How feng shui helps to create harmonious interiors

A home designed in accordance with the principles of feng shui is said to allow the chi to flow and to ensure that the body and soul are in harmony. Find out how to fill your home with peace and calm with feng shui.

Creating harmony between yourself and your environment: This is what feng shui has been teaching for over 3,000 years. The ancient Chinese philosophy is a source of guidance on how to design rooms, homes and gardens so that they have a positive effect on our well-being. But feng shui goes far beyond the Western design principles of comfort and aesthetics.

Feng shui is based on the idea of harnessing the five elements – earth, water, fire, wood and metal – to allow the chi to flow naturally. Chi means “vital life force” in the teachings on harmony. When it flows, it is said that inner calm, health and positive events will enrich our lives. Applied correctly, feng shui transforms the home into a temple of peace and tranquillity.

Anyone who wants to feng shui their home must consider the five elements of the philosophy: fire, wood, earth, water and metal. They remain an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine, Buddhist rituals and feng shui to this day. Feng shui teaches that, if the five elements are employed incorrectly, this can cause the life force of chi to become unbalanced. Applied with care, they allow the chi to flow freely.

Fire

Passion meets energy in this element. Fire is represented by extravagant shapes, shades of red and orange, and lamps in interior design. Candles or a fireplace embody fire in its purest form.

Wood

The wood element symbolises growth and vitality. Natural wood furniture or house plants are the easiest way to incorporate this element into the interior decor. Other natural materials such as cork, rattan or bamboo also represent wood. In terms of colours, the element is reflected in green tones.

Earth

Alongside stability, this element stands for inner balance. In feng shui interior design, earth takes the form of natural materials such as ceramic , linen, terracotta and stone. Solid-wood furniture and yellows and browns also strengthen this element.

Water

The water element represents calm, clarity and relaxation. It primarily appears in dark colours in interior design. An irregular interior design with wavy shapes is the finishing touch on this element – – and let’s not forget aquariums or small fountains, which also embody the water element.

In simple terms, the philosophy describes the harmonious interaction of the five elements in the interior design as a whole. Applied properly, they help to improve the energy in the home. In recent decades, feng shui has taken the Western world by storm.

With just a few tweaks, the teachings on harmony can get the chi flowing. The first step is to create space for the energy – the home must be able to breathe. Order plays a key role in the feng shui teachings on harmony because outer clarity is the only way to find inner clarity. Most large, bulky items of furniture should be removed. The same goes for excessive decoration. But there’s one thing feng shui can never get enough of: light. Whether it’s from a natural source or additional illumination from lamps in various shapes and sizes , light has been proven to brighten the mood. The Nautilus ceiling lamp by Borealis creates an exciting interplay of light and shade. Its twelve wave-like wooden ribs give shape to a dynamic cone of light. Ideally, the life force shouldn’t flow from artificial light alone, so curtains and doors should be left open whenever possible. Feng shui practitioners believe that this frees the soul.

Mirrors, glass and shiny surfaces also stimulate the flow of chi – but not in the bedroom. In feng shui, this room should be devoted to protection and recovery. As mirrors reflect energy, they may cause too much energy to flow in the bedroom. The heightened vibrations lead to disturbed sleep. According to the tenets of feng shui, for a more restful night, the bed should always be positioned against a wall and never between the door and the window.

In the living room, the centre is the focus. The middle of this room should be kept clear to allow the energy to flow freely. A round rug, such as MARMO by Linie Design , fills this space perfectly. With its blend of muted colours and its subtly marbled appearance, MARMO exudes comfort. To create an open view of the whole room, the sofa should be positioned against a wall.

Kitchens and bathrooms can be furnished in the feng shui style by opting for natural and understated colours. White and beige mixed with green accents fill a room with calm, as do plants, which represent the wood element. In addition to improving the indoor climate, they also reduce stress. Round leaves have the optimal effect on the life force because they allow the chi to circulate. The wood element can be brought into the kitchen in the form of small herb or indoor gardens. This a place to experiment with slightly bolder colours, and the same goes for the living room. Try playing with the fire colours red and orange, for instance, which help the chi to flow especially energetically.

Once a room has been furnished in accordance with the teachings of feng shui, the life force begins its constant journey. Because feng shui is never finished. To keep the chi in constant flow, bad energy must be removed from the home on a regular basis.

Life is always leaving its traces behind – including in the home. Alongside visible marks, such as messiness or dust, we also leave invisible traces. Feng shui starts from the premise that everything we say, feel and think in the home is released into the space around us in the form of vibrations. The more intense a feeling, the more stubbornly it lingers in the home. To free yourself from negative energy, harmony must be restored in the home with the aid of space clearing.

A space clearing ceremony is traditionally performed once a year – like spring cleaning. Tidying up and decluttering are the ideal way to prepare to clear the energy in the home. Every object should have a fixed place. Then old energy is removed with incense sticks or essential oils, and new energy is created. This has a positive and calming effect on the body and soul.

Even everyday tasks such as vacuuming or making the bed in the morning can become part of a space clearing routine. Doing these things intentionally, with the mind focused on removing negative energy, is a quick path to finding inner peace.

The philosophy behind the millennia-old tradition is more relevant than ever before. And this is no surprise, as our attention is increasingly turning to physical and mental well-being. Consciously taking a moment to pause and escape our hectic daily lives: This is the challenge today. Our homes play a crucial role in this. They are becoming our retreat, a place to replenish our energy. Feng shui helps transform the home into a sanctuary of calm. The teachings on harmony have made their way into interior design. Their special arrangement of our surroundings keeps the chi constantly flowing.

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