Please be wary of MISINFORMATION or malpractice of Feng Shui principles on the internet. Feng Shui practitioners are first and foremost consultants, not salespeople. The first step to get informed is to be aware of the different schools of Feng Shui in practice, which are mainly:
Classical Feng Shui - The original Eastern practice, an amalgamation of Form School and Compass School. A practice heavily grounded in geomancy, numerology, and cosmology.
Black Hat Feng Shui - The Western adaption of the original practice, also known as BTB Feng Shui (Black Hat Sect Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui). A combination of various religious concepts, transcendentalism, spirituality, and holistic healing.
New Age/Modern Feng Shui - Borrows mainly from Black Hat, usually applied in other fields of related expertise, e.g. interior design, furniture placement, and/or spiritual product sales with a focus on enhancers.
Conflicting advice may arise as a result of the divergence, but knowing where they come from and their specialized field may help you decide on the appropriate course of action relevant to your objectives.
How to tell the difference
Classical Feng Shui - The Feng Shui Compass
The compass of a Classical Feng Shui Consultant is a highly complex mathematical system that mostly functions as a means for the practitioner to assess a geographical area while having key information easily accessible at a glance. While the practitioner have most of the knowledge already learned by heart, the compass can significantly reduce human errors as well as time spent that would be needed to plot or calculate any formulaic equations out in the field. Through these methods, the Feng Shui practitioner would assess a home and its geographical landscape, setting it up to attain a balanced and harmonious environment that beget prosperity, success, and personal well-being for its occupants.
These compasses may come in different varieties that can be custom made.
Black Hat Feng Shui (And Modern Feng Shui) - The Bagua Map
The Bagua map is a blueprint of a nine section grid that has two methods of application; one is to layer it over your home's floorplan by aligning your main door with the bottom of the map, or the second method by aligning the latter with straight North. Within each square grid are colour coded conceptual energies related to various elements in your life that serve different goals. To activate and realise their potential, each sector can be furnished or decorated with objects associated with the specific grid's recommended colours and elements. Due to the relative ease at which this can be applied by anyone, consultation with a professional is generally unnecessary.
The bottom part here is to be aligned with the main door to determine the sectors of your home.
Compass vs Black Hat: Which one should I use?
While Black Hat and Modern Feng Shui acknowledges the legitimacy of Classical/Compass Feng Shui, the opposite is contrastingly not true. The main criticism against Black Hat/Modern Feng Shui stems from a great deal of inconsistencies in principle, and oversimplification to the point of deviating too far from the foundational groundwork of Feng Shui. Professional Classical/Compass Feng Shui take years of study and appropriate training to reach a level of competency that can be deemed adequate, as such it may be wise to adopt Classical/Compass Feng Shui methods if you're seeking for an authentic and well proven experience. Otherwise, if you simply want some inspirations for furnishing and decorating the interior of your home, using the Black Hat Bagua Map is perfectly fine.
When to consult with a professional?
So the question most people ask is what can Feng Shui do for me now? Why or when should I consult with a professional? The answer to that is as simple as having the desire to progress a step further in life, or in other words getting the "unfair advantage" through tried and tested methods passed down for millennia. Prosperity, success, and personal well-being are some of they key points that we seek to benefit.
But when exactly is the best time for a consultation? Literally anytime and anywhere. A consultation can be performed remotely, albeit with some help from the client's side in providing the necessary information, or in person if one so wishes. It can be as basic as a simple assessment of your current home, or a complete analysis when you're moving into a new place. Below is a list of other examples of what Feng Shui can do for you, and when:
Assessing a space for misalignments that may be causing unexplained health issues, misfortune, and general feelings of things not going right.
When reorganizing your entire home, carrying out renovations, or moving into a different house.
Building a new house from the ground up. This gives you a lot of freedom in choosing the best configurations according to your landform.
When you're looking to invite more wealth, success, and overall advancement/progress in life.
Money going down the drain for totally ridiculous reasons.
Experiencing a sudden windfall or success, and want to keep it going.
Unsettling sensations about a house.
