{"id":457,"date":"2020-08-20T15:00:02","date_gmt":"2020-08-20T20:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/?p=457"},"modified":"2020-10-28T15:58:04","modified_gmt":"2020-10-28T20:58:04","slug":"implement-feng-shui-home-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/20\/implement-feng-shui-home-office\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Steps to Implement Feng Shui in Your Home or Office"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Feng shui<\/strong>\u00a0(pronounced &#8220;<span class=\"spelling\">fung shway&#8221;)<\/span> is a set of ancient Chinese design principles. The term feng shui translates to wind-water and has connotations of prosperity and harmony. You can use concepts of feng shui in your home, office, and even outside in the garden to create a positive, peaceful environment.<\/p>\n<p>Any amateur designer should have a basic understanding of these ancient design concepts, so we&#8217;ll explore them here. Whether you choose to implement feng shui throughout your entire home, try it in a single home office, or simply allow these ideas to swirl around in your mind as you make future\u00a0furniture\u00a0decisions. You&#8217;ll be delighted that you did.<\/p>\n<p>And remember, if you&#8217;d like some professional assistance from interior design pros, reach out to our design team for\u00a0complimentary design services. We offer outstanding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/furniture-store-tarpon-springs.inc\">living room furniture in Tarpon Springs<\/a>, Sarasota, Naples, Pinellas Park, Ft. Myers \u2014 and all the little neighborhoods in between. Now, let&#8217;s dig in to feng shui.<\/p>\n<h2>Feng Shui Basics<\/h2>\n<p>Since feng shui is so old and well respected,\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/shelf\/show\/feng-shui\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hundreds of books<\/a><\/span>\u00a0are written on the topic. This rabbit hole goes deep, and you can get as involved as you want in the ideas. For now, know that three primary principles of feng shui are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clutter upsets your peace of mind and prosperity.<\/li>\n<li>Positive energy flows in curving lines, while negative energy only travels in straight lines.<\/li>\n<li>A natural balance of\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hgtv.com\/design\/decorating\/design-101\/the-elements-of-feng-shui#:~:text=Feng%20shui%20divides%20the%20world,for%20your%20personality%20and%20goals.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the five elements<\/a><\/span>\u00a0is the most conducive to happiness and wealth. (We&#8217;ll cover these in a moment.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Step 1. Clean the Space and Reduce the Clutter<\/h2>\n<p>Every interior designer \u2014 no matter which styles they prefer \u2014 will agree that clutter is not suitable for any home or professional environment.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It&#8217;s no secret that a clean space is healthier for both your mind and body.<\/li>\n<li>According to\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/healthy-lifestyle\/stress-management\/in-depth\/how-decluttering-your-space-could-make-you-healthier-and-happier\/art-20390064\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Mayo Clinic:<\/a><\/span>\u00a0&#8220;de-cluttering can have as much of an effect on your well-being as it does on your physical space.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>If you need some motivation and advice on how to use furniture to reduce clutter,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/27\/spring-cleaning-furniture-hacks-stress-free-space-ft-myers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">we&#8217;ve blogged about it before<\/span><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After that, it&#8217;s time to address the energy flow in your home or office.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 2. Fix the Energy Flow<\/h2>\n<p>Feng shui principles say that negative energies and negative feelings \u2014 anger, sadness, anxiety \u2014 only travel in straight lines. We can imagine these concepts coming to life inside us as we walk down a long, scary hospital hallway or stand in a frustratingly long line.<\/p>\n<p>In a home setting, we could reduce the amount of negative energy coming in by organizing a gently curving traffic pattern through the home, and using privacy screens to alleviate the negative energies coming through the front door. We would try to avoid long, narrow hallways. If your home is built with one, place a mirror at each end.<\/p>\n<h3>Mirrors and Energy<\/h3>\n<p>In feng shui, mirrors are said to reflect negative energy out and away. Ideally, a visitor entering your home might encounter a large mirror in the entrance, and then more mirrors occasionally throughout the home. So consider adding curved mirrors to your decor like our:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/hooker-furniture-elixir-oval-accent-mirror\/306275719-5\/iteminformation.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">Hooker Furniture Bedroom Elixir Oval Accent Mirror<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/hooker-furniture-true-vintage-shaped-mirror\/310234543-5\/iteminformation.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">Hooker Furniture True Vintage Shaped Mirror<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Or the\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/uttermost-stag-horn-round-mirror\/11556-b-751\/iteminformation.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Staghorn Round Mirror<\/a><\/span>, for manly offices, studies, or rustic spaces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Yes, feng shui principles work well with many other design styles!