Feng Shui Principles
In the summer of 2020, we looked at feng shui design principles and how we can utilize them to increase wealth, health, and relationships in our lives through the power of good interior design.
Since we could all use more wealth, health, and better relationships, let’s revisit those principles today.
Balance
![Bedroom with a pair of bedside tables and table lamps either side of the bed. A mirror on the left balances the shape of the door on the right.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Bedroom-Romance_Hillside-Retreat-Bed-580x389.jpg)
Feng shui principle: Provide balance to welcome a new relationship or deepen an existing one.
Here, we see a pair of bedside tables and lamps either side of the bed. This is welcoming of partnership in the bedroom for love and life.
Notice how the mirror on the left imitates the proportions of the door on the right. You should never place a mirror in the bedroom facing you, but it’s good beside you, to reflect energy.
Energy Flow
![Dining chairs in alternating colors of turquoise, lime green, and spotted patterns surrounding a dark wood dining table, underneath a white globe pendant lamp, as seen from above.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Kimball-Starr-Design-hillside-dining-room-580x424.jpg)
Feng shui principle: Allow energy or chi to flow through the space.
This space is tidy and doesn’t interrupt the flow of energy into the rest of the house. The pendant light captures energy and shares it out. We didn’t want something spikey because that reflects jagged energy. Instead, we wanted something round but still not a hard circle.
This pendant has a softness to it that fills the space yet gently captures the energy in an almost cloud-like way, and it can be seen from multiple stories in the house. Perfect.
Color
![A tangerine and orange colored bedroom, with multiple patterns, textures, and several layers of pillows on the bed, plus tan blanket, white sheets, and orange comforter on a dark brown wood bed.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Color-Bedroom-Tangerine-580x387.jpg)
Feng shui principle: Choose color wisely, for a purpose.
While the use of reds and yellows are common in Chinese culture, here we’ve combined them into a single color – orange – bringing together elements of Fame, Health, and Love in this guest bedroom. See the bagua color map in my prior post.
Entrance
![A tall tapering lighted lamp-type shape, with swirling circle patterns. Nearby, a carved statue of a Buddhist monk stands on top of a side table. To the right, a large container holds sticks and vines. All sit atop a cow hide rug over a light wood floor.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Relaxation-Zen-Luxury-Space-1.jpg)
Feng shui principle: Create an entrance.
When first entering the home, you want to capture the energy, compress it into a smaller space and then release it. Don’t allow the energy to pour out the back of a home, as happens in a straight view through the entire space from the front door.
Clutter-free surfaces
![Modern bachelor condo of white walls, dark hardwood flooring, and very dark wood cabinetry without handles, around a black refrigerator and freezer unit. In the short end of an L shape, a black countertop and kitchen sink features a graceful swan-necked faucet. At the front of the scene, a modern white dining table is surrounded by clear lime-green plastic seats on silver metal legs. The whole space is lit up by a large frosted window at the rear, unadorned by any window dressings.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Dining-Room-Meals_Take-Out-Delivery-580x870.jpg)
Feng shui principle: Keep your surfaces clean and clear.
Notice the surfaces are plain and nearly devoid of ornamentation, keeping clutter behind closed storage doors. Frosted windows mimic the translucency of the chairs, bouncing light around, which encourages energy to move through the space and balance the darkness of the kitchen cabinetry.
And let’s face it, it’s easier to store clutter behind closed doors, so you can spend your time enjoying the fruits of your beautiful design choices.
Kimball Starr designs homes with feng shui principles throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a remote or socially-distant in-person consultation.