Feng Shui: Complete Guide to Harmonizing Energy in Your Home

By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art and science of arranging your environment to optimize the flow of chi (life force energy) and create harmony, balance, and prosperity in your life. Based on the principle that your surroundings directly affect your energy, health, relationships, and success, Feng Shui teaches you how to arrange your space to support your goals and enhance every area of your life.

Your home is more than just a physical structure—it's an energetic container that either supports or drains your vitality, attracts or repels opportunities, and creates either harmony or chaos in your life. By applying Feng Shui principles, you can transform your space into a sanctuary that nurtures your wellbeing, attracts abundance, and supports your highest potential.

This is your complete guide to Feng Shui—what it is, core principles, the Bagua map, how to apply Feng Shui in every room, common cures and enhancements, and how to create a home that supports your dreams and desires.

What Is Feng Shui?

Definition

Feng Shui (pronounced "fung shway") literally means "wind and water" in Chinese. It's the practice of arranging your environment to create harmonious flow of chi (energy) to enhance health, wealth, relationships, and overall wellbeing.

Core Principles

• Chi (Qi): Life force energy that flows through everything
• Yin and Yang: Balance of opposite forces
• Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
• Bagua Map: Energy map of your space
• Intention: Your intention activates the energy

How Feng Shui Works

• Everything is energy
• Your environment affects your energy
• Arranging space optimizes energy flow
• Good chi supports all areas of life
• Blocked chi creates problems

The Five Elements

Wood Element

Qualities: Growth, expansion, vitality, creativity

Colors: Green, teal, brown

Shapes: Tall, columnar, rectangular

Materials: Wood, plants, paper, fabric

Enhances: Health, family, wealth, new beginnings

Fire Element

Qualities: Passion, energy, transformation, recognition

Colors: Red, orange, purple, pink

Shapes: Triangular, pointed

Materials: Candles, lights, animals, leather

Enhances: Fame, reputation, passion, inspiration

Earth Element

Qualities: Stability, grounding, nourishment, self-care

Colors: Yellow, beige, tan, earth tones

Shapes: Square, flat, low

Materials: Ceramics, stones, crystals, clay

Enhances: Health, relationships, stability, grounding

Metal Element

Qualities: Clarity, precision, efficiency, beauty

Colors: White, gray, metallic

Shapes: Circular, oval, arched

Materials: Metal, stones, crystals

Enhances: Children, creativity, helpful people, travel

Water Element

Qualities: Flow, wisdom, spirituality, abundance

Colors: Black, dark blue, charcoal

Shapes: Wavy, flowing, asymmetrical

Materials: Water features, mirrors, glass

Enhances: Career, wisdom, flow, abundance

The Bagua Map

What Is the Bagua?

The Bagua is an energy map that divides your space into nine areas, each corresponding to a different life area. You overlay the Bagua on your floor plan to identify which areas of your home affect which areas of your life.

The Nine Areas

1. Wealth & Prosperity (Southeast)

• Element: Wood
• Colors: Purple, green, gold, red
• Enhance with: Plants, water features, wealth symbols
• Governs: Money, abundance, blessings

2. Fame & Reputation (South)

• Element: Fire
• Colors: Red, orange, purple
• Enhance with: Lights, candles, awards, triangular shapes
• Governs: Recognition, reputation, how others see you

3. Love & Relationships (Southwest)

• Element: Earth
• Colors: Pink, red, white
• Enhance with: Pairs of objects, romantic imagery, rose quartz
• Governs: Romance, marriage, partnerships

4. Family & Health (East)

• Element: Wood
• Colors: Green, blue, teal
• Enhance with: Family photos, plants, wood furniture
• Governs: Family relationships, ancestors, physical health

5. Center (Tai Chi)

• Element: Earth
• Colors: Yellow, earth tones
• Enhance with: Keep clear and open, earth elements
• Governs: Overall health, balance, grounding

6. Children & Creativity (West)

• Element: Metal
• Colors: White, pastels, metallic
• Enhance with: Metal objects, children's art, creative projects
• Governs: Children, creativity, joy, projects

7. Knowledge & Wisdom (Northeast)

• Element: Earth
• Colors: Blue, green, black
• Enhance with: Books, meditation space, quiet area
• Governs: Learning, spirituality, self-cultivation

8. Career & Life Path (North)

• Element: Water
• Colors: Black, dark blue
• Enhance with: Water features, mirrors, flowing shapes
• Governs: Career, life purpose, opportunities

9. Helpful People & Travel (Northwest)

• Element: Metal
• Colors: Gray, white, metallic
• Enhance with: Metal objects, images of mentors, travel photos
• Governs: Mentors, support, travel, synchronicity

Feng Shui Room by Room

Entrance/Front Door

Importance: Mouth of chi—where energy enters

Best practices:

• Keep clear and welcoming
• Good lighting
• Door opens fully without obstruction
• Clean and well-maintained
• Welcome mat
• Plants or flowers
• Remove clutter

Living Room

Purpose: Gathering, socializing, relaxation

Best practices:

• Arrange furniture in conversation groupings
• Sofa against solid wall (not window)
• Command position for main seating
• Balance of all five elements
• Good lighting
• Plants for vitality
• Art that uplifts

Bedroom

Purpose: Rest, romance, rejuvenation

Best practices:

• Bed in command position (see door, not in line with it)
• Solid headboard against wall
• Nightstands on both sides (balance)
• Minimal electronics
• Calming colors
• Pairs of objects for romance
• No mirrors facing bed
• No clutter under bed

