Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement to promote a healthy, loving and safe environment for us to live in. It literally translates to ‘wind-water’ in English and can be traced back at least five thousand years. It involves the free flow of chi to create the best possible energy circulation in our homes and places of work. According to traditional Feng Shui, chi is a positive and negative force that flows throughout our environments. It can be moved and directed, but should never be blocked. The free and natural flow of chi is essential to our happiness and to creating harmony in our lives.

Our environment affects our behaviour and our emotions more than we realise. Dark and stuffy rooms can make us feel unhappy or nervous, whereas bright and airy rooms can clear the soul of troubles. So how can we apply this to our homes and work places?

There are varying degrees of Feng Shui. Many people hire a Feng Shui consultant to visit their homes and make necessary changes using a Chinese compass. This is often too expensive and time consuming for families today. Most of our homes can be small and there is often not much choice when it comes to furniture placement. Some of our more modern homes have built in furniture, which usually gives more storage space but leaves us with even less room for changes. In our homes we like to be comfortable and place our furniture and decorations where we think they look the best and are most practical. There are many other small differences we can apply to our living areas to improve the flow of chi around our home.  Most of the principles of this Chinese tradition can be applied using common sense. Clutter and dirt can make you feel uncomfortable and restless. Keeping your home clean and tidy is half the battle to begin with. Many minor alterations can be made with little effort.

Lighting is essentially important. Walking into a room that has no light at all can cause us discomfort – especially as the nights draw in. Lamps and careful lighting in dark rooms and corners can make a world of difference to how we feel when we sit down in the evening. A carefully placed plant can also lift our spirits without us even realising.

Another simple yet effective part of Feng Shui is how your home smells. This can easily be changed depending on your preferences and moods. It can make such a difference to walk into a room that is infused with homely, comforting smells. Oil burners are perfect for creating this effect and can be purchased at little expense. Essential oils can also improve our health. Anybody that may have the start of a cold in my household has their bedroom infused with eucalyptus before they go to bed at night. It aids breathing and stuffiness and also soothes the chest. In the summer the favourite seems to be jasmine or lavender. Winter favourites are cinnamon or peppermint as they are very seasonal. Such a small difference can be made to any home to benefit those living there – and not one piece of furniture need be moved.

The main focus of Feng Shui is on balance. The basic principles of Feng Shui revolve around the five main elements. These are wood, fire, earth, metal and water..

In order to apply these elements to our homes we must find the correct balance of each one in each room.

Wood represents our creativity and social lives. By placing wood elements in various parts of our homes we will be developing this part of our lives. Green is the colour associated with wood. Plants, wooden items and furniture are usually symbols of this element and are best placed in a room where study and learning is accomplished.

The Fire element is arguable the most powerful element of the five. It represents our enthusiasm and energy. This element must be used with care as too much can overpower a room and have a negative effect on our energies. Red is the colour of fire. Patterned objects, candles and triangular ornaments are symbols of this element which is best kept to active and busy areas of the house..

Earth represents honesty and security and is represented by the colour of yellow. Too much of the earth element can cause loss of spirit and bring suspiciousness into your home. Symbols of earth are ceramics and crystals – landscape pictures are also connected.

Metal is a forceful element that can grab your attention as you enter a room. Gold, silver and white are the colours associated with this. Business and professional lives can be affected by metal elements and they should therefore be used with caution.

The water element can be enhanced with a fish tank and this can improve our wealth and financial status. It is also connected to our education and learning. Negative chi will be gained from a dripping tap or leaky pipe – and this can drain our finances. Black is the colour associated with water.

Yin Yang theory is also very important in practising Feng Shui. Everything in this entire universe has two opposing sides. These sides – although total opposites – are deeply connected and one cannot survive without the other.

Yin is a feminine principle. It is represented by the colour black. It is best kept to bedrooms and areas of the house were relaxation is the main focus. Sleeping quarters benefit form having a Yin balance.

Yang is masculine. It is represented by white. This is beneficial in areas where you need to be refreshed or uplifted. Family rooms are often more useful and positive if they are decorated using Yang as the basis. The kitchen is another area that needs this uplifting and energising contrast.

It is important to remember that each one needs the other so there has to be some kind of compromise or the house will feel out of sorts or unbalanced.

