5 Feng Shui Home Principles I Follow

I’m no Feng Shui expert, but the KonMari Method and Feng Shui share some similar qualities. Most importantly, both see the negative impacts of clutter and the positive impacts of surrounding ourselves with items that bring us joy.

Feng Shui views clutter as something that blocks the flow of energy, leading to stagnation.

Below are five Feng Shui principles that I have picked up over the years and found meaningful.

5 Feng Shui Home Principles I Follow 

1. Have Nothing Under The Bed 

This is the first Feng Shui principle I heard. Somehow, it immediately made sense to me.

Ideally, the space under our beds should be free.

In a practical sense, this makes cleaning the space easier. It’s harder to get the dust bunnies out if there is stuff under the bed. And consequently, dust makes it harder for us to breathe. 

If something must be stored under the bed, consideration should be given to what those things are. Things with “negative“ associations should not be stored under the bed as that is believed in Feng Shui to affect us during our sleep. 

2. Front Door / Entrance 

The area surrounding the front door should be kept clear and neat. There should be no clutter, no obstacles. 

In Feng Shui, this is important for letting good energy flow in freely. In a practical sense, clutter at the entrance poses a tripping hazard and can even make it more difficult to exit during an emergency.

The entryway sets the tone for the home. If our entrance delights us, we feel nice. If our entrance makes us cringe, we don’t feel that great. 

Consider what you see when you enter. Marie Kondo introduced me to the concept of entering your home like you’d see it for the first time. 

We quickly get accustomed to clutter that piles up in the same places, again and again. At some point, we no longer ‘see’ it. To solve this issue, we may need to rearrange things, declutter, and simply prioritize keeping this area clear every day.

If a home has multiple entrances, the same rules apply to all of them.

3. Bed Alignment

According to Feng Shui, we should consider what’s behind our heads when we sleep. The goal is to feel supported and protected. 

I have a pretty minimalist sense of taste when it comes to homes and have not previously seen a need for a headboard. My own bed still doesn’t have a headboard, and I feel safe and happy sleeping in it. 

However, I had a hard time deciding how to place my kids’ beds in a room that felt nice otherwise, but no one wanted to spend time by the main wall. I tested it myself, and for some unexplainable reason, it didn’t feel ‘safe’. 

I got my kids new beds with headboards and added thick, long curtains. Both of these are recommended tricks from Feng Shui for shielding oneself from whatever is on the other side. A year later, the neighbor from the other side of that wall started a renovation. They found moisture issues on their wall that was attached to ours.

Another Feng Shui principle regarding bed placement is to not have your feet point directly towards the door. Apparently, this is known as a ‘coffin’ position and is not desirable. 

4. Desk Alignment 

It is best not have our backs towards the door when sitting on a desk. We should be able to see who comes in so as not to be surprised. 

I’ve always felt strange sitting with my back towards the entrance and have observed that people choose a seat that faces the entrance if that is available. 

5. Decorations

We should be mindful of what we hang on our walls and keep out as decorations. 

Visual reminders, even if subconscious, affect us. That’s why in our homes we should display photos and other objects that bring back warm feelings, things that remind us of good moments, items that delight us.

My husband and I have four framed photographs from our travels that we have moved from one home to another for close to twenty years. We both love the photos. When they are hung, we feel at home. 

But one of the photos reminded me of an argument we had when the photo was taken. I could, of course remember many great memories from that trip as well, but the first thing that came to my mind when seeing the photo was the argument. The argument itself wasn’t anything special. Framing that photo made the moment larger in history than it needed to be. 

So after years of looking at the photo, I decided it was time to replace it with a photo from a more recent adventure, one that would remind me of good times. 

There might be nothing wrong with an item, you might even find it beautiful, but if the first reaction when seeing it is negative, try replacing it with something more positive.

Feng Shui experts also advise against displaying any type of weapons or things that are not alive. This includes deer heads as well as dead plants. 

Photos of children, and other people, should be current to not bind them into the past. 

“Ideally, each object you bring into your surroundings will embody one or more qualities of

safety, comfort, vitality, or inspiration.” Cheryl Grace, Feng Shui Simply