Kitchen

Purpose: Nourishment, health, wealth

Best practices:

• Keep clean and organized
• Stove represents wealth—keep clean
• Fix broken appliances
• Good lighting
• Fresh fruit on counter
• Plants or herbs
• Stove and sink not directly opposite (fire/water conflict)

Bathroom

Challenge: Drains energy and wealth

Best practices:

• Keep toilet lid down
• Keep door closed
• Good ventilation
• Plants to absorb moisture
• Mirror on outside of door
• Earth elements to ground water energy
• Keep clean and fresh

Home Office

Purpose: Productivity, success, focus

Best practices:

• Desk in command position
• Solid wall behind you
• View of door
• Organized and clutter-free
• Inspiring art or vision board
• Plants for vitality
• Good lighting
• Separate from bedroom if possible

Essential Feng Shui Principles

Command Position

• See the door from your position
• Not directly in line with door
• Solid wall behind you
• Applies to bed, desk, stove
• Creates sense of safety and control

Chi Flow

• Energy should flow smoothly
• No obstacles blocking pathways
• Curved paths better than straight
• Open, spacious feeling
• Remove clutter

Yin and Yang Balance

• Balance active (yang) and passive (yin) energy
• Bedroom: more yin (calm, soft)
• Office: more yang (bright, active)
• Living areas: balanced

Clutter Clearing

• Clutter blocks chi flow
• Creates stagnant energy
• Affects corresponding life area
• Regular decluttering essential
• Keep only what you love and use

Feng Shui Cures and Enhancements

Mirrors

• Expand space and light
• Reflect beautiful views
• Double abundance (dining table)
• Don't reflect clutter or toilet
• Not facing bed

Crystals

• Faceted crystals disperse chi
• Hang in windows for rainbow light
• Place in problem areas
• Natural crystals for specific purposes

Plants

• Bring life force energy
• Purify air
• Represent growth
• Round, soft leaves best
• Keep healthy (remove dead plants)
• Avoid spiky plants in bedroom

Water Features

• Attract wealth and abundance
• Keep water clean and flowing
• Place in wealth or career area
• Not in bedroom
• Fountains, aquariums

Lighting

• Represents fire element
• Activates energy
• Brighten dark corners
• Use in fame area
• Full-spectrum bulbs best

Wind Chimes

• Disperse and activate chi
• Metal chimes for metal areas
• Bamboo for wood areas
• Pleasant sound important

Art and Imagery

• Choose uplifting, positive images
• Represents what you want to attract
• Pairs for relationship area
• Water images for wealth
• Mountains for support

Common Feng Shui Problems and Solutions

Problem: Bed Aligned with Door

Solution: Move bed if possible, or place footboard, screen, or crystals between bed and door

Problem: Toilet in Wealth Area

Solution: Keep lid down, door closed, mirror on outside of door, plants inside

Problem: Clutter

Solution: Declutter regularly, organize, keep only what you love

Problem: Dark, Cramped Entrance

Solution: Add lighting, mirror to expand, remove obstacles, fresh paint

Problem: Missing Bagua Area

Solution: Place mirror to "complete" space, enhance corresponding area inside, outdoor lighting or plants

Problem: Stove Facing Sink

Solution: Place wood element between (plant, green item) to mediate fire/water conflict

Feng Shui for Specific Goals

Attracting Wealth

• Enhance southeast (wealth) area
• Water feature in wealth or career area
• Purple, green, gold, red colors
• Keep kitchen and stove clean
• Fix leaks (money draining)
• Wealth symbols (coins, prosperity bowl)

Attracting Love

• Enhance southwest (relationship) area
• Pairs of objects throughout home
• Pink, red, white colors
• Rose quartz crystals
• Romantic imagery
• Clear space for partner (closet, nightstand)
• Remove ex's items

Career Success

• Enhance north (career) area
• Water element
• Black, dark blue colors
• Desk in command position
• Inspiring art in office
• Keep workspace organized

Better Health

• Enhance east (health) area and center
• Plants throughout home
• Good air quality
• Natural light
• Clutter-free
• Healthy, vibrant energy

Feng Shui Tips for Renters

• Focus on what you can control
• Use portable enhancements (plants, crystals, art)
• Furniture arrangement is key
• Declutter and clean
• Add your personal energy
• Temporary solutions (removable hooks, rugs)

Feng Shui Misconceptions

Myth: It's Just Superstition

Truth: Based on observation of energy flow and environmental psychology. Many principles align with modern design.

Myth: You Must Follow All Rules Perfectly

Truth: Do what you can. Intention matters most. Small changes create big shifts.

Myth: It's Only About Placement

Truth: Energy, intention, and how space makes you feel matter more than perfect placement.

Myth: It's Religious

Truth: Feng Shui is a practice, not a religion. Compatible with any belief system.

Final Thoughts

Your home is a living, breathing extension of yourself. It reflects your inner world and shapes your outer reality. When you apply Feng Shui principles, you're not just rearranging furniture—you're consciously creating an environment that supports your dreams, nurtures your wellbeing, and attracts the life you desire.

Feng Shui reminds us that we're not separate from our environment. The energy of our space affects our energy, and our energy affects our life. By harmonizing the chi in your home, you harmonize the chi in your life.

Start small. Choose one area to enhance. Clear some clutter. Add a plant. Move your bed. Trust your intuition. Notice how you feel. Your home wants to support you—give it the opportunity.

Have you used Feng Shui in your home? What changes have you noticed? Share below!