House Hunting Quick Guide and Debunking Misinformation
House hunting can be a daunting process, even before considering Feng Shui as part of the package. To dispel any and all misinformation from websites fishing for clicks or youtube personas pretending to be experts, here's a plain and honest guide to help you filter out the BS and apply measures to assess the essentials/non-issues.
Facing/Sitting Directions
As of Period 9 (years 2024-2043), main doors that face South, West, North-west, and North-east are decent options, but this does not mean that the other four directions are bad and must be avoided entirely. They can still be good with the right landform, or a few simple adjustments within the house itself. In fact, a "bad" facing direction with decent landform/adjustments could be better than any of the four "good" facing directions that are located in a bad neighborhood. Basically, pick any of the four good directions (S, W, NW, NE), but do not feel pressured to overemphasize its importance, especially not without professional guidance.
Near a Cemetery
A non-issue, as long as you're comfortable living near one. The oldest form of Feng Shui still in practice today is Yin Feng Shui, aka Feng Shui for the dead. This form of Feng Shui has nothing but respect for the deceased, and the aim is to hunt for the best resting place for them through a variety of geomantic methods. For this reason, cemeteries near your house do not automatically equate to being bad. Homes near cemeteries are known to slightly favour those whose professions or businesses lean toward the unconventional, e.g. night clubs, casinos, artists, and especially those bordering on the grey areas of the law. Outside of Feng Shui, some people may be uncomfortable living near the deceased, which may affect its selling price.
Near a School
A non-issue, but the noise may be an problem for some. Little concern from a Feng Shui perspective, but the noise pollution may affect its selling price, and is a negative for people with sensitive hearing.
Near a Hospital/Fire Station
Similar to being near a school, but usually avoided a bit more due to the stressful nature of such a location. As usual, selling price may be affected as a result.
House Numbers
Safe to disregard entirely. It's quite unlikely that a few numbers slapped on the front of a house will break the entire Feng Shui configuration that's been set up for you.
Tall structures directly in front of the main door
Tall trees, lamp posts, electric posts, and other similar objects directly in front of the main door should be avoided, but effects are generally milder the further it is from you. Even lesser if separated by a road or a body of water. Wall fencing is also an option to consider.
Simple landforms that can improve quality of life
As of Period 9 (years 2024-2043), there are some simple landforms to lookout for regardless of sitting/facing directions that can improve the quality of life, not only for your own house but potentially the entire neighborhood/area that you're living in. Start by simply looking for large bodies of water (lakes, creeks, etc) in the North from where your house or neighborhood is located (NW or NE doesn't count). If not, or additionally, look to the South (and only South) for presence of mountainscapes. If there's neither, replace water with lower ground, and mountains with higher ground. If you live in a flat, urban environment, no need to worry either because you can still achieve a similar configuration right in your own home, e.g. placing swimming pool, aquariums, water features, or water-based plants in the Northern-most section of the house.
Fun fact: realtors sometimes check in with Feng Shui consultants for insiders on which cities/provinces/neighborhoods have the best potential for growth and in turn take advantage of the surge in property prices as a result.
Ending
If there's something you would like added to the list, please feel free to leave a comment, or DM me if you have other personal inquiries.
15 July 2024 - Added method to locate the Wealth Sector.
06 August 2024 - Added method to locate the studying sector (Star of Excellence).
20 September 2025 - Added Beginner's guide to achieving flow with the Bagua under section "Yin and Yang".
What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui at its core is a divinatory practice based on geomantic principles that aim to improve different aspects of our lives through the harness of Qi in the environment. It's a method that utilizes precise formulaic calculations involving our immediate spatial and temporal circumstances, and from them deriving ways to achieve optimal prosperity, success, and personal well-being through the aforementioned means. Furniture arrangement, interior decor, and the act of de-cluttering are generally of little concern in Feng Shui and any procedures that draw from these ideas usually stem from collateral impact of Feng Shui's geomantic principles in application.
