi”, the life force energy that flows through a space.
The art of feng shui is thousands of years old, yet remains a practice that’s still relied upon to bring balance and harmony into a space. Design elements such as a wall color or a furniture layout all play a role in the overall feel of a room, and in feng shui terms, affect the energy of the space.
1. Displaying Dried or Artificial Flowers
While displaying dried or artificial flowers in your home may require less maintenance, when it comes to feng shui, you’ll want to replace them with fresh flowers as they have life energy. Dried or fake flowers do not have the same qi (life force energy), and are often used in homes in lieu of fresh flowers because the homeowner wants them to last forever.
2. Placing a Desk in Front of a Window
You might decide to place your home office desk in front of a window so you can take in the view as you work, but it’s one of the most common feng shui faux pas. From a feng shui perspective, it’s not ideal because your qi goes out the window and doesn’t stay with your work or desk. It may be ok to position the desk in front of a window if it’s purely for decorative purposes, but not if it’s your primary work spot. If you work at this desk a lot and are very focused on your career success, try turning it so that the window is to your side.
3. Putting a Bench at the Foot of the Bed
It might seem like a bench at the foot of the bed completes the bedroom, but for feng shui purposes, you’ll want to stay away from this placement. The foot of your bed can represent opportunities, especially for your career, and placing a bench or other furniture at the foot of the bed will block access for that energy.
4. Storing Things Under the Bed
In feng shui, ideally the energy can flow around you smoothly while you’re sleeping for the best health. The empty space under the bed may seem like a great place to store out-of-season clothing and other clutter, but the qi of the items under your bed affects you while you’re sleeping. You sleep in bed, unconscious and receptive, for a third of your life, so the items that you sleep directly over affect you.
If you have to have storage under the bed due to lack of space, stick to sleep related or soft items like linens, pillows, and the like. Don’t store anything emotionally charged under your bed, whether it’s stressful tax returns or active objects like your gym shoes.
5. Only Adding Color Through Through Painted Walls
Color is one of the many tools that are used in feng shui. Don’t make the faux pas of taking things so literally as to think that because the bagua area for wealth is purple, you now have to paint your walls purple—even if you hate the color. There are many paths on the feng shui journey and painting your entire house purple doesn’t need to be one of them.
Color can be invited into your home and life, but it doesn’t have to be painted walls; It can be in decor, clothing, crystals, even underwear, or using a purple pen to journal.
6. Mixing Different Feng Shui Styles
The internet is full of feng shui suggestions, as are books, magazines, and people you meet—but it is suggested not to mix and match different feng shui suggestions. There are dozens of schools of feng shui and so it’s easy to find conflicting information. Trust your intuition and go with the one feng shui expert, book, or tip that resonates with you and following it through with mindful intention.
7. Tossing Cactus Plants
If indoor plants are your thing, never toss your cactus plants. It’s true that in general, soft and heart shaped leaf plants are preferable for a feng shui adjustment, but it doesn’t mean that you need to toss out any plants that don’t meet that criteria. If the cactus is healthy, well-loved, meaningful to you, and thriving, then it’s imparting those qualities back at you.
A spiky cactus gives off ‘stay away’ or protective vibes—which is totally appropriate and helpful in many situations, however if your situation changes, you may want to move or give the cactus away. .
8. Confusion With Applying the Feng Shui Bagua
One of the most well known tools in feng shui is called the bagua. While it may be a significant tool, it’s not the only tool you can use. If you have a complicated floor plan it’s totally ok to not use it. To avoid confusion with applying the bagua, it’s important not to mix and match different feng shui schools and suggestions. It’s helpful to just work with one book, expert, or tip and follow their guidelines. Because there are many schools, each one may apply it differently and probably conflict, therefore confusing you.
9. Worrying About Bad Feng Shui
It is suggested that you shouldn’t worry too much about bad feng shui. It’s easy to get in the weeds and start to worry about everything that is ‘bad’ about your home and life. The foundation of the feng shui teachings is built upon non-duality, like yin and yang, i.e, ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are two sides of the same coin.
You may be attracted to a space that had ‘bad’ feng shui, but it was really needed; or maybe it starts to exacerbate a wound that is ripe to heal. The key is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all thing when it comes to feng shui: What is bad for someone may be life-changingly good for someone else.
