5 Common Feng Shui Mistakes – And How To Avoid Them
Find out what feng shui mistakes experts note in entryways and how you can avoid them in your home.
Feng Shui mistakes in the entryway take away from the potential and importance of this space in your home. Chi, or life force, enters your home through the entryway and it is important that nothing obstructs its flow.
Understanding the meaning of feng shui allows you to create a home that is supportive and nurturing. And, since it is the gateway for chi, having good feng shui for the entrance is very important.
5 MISTAKES ABOUT FENG SHUI
Here, we share the most common problems feng shui experts encounter in entryways and solutions to help you create a balanced and harmonious home.
The art of Feng Shui teaches us how to create environments that benefit our lives. Bedroom Feng Shui optimizes the potential of our sleeping spaces and Living Room Feng Shui improves the flow of positive energy in the gathering places of the home.
Entrance feng shui is important in bringing positive energy into your home. But what can get in the way of this?
Here are feng shui entryway mistakes experts have observed and how to avoid them in your home.
1. FEELING UNWELCOME
The entryway is the first place you see and is crucial to creating good Feng Shui in your home, so always make sure the area feels welcoming. Steve Kodad, feng shui master and co-owner/trainer of the Inner Circle School of Feng Shui says:
“If the lobby is too colorful, difficult to access, or even has inappropriate colors, it will appear unwelcoming to guests.”
“Most foyers are located in the center of the front of a home,” he continues. “The dominant element (of the five elements) is water. A small fountain makes one feel relaxed and less threatened. Whenever a person enters an environment for the first time, there is a subconscious concern (am I safe?)
'A mirror represents the water element in Feng Shui and is a great way to bring natural light into this area and make it cheerful and warm. According to the Feng Shui mirror rule, mirrors should never be directly in front of the door when entering as they will reflect the chi/energy back out and not be of any use. They should be placed off to one side (left or right).'
Also need to make sure the front door should have the right feng shui color.
2. MIXED LIGHT
An entryway that is not well lit is undesirable, but it is a mistake for another reason. “Light represents fire energy and the ability to see clearly, be recognized and inspired,” explains Anjie Cho, interior architect, Feng Shui consultant and author. “So a well-lit entryway is a representation of support for those living in the home.” In cases where the entryway lacks natural light, artificial lighting solutions can be used to offset it.
3. CLEAN LOBBY
A cluttered entryway is a Feng Shui no-no, and good organization is needed to overcome it. “We always want to move around the house easily, comfortably, and without the worry of tripping,” says Steve Kodad. “Even a small amount of clutter in the foyer puts our subconscious mind on alert (and anxious). Feng Shui has a huge impact on the stability of the subconscious and our fight/flight system. So the simple solution is to not have a cluttered and cluttered foyer.”
Anjie Cho agrees. “Your entrance represents your face to the world and how the qi from the outside world enters your home and that qi, that life force energy, is not only health but also opportunity,” she explains.
'When you have a lot of clutter, whether that means trash in the outside area or when you have a lot of things piled up like shoes or clothes, or if you have clutter piled up in the entryway to the point where the door can't open all the way, or you have hooks behind the door that only open 45 degrees. All of those things are signs that too much clutter – especially when people actually block part of the door so it can't open 90 degrees – indicates that there's no way for chi to flow into your space.
4. LOOK OUT BACK
A view from your entryway straight to the back of your home can be a feng shui mistake. “Many homes allow a person to enter and see a row of windows or sliding glass doors at the back,” says Steve Kodad. “This allows the chi to enter the home and quickly move toward the backyard and leave without ever staying in the house.
'Scenes like a swimming pool, the ocean, beautiful mountains or even stunning landscapes quickly grab our attention upon entering and take away the focus and energy we have worked so hard to attract in the front area.
'We want this focus and this energy to “pause” inside the foyer first. A colorful rug inside the front door will help you pause. Some lovely paintings that make guests look at them first as part of the entry wall decor can also help.'
5. THE HOUSE LACKS REGULAR CARE
Home repairs are necessary from time to time, but they are also an issue in Feng Shui.
'Squeaks or difficulties like locks that always get stuck, hinges that squeak, all those things, they're easy to ignore when they become so familiar. You can't hear them anymore but they're still there and they cause stress and over time reduce your health and happiness levels.'
WHAT CAN YOU PUT IN YOUR FRONT LOBBY TO ATTRACT LUCK INTO YOUR HOME?
Living plants can bring good luck to an entrance in Feng Shui. Feng Shui plants bring positive energy and represent the WOOD element. They are believed to have healing and growth properties.
Note that dry plants are considered one of the most unlucky things to have in your home (along with dead plants), so swap out any dry arrangements for lush, healthy plants.
The entryway is an important part of your home. “The foyer is the first glimpse of someone’s interior,” says feng shui expert Steve Kodad. “It can be inspiring, intriguing, intimidating, or even cluttered. It’s the first glimpse of the occupant(s) of the home.” Following Feng Shui principles can make a good first impression and help create a welcoming feeling in your home as part of making your home a happy Feng Shui home.
Source: Translated by LaVieEnRose Home according to American HomeandGarden magazine
Note: please cite the source for quotes.