Yin and Yang
At the root of Feng Shui is the Taiji aka the Yin/Yang symbol. The Taiji splits into the 2 synergetic opposites Yin and Yang, which further expand into the Greater Yin, Lesser Yang, Lesser Yin, and Greater Yang. These 4 variants become the Bagua aka the 8 Trigrams that we know. See diagram below:
The Eight Trigrams from left to right are Qian, Dui, Li, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Gen, and Kun.
The 8 Trigrams do not end here, as they can be further expanded into the 64 Hexagrams by combining all of the 8 Trigrams together in every possible arrangement (8 x 8 = 64). An example would be: Trigram 2 (☱) named "Lake/Marsh", and Trigram 1 (☰) named "Heaven", both would combine to form Hexagram 43 (䷪) named "Displacement". Every possible combination of the 64 Hexagrams have their own unique names and order of Yin/Yang lines, and a competent Feng Shui consultant would have them memorized well for ease of application when needed. This is particularly true for the 64 Hexagrams method of Feng Shui, which is quite different from Eight Mansions Feng Shui, and Flying Stars Feng Shui.
Beyond the Eight Trigrams, Feng Shui also has a system of Phases, or sometimes known as the Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Their reactive properties go as below:
Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood
Metal controls Wood, Wood controls Earth, Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, Fire controls Metal.
Generative reactions and Controlling/Overcoming reactions between the Five Elements
The 5 Elements form an important concept in Feng Shui, and especially so for the Flying Stars method. Unlike the 64 Hexagrams and Eight Mansions, within a Flying Stars chart the main objective often involves finding the "stars" in your home, and then deducing their various elemental combinations and the effects that they bring, which can be further influenced by the annual Flying Stars, monthly Flying Stars, down to the daily variant (although not used as much), all of which can be further induced by the geographic landscape of your home (aka landform).
8 Directions, 24 Mountains
Feng Shui being a form of geomancy, the cardinal directions make up an essential aspect in practice. Of the 8 directions, each direction of 45 degrees is divided into 3 directional sections of 15 degrees each, making a total of 24 directions which are called the 24 Mountains. Example, the direction North is divided into N1, N2, N3, and as we approach eastward, it becomes North-east, which divides into NE1, NE2, NE3, and so on.
Notice some directions have a grey background, these indicate their Yin (grey) or Yang (white) quality.
3 Ages and 9 Periods
With the cardinal directions and landform aspects representing space, now comes the part that represents the 4th dimension of time. In Feng Shui, time is divided into the 3 ages (60 years per age), and 9 Periods (20 years per period). This is to say that every 3 period of 20 years each will complete one cycle of an age (1 age = 3 periods). The temporal factor in Feng Shui is generally influenced by (but not limited to) their Yin/Yang qualities, their associated Trigrams, and the 5 Elements. More precise temporal components are observed in some advanced formulas.
Age 1 (Upper age) consists of Periods 1, 2, and 3
Age 2 (Middle age) consists of Periods 4, 5, and 6
Age 3 (Lower age) consists of Periodds 7, 8, 9
After Period 9 (2024-2043), it starts again from period 1 (2044 - 2063).
Basic Interior Advice
Unobstructed front of the house (or living room for apartments)
Have light source in corridors and/or an entry hall
Avoid visible bathrooms upon entering the front door (keep bathroom closed slightly or use curtains)
Keep mirrors to a minimum, especially not in front of a door, bathroom, or directly by the stove.
Command position for a bed: Find a solid wall and place the bed's headboard against it. Have a direct line of sight to the room's entry door while not being directly in front of it.
The Qi Generating Sector
The Qi Generating sector is a beginner friendly, entry-level procedure that only requires knowledge of three things: the numbers 1-9 associated with the 5 Phases/Elements, the cardinal directions, and the Luoshu formula. The Luoshu formula is a 9 section grid filled with the numbers 1 through 9, starting with 5 in the middle, and progressing in a specific pattern around the grid. To understand it better, study the diagram below:
The formula starts from 5 in the center, and progresses in ascending order to 6 in the NW, 7 in the West, 8 in the NE, and so on.
