Feng Shui Decorating for Quality of Life

 

Did you know that your home can be a  powerful vehicle for transformation? The purpose of Feng Shui is to enhance your environment in ways that improve your quality of life. Making just a few simple changes in your home can have an immediate and positive impact  on your well-being. I call it “empowerment through environment.” 

                                             

What I love about Feng Shui is that there are rigid rules, only time tested guidelines that work. Once you know which Bagua area a room falls into, you can choose from a variety of  Ch’i enhancing recommendations that support that particular aspect of your life.  There are no random acts of decorating.  Every object, color and placement has a purpose. This makes decorating much easier and more meaningful, eliminating the stress that often comes from having too many choices. 

To begin, place the Bagua  nine-sector grid over the floorplan of your home, and identify the location of each room.  in your home. Then  start making small, intentional changes using the sample guidelines below. You may be surprised at how a few thoughtful adjustments can create powerful shifts in both your home and your life. 

                                        

Personal Enhancement Suggestions for Bagua Areas:

Career Area - Front Center

    * Colors: black or very dark colors

    * Shapes: asymmetrical shapes

    * Items: items in glass or crystal, mirrors, career images and symbols

                                              

    * Art: water scenes, flowing water such as rivers, waterfalls, oceans

Knowledge and Self Cultivation Area - Left Front Corner 

    * Colors: shades of blues, greens

    * Shapes: stripes or columns

    * Items: items in wood, healthy plants with rounded leaves, books, pictures  of spiritual guides

    * Art:   forests, nature scenes, peaceful places

Friends/Family/Health Area - Left Center

    * Colors: shades of blues, greens

    * Shapes: stripes or columns

    * Items: floral arrangements, items in wood, photos of family, friends in perfect health

    * Art: vibrant flower scenes

                                         

  Wealth Area - Back Left Corner 

    * Colors: shades of purple, blue or red

    * Shapes: cones, triangles

    * Items: items that “call the Chi” such as flags, wind chimes, whirligigs, flowing water features,             opulent items representing wealth, round leaf plants

    * Art: purple scenes, depicting wealth or items you wish to purchase

                                                   

    Fame Area– Back Center 

    * Colors: shade of reds

    * Shapes: cones, triangles

    * Items: diplomas, awards, acknowledgements, up lighting, inspirational sayings

    * Art: animals, people, fire, the sun, stars, personal images and symbols of fame

                                                    

Love and Marriage Area– Right Back Corner 

    * Colors: shades of red, pink, white

    * Shapes: cones, triangles

    * Items: pairs of items (candles, love birds, vases)

    * Art: art or photos depicting your significant other or romance

                                                  

Children and Creativity Area– Right Center 

    * Colors: white and pastels

    * Shapes: curves, circles

    * Items: creative images, whimsical items, toys, craft supplies, photos of children,  metal

    * Art: whimsical art, or art made by children

Helpful People and Travel Area– Right Front Corner 

    * Colors:  white, grey 

    * Shapes: curves, circles

    * Items: images of mentors or deities, items in metal, natural rocks, stone

    * Art: spiritual guides, mentors, helpful people or desired travel locations, mountains

Center Area– The center of the Bagua is neutral; a place of grounding of all the other areas. 

  * Colors:  shades of yellow, brown, rust 

    * Shapes: rectangles

    * Items: anything made of ceramics

    * Art: rectangular pictures in earth tones

                                                  

That’s it! You have begun the valuable process of Feng Shui. This is a fluid process which is constantly changing.  Whether you realize it or not, your home environment is either supporting or draining your life energy. Making a few simple changes within your home can have an immediate and powerful effect on your personal energy levels, as well as the physical and material aspects of your life. 

This is just the beginning. To delve deeper into the fascinating art and science of Feng Shui go to www.fengshuibymaria.com 

Chaos and Feng Shui

“I can’t keep up with my work . . . I go from one fire to another . . . I feel so overwhelmed . . . I don’t know where to begin . . . I feel blocked . . . I have no energy . . .” Do you hear yourself or others around you saying such things? Look around. Do you see piles of unfiled papers, items stacked everywhere, blocked doors, overstuffed closets, broken items . . . in other words, clutter?

It is time to clear the clutter that is holding you back.