When we are applying Feng Shui to our houses we must not forget that children’s rooms need to be balanced too. Negative stimulation in an environment can affect the behaviour of our little ones. This can also cause sleeping problems and difficulties in concentrating at school. There are a few points that we can remember in order to adjust our children’s bedrooms in a more positive direction.

First, and perhaps most important of all is the placement of the bed. It should be placed with the headboard against a wall. You should be able to walk down each side of the bed if the room is large enough to allow this. The bed should be facing the door but should not be in line with it. This ensures maximum protection and security. Your child will feel comfortable as they can see the entrance and exit to the room – but they will not feel vulnerable. If the bedroom only allows for the bed to be in line with the door then you should place some protective furniture – should as a toy chest- at the end of the bed to ward away any negativity entering the room. The bed should not be under shelving or beams. Anything that stands or hangs over the bed will give a sense of pressure and can cause headaches or disturbed sleep patterns.

The walls of the room should be pastel colours. Bright and cheerful colours are distracting and can cause children to be mentally stimulated instead of resting at night. Greens and blues are relaxing colours to use and pale yellow is stimulating, but also restful. Posters and pictures are fine to use but choose them carefully. Keep them non threatening and as simple as possible. Mirrors should not be placed in a child’s bedroom as they tend to keep the room in a state of ‘awake’. Family photographs are wonderful to have in a child’s bedroom. They promote and communicate love and security to children and provide comfort.

Often children are required to share bedroom. It is an unavoidable scenario in many a household. Feng Shui can still be applied to a shared room. Separate spaces can be created using furniture to divide the room, or the room itself can be divided into a sleep area and a play/study area.

Most children need a place to study and a desk, or workplace, in the bedroom is perfectly acceptable. Study areas should be placed facing the doorway of the room. The surface should be free of clutter and toys.

Our pets also have an effect on the Feng Shui in our houses. They add fire energy to our homes and can refresh our enthusiasm and outlook on life. Animals reflect the areas that they live in and the people they live with through their moods and character. A well adjusted and happy pet will give us the same feeling. Just as when we are ill or unhappy – the animals in our lives often feel the same way and reflect us.

Most pets need a small space of their own in a room. They need a place to retreat to and rest. You will find that most pets find a comfortable spot that they return to in each room.

Animals can inform us of spaces in our homes that may have negative chi - You may find that they simply avoid certain places or will not walk through one room in particular. This is often due to their energies being disturbed by this. We can break up this negativity and improve the area to our best capabilities. This can be done by clearing the space of clutter and making sure it is clean and accessible. Often, negative chi can be caused between two pets that are not getting on very well. This must be addressed as it can affect the rest of a household as well as the pets themselves.

Dogs and cats can enhance the positive and lively energy of a home. Fish can create a relaxing environment and become a feature in any room.

Another aspect of our Feng Shui being affected is in how we treat other people and animals. Neglecting pets or being negative towards others will result in our self image and general lifestyle suffering.

One place that people often forget when creating a Feng Shui home is their garden. It is equally important to have a balanced and positive outdoor space. Positive and calming chi in our gardens can help our lives to flourish – as well as our plants and wildlife. It is often the case that you have more room to practise Feng Shui in an outdoor space. There are no walls to constrict your creativity. Water features can be a wonderful way of enhancing the flow of energy through your space – enabling you to absorb and enjoy the natural tranquillity and harmony that it creates.

Plants and trees can be planted in various ways in order to get the very best benefits and chi from their placement. Tall trees should be placed behind a property for security and protection. Pathways and entrances should be kept clear and free of clutter. Weeds, dead leaves and broken objects should be moved from your garden. Red flowers stimulate luck and prosperity within your outdoor space.

Homes without gardens can apply the same fundamental rules to window boxes or shared courtyards. It is how our gardens look that makes a difference to how we feel. Sounds and smells are equally important and can be achieved by encouraging wildlife to visit your garden. Plants that sway in the breeze can create an extremely relaxing atmosphere. Herbs can be multi purpose to you if planted. Not only can you use them in recipes and tinctures, but the aromas can be very influential to you and other family members.

Many people dismiss Feng Shui as unnecessary and complicated. It need be neither one of these things. A few simple principles can transform your home into a harmonious and happy atmosphere that can be enjoyed by everyone.