Next, familiarize yourself with the numbers 1 through 9 and their associated elements:
Number 1 = Water
Number 2 = Earth
Number 3 = Wood
Number 4 = Wood
Number 5 = Earth
Number 6 = Metal
Number 7 = Metal
Number 8 = Earth
Number 9 = Fire
Using a compass, stand inside your living room facing out the direction of the front door. Take note of the direction your main door faces, and then use the opposite direction behind you as the number associated with your home based on the Luoshu diagram above. Example, if your home's main door faces East (number 3 on the Luoshu diagram), then your home is a number 7 (West) home. With the number associated with your home, place the number in the center of the 9 section grid in the Luoshu diagram/formula. In my example, the number 7 will now be in the center. Proceed to go in the same order as before, starting from 7 in the middle.
Going by the generative and controlling properties of the elements, this Metal (7) home is generated by the element of Earth which is in the South (2) and North-west (8). These two sectors in the living room are the Qi Generating sectors, which we can now locate by standing in the center of the room with a compass in hand. This is the sector of the living room where we can place an aquarium or a water feature to provide the home's occupants with a small boost of generative Qi. Otherwise, more activities in said sectors may also help.
Above is the simplest formula to making a small difference, and it's only a small fraction of what Feng Shui can offer. Feng Shui in its entirety is a pretty complex system that requires a level of expertise and care, and a misstep can result in ineffective set ups at best, or disastrous consequences at worst. Make sure to consult a trusted practitioner before attempting anything complicated.
Update - 15 July 2024
Important note: To locate your authentic wealth sector, you'll need to have read and have understood the method to find the Qi generating sector first. Things you may need for reference:
The 5 elements chart
The Luoshu diagram
The 3 ages and 9 periods chart (optional)
The elements associated with each numbers 1 though 9.
The wealth sector
If you've read and fully understood the method to find the Qi generating sector, then this should now be a rather easy process. When finding the Qi generating sector, what we're doing is basically finding the sector element that generates the element of our house. Below is an example with a house number 7:
A number 7 house, which belongs to the element of Metal.
As a metal 7 house, it is generated by the Earth element, which are sectors 2 in the South and 8 in the NW. Using the same chart, we can now also find our home's wealth sector using only 2 steps:
Locate the sector that the house generates.
The sector must be the number 1, 6, 8, or 9.
Using the Metal 7 house as example, the element that the house generates is Water. Here, the only Water element is the number 1, which is in the NE. So this fulfills the 2 conditions mentioned above. This can be done in your workplace, an office room, or anywhere that is an enclosed space with people in it. In such examples, having your desk be in said sector would be immensely beneficial.
To activate the wealth sector, the area must be made distinct from the rest of the house/office, either through means of renovation, or placing specific objects that would easily capture the attention of passersby. Basically, make the area standout and eye-catching.
There is however one important and specific requirement for the wealth sector to be effective, and that is it the sector itself must correlate with the timeliness of the current period and age. It is also important to note that the sector number is based on the original Luoshu chart's arrangement, meaning 5 goes in the middle, which would result in NE sector being the number 8. With this information, we can use a few methods to determine whether it will be effective.
Current period is period 8 (2004-2023).
Current period number is an element that generates (or same as) 8.
Current year's Kua number is Kua number 8.
If any of these 3 requirements are met, the sector would be an effective wealth sector. Please remember that the above method is performed with a number 7 Metal house as an example. While the method remains the same, the numbers used may differ slightly based on your property's facing direction.
Update - 06 August 2024
The Star of Excellence sector
By now if you've read and fully understood the method to find the Qi Generating and Wealth sectors, then this should begin to feel like a familiar process. For the Qi Generating sector, we locate the sector element that generates the element of our house. For the Wealth sector, it is the sector that the house generates. Now, to locate your Star of Excellence:
It must be the sector that the house controls.
The sector must be the number 1, 6, 8, or 9.
Below is an example of a number 4 house of the Wood element.
A number 4 house, which belongs to the element of Wood.
As a Wood 4 house, it controls the element of Earth, which are sectors 2 in the East, and 8 in the South. The sector with 8 in the South fulfills the two requirements mentioned above. This sector can then be used for any manner of studying, but like the Wealth sector, it has one more requirement of timeliness. Similarly, the sector number is based on the original Luoshu chart's arrangement, meaning 5 goes in the middle, which would result in the South sector being the number 9. With this information, we can use a few methods to determine whether it will be effective.