Yet in  Feng Shui not all clutter is viewed as bad.  Feng Shui views clutter as a manifestation of two types of chaos: Active Chaos and Passive Chaos.

Active chaos is the clutter that results from your creating something, such as cooking, painting, remodeling, reorganizing, and so on. This clutter will be cleared when the project is completed.  This is good chaos! It helps fuel your inner Feng Shui through creativity, motivation and enjoyment. The key is to clean up after the project is completed and celebrate the finished product. 

                                                 Remodeling the bathroom active chaos

                                                       The beautiful finished product 

Passive chaos on the other hand is the clutter that stays in piles in closets, under beds, in garages, and generally all over the house. This is the clutter that blocks the flow of the life energizing Ch’i and consequently drains your life. In Feng Shui everything counts, which means that your storage areas are as important as your most lived-in spaces. In other words, if your room is orderly because you have clutter stuffed in your closets, you are not practicing Feng Shui.

                                               Passive garage chaos turned into order

How Clutter Affects the Bagua

There is often a correlation between excessive clutter and problems that occur in one’s life. For example, a cluttered desk or closet in the Wealth and Prosperity area can lead to feeling stuck with finances. Look at your home with Feng Shui eyes. What are you holding on to that is keeping you stuck? If you, or a family member, is having health issues, see a doctor and follow what’s prescribed, but also look at your home, to see if your environment is contributing to your illness. 

Clutter is visually overwhelming and affects your ability to make decisions. It creates a distracting, disorganized, and stressful environment that can make it difficult to focus, find information, and feel in control.

The task does not have to be difficult. You can transform your home from chaos to a comfortable, peaceful haven with the few-minutes-a-day technique I call the “Salami Method of Time Management”—slicing off one piece at a time. Think of eliminating clutter and organizing your possessions as an adventure that will open doors to new opportunities. By getting rid of things you no longer want or need, you will revitalize your home and make room for what you really do want to flow into your life, bringing you more happiness, clarity, and peace of mind.

Whether you’re  creating something beautiful which will enhance your life, or decluttering to open doors for new opportunities, a clean, organized environment can improve your mood and increase calmness, happiness and most importantly your health. 

Remodeling a Bathroom? Let Feng Shui Guide You

We’re finally remodeling our guest bathroom. It resides in the Fame and Reputation area downstairs, adjacent to the guest room in the Love area. I know that we’ll experience greater success during the remodeling process using the Feng Shui principles. Therefore, we’re keeping the cranberry tile, representing the fire element, and enhancing with earthy taupe wallpaper, since Fire and Earth go well together, a hardwood floor since Wood feeds Fire, and adding “upward movement” art like these three cranes flying over a raspberry sky. 

Bathrooms are classically considered potential threats in Feng Shui because often they are unadorned places with open plumbing that pulls your energy, your Ch’i, down the drain.  The bathroom and your home’s plumbing correspond to your elimination system.  It is here that personal cleansing rituals take place and where waste is flushed away. However, Ch’i can also be flushed out of your home via toilets and bathroom drains. Although there are no ideal places for a bathroom to reside, some locations are worse than others. If possible, avoid homes with bathrooms in the back left (wealth) or back right (love and marriage) as these can cause drains in prosperity and relationships.

At the same time, bathrooms are a necessary part of your home.  Therefore, it is important to minimize opportunities for Ch’i to flow out of your home too quickly, taking with it your prosperity, health or relationships. All is not lost!  It is easy to correct a bathroom’s pulling on your energy, while at the same time enhancing your life. 

When remodeling, consider your bathroom as a vital, vibrant part of your home. Make all bathrooms beautiful! You will quickly lift the Ch’i with a fresh coat of paint, new bathroom linens, candles, art, plants and inviting scents, or a total remodel with new tile, flooring and fixtures.  Here are some examples of using the Bagua attributes to enhance your bathrooms:

Bathrooms and the Bagua

The Feng Shui  Bagua, is represented  as a grid of  nine sectors.  The Bagua comes from the Chinese philosophy, “The I Ching,” and literally means “eight trigrams,” with the Center being for grounding. 