<\/p>\n<h3>Promote Positive Energy<\/h3>\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve defended your space with some mirrors and a curving traffic pattern, it&#8217;s time to promote positive, peaceful, prosperous energy by balancing the natural elements. Home to sea, surf, natural waterways, and greenery, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myflorida.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Florida<\/a>\u00a0makes an ideal setting for natural energies and the elements.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 3. Use the Elements of Nature to Balance Your Home or Office<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-459 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/matterbrothersfurniture.blogs.eprevue.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2020\/07\/iStock-146969336-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"3 Steps to Implement Feng Shui in Your Home or Office\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>According to the principles of feng shui, there are five primary elements in nature.\u00a0Each element is equal to the others in value. See them in your home or office as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Water<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<span class=\"spelling\">Fishbowls, aquariums,<\/span>\u00a0fountains, lush green potted plants<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wood<\/strong> \u2014 Wooden furniture, wicker furniture, picture frames, and ceiling fan blades<\/li>\n<li><strong>Earth<\/strong> \u2014 The soil in potted plants, the sand in a Zen rock garden, clay sculptures, dishes, and pottery<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fire<\/strong> \u2014 Candles, appliances with heating elements, stoves, lamps, lanterns, and fireplaces<\/li>\n<li><strong>Metal<\/strong> \u2014 Picture frames, decorative pots and pans, accessories, and appliances, even elegant and clean doorknobs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Remember, feng shui is\u00a0<em>conceptual<\/em>. We don&#8217;t need to use the physical element to make sure it&#8217;s represented. You might not want to introduce fishbowls into a home if you have cats. So a painting of a waterfall or a sculpture of a dolphin could represent the water element instead.<\/p>\n<h3>How to Balance the Elements in Your Home or Office<\/h3>\n<p>Start by looking for rooms that are completely off balance. They&#8217;ll include far too much of one element. If your home was built in the 1950s \u2014 1970s, there&#8217;s a good chance it boasts a lot of wood.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking around a room surrounded by wood paneling, plus a hardwood floor, you know what we mean.\u00a0<em>It&#8217;s too much wood!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We can&#8217;t remove the walls and floors. But you can balance the room with:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A vast\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/all\/rugs\/department-type.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">area rug<\/a>\u00a0in vivid blue or green hues to represent water.<\/li>\n<li>Accessories that represent fire, like\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/uttermost-denley-candleholder\/19792-751\/iteminformation.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">candleholders<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Stoneware vases or\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/accessories\/accessories\/department-type.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">other accessories<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Metal file cabinets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Another spot in the home that&#8217;s frequently unbalanced is the bathroom. We don&#8217;t tend to gather there or spend heaps of time in the loo. So an unbalanced bathroom isn&#8217;t a mood-wrecker. But if you&#8217;ve ever felt the urge to light some candles before your bubble bath, you&#8217;ve been seeking the balance of feng shui\u00a0<em>without even knowing it<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3>Balance the Feng Shui in Your Bathroom<\/h3>\n<p>Use the same ideas as above in your bathroom. Maybe a wood occasional table with a few candles, and stone a soap dish would balance out this small space. Whatever you do,\u00a0<strong>resist the urge to turn your Florida bathroom into an ocean!<\/strong> It doesn&#8217;t need seashells or mermaids, according to the principles of feng shui. If you lived in the desert southwest \u2014 where water is scarce \u2014 it would make more sense to push the water element. But here in Florida, we have plenty already.<\/p>\n<h2>Learn More About Implementing Feng Shui in Your Home or Office<\/h2>\n<p>Ultimately, the concepts of feng shui meld into almost every other style of interior design. Whether you prefer a rustic look, minimalism, or French country styles, you can boost your mood with these basic principles.<\/p>\n<p>Check out the rest of\u00a0our blog\u00a0for more interior design and furniture topics. If you&#8217;d like to learn more about any of the furniture or accessories we featured here, stop by one of our Florida showrooms or\u00a0contact us today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Feng shui\u00a0(pronounced &#8220;fung shway&#8221;) is a set of ancient Chinese design principles. The term feng shui translates to wind-water and has connotations of prosperity and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":301,"featured_media":458,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[86,41,44,54],"yst_prominent_words":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/301"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=457"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":581,"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457\/revisions\/581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=457"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matterbrothersfurniture.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}