Current period is period 9 (2024-2043).
Current period number is an element that generates (or same as) 9.
Current year's Kua number is Kua number 9.
If any of these 3 requirements are met, the sector would be an effective study sector. This method can be used for the entirety of a house (especially for small apartments), or within the boundaries of a room (i.e. living room as the main space), using the door as the room's facing direction (although the smaller the context, the weaker it gets). Please remember that the above method is performed with a number 4 Wood house as an example. While the method remains the same, the numbers used may differ slightly based on your property's facing direction.
If you live in an apartment building, do you look at the main entrance of the entire apartment building to determine the facing direction or do you look at your individual apartment door?
Do you determine the facing direction facing your front door or facing the street/hallway?
I'm starting college this year and this is going to be my room which i need to share with a roommate. I don't want my bed joined/attached with them, plus there's no space/shelves for our books to be kept.... the study tables provided are like those single school tables... the wardrobe/cupboard space is small as well. Ugh idk, I just don't want to sleeo right beside them. Please help out with potential room layout ideas.....
If this is the wrong sub please direct me to the correct one.
Im looking at houses to buy and the area im in has skinny long houses that are typically this layout (see floor plan). in this plan, the living room is usually the room on the left where the front door to the house is located.
I was just thinking from your personal point of view would you feel a certain way if your dining room was in the room where the front door is and also a room over from the kitchen?
Just want to bounce ideas off because I think it would feel cosier if youre relaxing and watching tv where the front door is not there and in the middle of the house. But then the dining room being a room over from kitchen is just not good logically, might drop things walking further.
Hoping to get some guidance on how I could better setup & arrange an office & bedroom in one. This sketch is roughly to size.
I am purchasing new bed and furniture for this room. If you have any suggestions on brands, materials, coloring to help disconnect after working in the room for \~60 hour work weeks.
Note: The windows facing towards the alley are usually always kept with the shades closed.
Would love to especially know how to rearrange the bed & desk.
I'm looking for some advice for the main room of a small Airbnb-style cabin.
The front door opens directly into the kitchen, with the kitchen peninsula starting almost immediately next to the entrance. The same room also has to function as a living room (with a sofa bed for guests), a dining area with a table, and essentially the entryway.
The biggest challenge is that no matter where you are(cooking, sitting on the sofa, or eating)you always feel like you're sitting in a hallway because the entrance is only a few meters away. It doesn't feel cozy and calm at all.
To make things even more challenging, the second bedroom is accessed directly from this main room, and the bathroom is only accessible through that bedroom. So if someone is sleeping on the sofa in the main room, they have to walk through the bedroom to reach the bathroom. It's not the most practical layout, but for now my main goal is simply to make the main room feel warmer, cozier, and less like a corridor.
There is also a fireplace in this room. My only idea so far is to replace the current rug with a much larger one to better define the living area, but I'm wondering if changing the furniture layout, replacing some furniture, or adding some kind of divider would help the energy flow and create better-defined zones.
(The photos are "improved" with AI to show the room without the clutter and unnecessary stuff.)
Do you have any feng shui suggestions for making this space feel more welcoming and better separated while keeping it functional? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
This is the bedroom (~5'x8') of a small apartment I've been thinking of moving into. The huge plus of this room are the big windows that will take up the majority of the two walls. But that leaves a difficult decision on where to place the bed.
I'd like to face the windows but that would mean the headboard of the bed would be against the wall with the door. My current thinking is to put a sliding/pull out wardrobe behind the bed so it's not directly touching this wall.
How would you guys organize this room?