                                 

Bathrooms in Knowledge and Self Cultivation Area

* Items in wood, the colors  blues, greens, or black and in the shape of columns or stripes

* Healthy plants with rounded soft leaves

*Art depicting nature scenes

Bathrooms in Health Area/Family/Friends Area

* Healthy floral arrangements or art depicting vibrant flowers

* Photos of family, friends or representing perfect health

* Items in wood and the colors blues, greens, or black 

                                    

Bathrooms in Wealth Area

* Opulent items in the purple color spectrum

* Art representing wealth

* Healthy, round leaf plants

                                           

Bathrooms in Fame Area

* Photos or art representing achievements or inspiration

* Items in the red spectrum

* Items representing the fire element with candles and lighting 

Bathrooms in Love and Marriage Area

* Pairs of items (candles, love birds, soaps, etc.)

* Art or photos depicting romance

* Colors reds, pinks and white

Bathrooms in Children and Creativity Area

* Photos of children or items made by children

* Items in metal and the colors white and pastels

* Whimsical art

Bathrooms in Helpful People and Travel Area

* Art or pictures representing spiritual guides, mentors or travel locations

* Items that have a strong personal association to spiritual beliefs or travel

* Items made of metal and colors white, black or grey                                                                                                                                                              

Bathrooms in Center Area

*Ceramic, and rectangle shapes

* Colors yellow earth tones

* Art depicting earth tone scenes such as fields, deserts, sunflowers etc.

We want our bathroom remodel to work for us. We can design our bathrooms so that the Ch’i remains buoyant, and our health, wealth and happiness flourish!

Other Important Bathroom Recommendations:

• Keep your bathroom clean, neat and orderly.  
• Close toilet lids, sink stoppers and shower curtains to conceal water outlets, or cover the drains with small rubber mats used for that purpose.
• Repair leaky faucets, showerheads, and toilets to prevent waste.

                             

• Install adequate lighting for convenience and balancing the watery energy.
• Replace burned out bulbs. 
• When all else fails, at least keep the door closed.
• If your bedroom leads to a bathroom without a door, make it a priority to install a door, curtain, or screen to visually separate the bathroom from the bedroom.

The Magic of Garden Arbors in Feng Shui

In Feng Shui, every element of a garden plays a role in guiding the flow of energy, or Ch’i, and an arbor is one of the most graceful ways to shape that movement. An arbor acts as both a visual invitation and an energetic gateway. When placed at the entrance to a garden path or between two areas of the yard, it gently signals transition—encouraging Ch’i to slow down, meander, and circulate rather than rushing straight through the space, creating a more harmonious and nourishing environment, often serving as inviting entryways or peaceful, shaded seating areas.  They are considered excellent additions to a garden, representing the Wood element (growth, vitality) or Metal element (structure) depending on their material. 

                                            

           

           

Arbors are especially beneficial when softened with climbing plants such as roses, jasmine, or wisteria. The living greenery adds vitality and growth energy while the arching structure symbolizes support, protection, and opportunity. Walking beneath an arbor can feel like passing through a threshold, leaving stress behind and entering a place of beauty and renewal.

                                                

Placement matters. Positioning an arbor along a curving pathway encourages positive energy to flow gracefully through the garden. It can also frame a special feature such as a bench, fountain, or meditation space, subtly guiding both the eye and the energy toward that focal point, signaling a shift from a "yang" (active) space to a "yin" (restful) area.

                                               

In Feng Shui gardens, the goal is always the balance between structure and nature. An arbor provides just that—offering form and direction while allowing plants, light, and life to weave through it. The result is a garden space that feels welcoming, peaceful, and full of possibility. 

                                                           

By placing an  arbor in a restful, quiet location, you can maximize its ability to foster positive, serene energy in your outdoor space.

                                             

Preparing for the Arrival of the Amazing Year of the Fire Horse

2026 is setting up to be an action-packed, fiery year. The Chinese Lunar New Year, occurring on February 17, 2026, ushers in the Year of the Fire Horse. For 12 months, the Fire Horse will set an intense tone that triggers dramatic shifts, speedy action, and rebellious energy.  It emphasizes dynamic energy, independence, bold changes, and creative expression, favoring action and decisive choices.

This is going to be an amazing year! How does one prepare internally, and externally, to maximize the effect of its arrival?

Here are eight easy recommendations:

1.  To prepare yourself and your home for the year of the Fire Horse begin by cleaning your entry to welcome all the good luck that will come into your home and place of business; make this area clean, well lit, and inviting.
   