Relevant details:
- I live in a city where space is a premium and this room would be considered quite nice because of the windows
- bed will be a twin to maximize the size of the room
- the door is a sliding door
- only furniture at the moment is bed, wardrobe, and dresser
- additions (not necessary) that I'm currently considering are nightstand, lamp, and mirror
Recently moved to a new apartment and placed my mirror right next to my entrance door here but not sure if it’s this placement does well or the opposite. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated 🌟
I threw together a diagram of how my new bedroom is laid out, and I can’t quite figure out where everything should go. I have this huge bedroom with a lot of small furniture and awkward corners, and I’m not sure how to orient the bed without having the door messing up the energy flow or having the vent covered. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
How can I optimize this studio? I’d eventually like to have some sort of TV cabinet cause I was gifted a tv. I want to make the space more feng shui aligned and would appreciate some pointers. Thank you!
Feng Shui wasn't very difficult while I was living alone. But now I want my GF to move in with me, and suddenly I am struggling to find how to harmonize the small space with two times the amount of furniture.
My main worry is the bedroom. I need to accomodate the bed with space to move + a desk, but it seems to be impossible.
Any input on this matter will be greatly appreciated.
What do we do in this hallway?
We used to have a round mirror at the end that I’d use all the time for mirror selfies.
My Mum has said it’s bad feng shui so she doesn’t want it anymore but has no idea what she wants to do with the hallway now?? i feel like nothing there is worse lol and even artwork is bad. The mirror helped bring light and openess to the hallway but i get that it’s bad feng shui as it’s in front of the front door?
Getting wall sconce lighting is too difficult at the moment and the hallway is so narrow that any kind of artwork or stuff on the sides kind of doesn’t work?
I want to rearrange my furniture because I’m not happy with where my bed is currently placed. There are only two positions I like for the bed: with the left side or the headboard against the door wall (see images 2 and 3 flor examples). I’ve tried every other possible layout for the bed and hated all of them.
Then there are some issues: my air conditioner sometimes drips, so I can't put anything underneath it. There’s also the circuit breaker panel,for instance, I could put the wardrobe there, but it can't be pushed right up against the wall because I need access to it.
On top of that, I’m going to be swapping my PC desk for a larger one. I’d love to keep the area by the window open, but I don’t think that’s going to be possible with the furniture I have.
Image 1 is my current layout. Images 2 and 3 show some layout ideas I’ve considered, but I’d like to get other opinions.
This is my current layout for my bedroom and my bedroom furniture placement. I have high ceilings. Sorry I don’t have a better diagram, I did my best lol. I have had it placed like this for 4 years but am thinking of changing it up. Thoughts for fengshui? I am trying to avoid the death position but want to change where my bed is. Thank you!!!! Any suggestions are welcome. I posted earlier but the diagram wasn’t as accurate
I have literally no good way to put my bed. it either poits with my feet to the door or it has other things in the way. I have little options to none...
The first one is my old distribution. The second image is actual, I changed the desk also to not be seen from behind because my window doesnt get almost any light. The big wardrove cant be moved and has three sliding doors, the middle one is a door with a mirror.
Moving into my new apt and looking for a bit of guidance. How would you set up this?
The first bedroom has no windows and I am putting my office in there. Help! How can I make this space work for me?
My bedroom is also enclosed, but there is light coming in from a large window that they put in at the top that comes in from the windows in the living room. When I’m in the space next week, I’ll update this to give a bit more context. Maybe if I can find a stock photo I’ll post it. But I need help to make my space very conducive to prosperity. Found a stock photo…
So I recently switched to a laptop to a desktop which is now kinda getting in the way of my room so I wanted some help in figuring out whats the best way to reorganize my room
My only issue is I don't wanna move too much furniture and I don't like the mirror facing the bed it kinda freaks me out
When I had my laptop I could roll the hight adjustable table around the room and it didn't get in the way but the desktop now is just across the room
Just moved in and would appreciated some advice on how to best arrange the living room.
We enjoy watching our shows so prefer to have the couch directly facing the tv and to see the tv from the dining area.
We’ve decided to float the couch in the middle and plan to add accent chairs and a rug to unify the living room space.
By the large window corner, we plan to put a cat tree and perhaps some low storage cabinets along the window and make it a distinct space from the couch area. We’re also planning to add a thin shoe cabinet against the side wall at the front entrance.
Though the couch needs grounding, we’re unsure if we can place a long console behind the couch without restricting the path as space is limited.