   
   
   
   
2.  Add beautiful flowers to welcome the New Year! It’s fortunate to add plants, flowers, and healthy bamboo to your home and workplace to increase abundance.
   
                                            
   
   
3. Open Windows and doors for 9 minutes (the number 9 is an auspicious number in the Chinese culture) to let the fresh air flow through and the stagnant air to go out letting in new energy.
    
                                              
   
   
   
4. Change and refresh your bedding to help your body feel refreshed energy. Also, declutter your bedroom. Clutter blocks the flow of positive energy.
   
   
5. Decorate with oranges. Oranges are a symbol of good fortune. Place 9 oranges in a bowl in a central place in your home. They will bring a feeling of wealth, abundance and freshness to your space.
   
                                              
   
   
6. Take time to meditate and do good deeds daily.
   
                               
   
   
7. Set intentions for the year ahead.
   
                                
   
   
   
8. This is a perfect time for Feng Shui to help you imbue the Fire Horse.  By enhancing the three Fire element areas of your home (Wealth, Fame and Love) with simple enhancements that will help you experience feelings of prosperity, increased reputation and romance.

                                       

 Wealth and Prosperity (Back Left Corner)

Enhance with:

• Colors: purple, blue, red
• Shapes: cones, triangles
• Items: items that “call the Ch’i,” such as flags, wind chimes, whirligigs; flowing water features (fountains, waterfalls, aquariums); opulent items in the purple color spectrum; healthy round-leaf plants
•  Art: depicting wealth, abundance, such as pictures of lavish houses, boats, cars, family heirlooms or gatherings; art in shades of purple, such as a picture of a lavender field
  
  
  
            
  
  

Fame and Reputation (Back Center)

Enhance with:

• Colors: reds
•  Shapes: cones, triangles
•  Items: diplomas, awards, and acknowledgments, up lighting, inspirational sayings
•  Art: depicting fame, such as famous people, celebrations, toasting, dancers, winners, animals, people, fire, the sun
  
                                           
  
  

Love, Marriage, and Relationships (Back Right Corner)

Enhance with:

•  Colors: reds, pinks, white
•  Shapes: cones, triangles
•  Items: candles, lovebirds, hearts, vases in pairs
•  Art: objects, paintings, or photos of your significant other, depicting romance or pairs such as flowers, animals, couples
  
                                            
  
  
                                       Enjoy all the blessings of the Year of the Fire Horse
  
                                 

Turning Your Yard into a Feng Shui Paradise

Why have just a “yard,” when you can have a beautiful, nourishing “garden?” In Feng Shui your home is considered the "heart" of your property, while the garden is considered the "aura." Your garden is your personal passport into nature. It keeps you connected to the rhythms of life, while replenishing and sustaining the Ch’i that meanders throughout, whether a flower or vegetable garden, vibrant nature in your yard attracts vibrant Ch’i into your home.

The rains have finally stopped, and the following sunshine have blessed my garden with lush, shiny leaves and a multitude of buds. I am being swept away into a land of beautiful flowers, intoxicating fragrance, and an explosion of color. It is important to have an outlet where the brain can breathe, and your garden can be this natural outlet. After a long day at work or just taking a break from your home routines, a walk through our garden can relax you and help you defuse any stress you may have been dealing with.

          

Feng Shui, which has been practiced for over 3,000 years in China, is the enhancement of health, prosperity, and happiness through a connection with your environment. Flowers, with their various shapes and colors, represent all the five Feng Shui Elements. When in balance, these five elements displays help to calm and energize you at the same time.

                                       

Some examples of the elements in your garden:

Water: Water features of any kind

Wood: Blue, green items, plants of any kind

Fire: Red flowers, lighting

Earth: Yellow flowers, ceramics

Metal: White flowers, natural stone, round shapes

                                        

Gardens have many other purposes. When applicable, use gardens and landscaping to complete the shape of your home. If your home is not a complete square or rectangle anchor the missing areas with a pleasing combination of trees, flowerbeds, garden sculptures, large rocks, decks, patios, fencing, lighting, specialty gardens and/or water features. There is no end to what you can do, and the missing area becomes an enhancing outdoor area. Make sure you have an attractive view from every window and door. Be nourished by a lovely view each time you look out; camouflage or screen unsightly views with trees, trellises with climbing vines, and hanging gardens. An inspirational place to rest the eye is a gift you give yourself every day. Basic Feng Shui principles can help you nurture and strengthen your energy and yourself in all aspects of your life.

                                         

Here are some Feng Shui basics for nurturing gardens:

1) Make your entry beautiful and clutter free

2) Place water features in the Career and Wealth areas

3) Remove dead plants quickly

4) Balance the Yin/Yang of your garden with opposites (short/tall plants, bright/soft colors)

5) Keep all systems working (i.e., watering, lighting – nothing should be broken)

Your gardens are living, breathing entities offering us the balance of nature. Flowers are amongst the strongest of the Feng Shui enhancements because they are related to the Health, Friends and Family Area of your home (left middle area). If you are dealing with health issues, you want to put fresh flowers or floral representation in that area.

                                       

Whether you have a garden, a patio or beautiful pots and vases at home you can use the power of plants and flowers to enhance your life. Sow flower seeds to attract bees and beautiful birds, plant a vegetable garden, pull weeds, clean, organize and refresh your yard, or patio. If you have children, you can use this home time to teach them gardening skills and love for nature. Cut your own beautiful fresh flowers and arrange them in stunning floral art, then take pictures of your beautiful arrangements. Finally, just enjoy your garden by strolling through it, taking a nap, meditating, or sitting on a favorite bench. Inhale the fragrance and breathe the stress away.

          

Apply the Bagua map on your landscape or garden footprint. When we apply the Bagua to your front door, however for your landscape or garden we use the driveway. The entrance to your garden does not have to be the same direction or angle as your front door. Depending on where your driveway is you will be entering your property from Knowledge, Career or Helpful People. Enhancing the entrance to your home and garden with healthy plants, water features, greeters and curving walkways is one of the most important things you can do to invite energizing Ch’i to your life. The Bagua can be applied just to the back area of your home, or with your home as the center. Gardens should take on the qualities of the Bagua area in which they reside.

                                              

                               

Here are some examples of using the Bagua to enhance your garden:

Garden Enhancements in Career Area

• Soft colorful plants, reds are particularly auspicious, water features such as 360-degree bubbling fountains or with water flowing toward the house, pots in shiny dark colors, wind chimes, and curved paths or asymmetrical lines

                                                       

Garden Enhancements in Knowledge and Self Cultivation Area

• Colors of blues, greens, wooden benches, symbols of mountains or large rocks, statues representing spiritual guides, healthy plants with rounded soft leaves, gazing balls, and items that create a quiet meditative feeling

Garden Enhancements in Friends/Family/Health Area

• An abundance of healthy flowers in any color with upright growth (blooming flowers represent perfect health), sitting areas for entertaining, symbols of family, vegetable gardens, herbs, orchard

                                               

Garden Enhancements in Wealth Area

• Healthy plants in the purple color spectrum such as salvia, lavender, trumpet vines or roses, fountains or waterfalls flowing toward the home, flags or whirligigs to call in the Ch’i

                                                          

Garden Enhancements in Fame Area

• Plants in colors red, up lighting or twinkle lights, BBQs, fire pits, garden art representing suns, stars, triangles and sculptures of people or animals

                                     

Garden Enhancements in Love and Marriage Area

• Pairs of items depicting romance, including bistro tables with two chairs, two lounge chairs, loveseat or sculptures in pairs (avoid single or lonely items), plants in colors of reds, pinks and white

          

Garden Enhancements in Children and Creativity Area

• Items in metal and plants in colors of white and pastels, whimsical garden art, children’s playground or personal garden, workbench, garden bench, fairies, butterflies, nature spirit

                                     

Garden Enhancements in Helpful People and Travel Area

• Garden art representing spiritual guides, or desired travel locations (We have a colorful pole with signs pointing to all the places we’ve traveled), birds, sundials, items in metal and white plants

                                               

Garden Enhancements in Center Area

• Houses usually occupy the center of the landscape Bagua, but if they don't this is an auspicious area for ceramics, plants in yellow, earth tones, rectangle shapes, patios, bricks/pavers, table and chairs

Remember that gardens reflect your personal energy. Turn your yard into a garden that will create peaceful space to help calm your world.

“Gardening is how I relax. It’s another form of creating and playing with colors.” Oscar de la Renta