Feng Shui for Beginners

What is feng shui?

Feng shui, which literally means "wind-water," is the practice of arranging your surroundings to promote the natural flow of energy, especially within your home. This ancient art is centered on creating spaces that feel balanced and harmonious by adapting the way energy, or "chi," moves through your environment.

The Influence of Feng Shui in Daily Life

Have you ever felt anxious because your home was cluttered, or found yourself eagerly anticipating the comfort of your favorite cozy spot on the couch? These feelings are closely linked to feng shui. A tidy space and a welcoming atmosphere can both be signs that the energy in your home is flowing well, thanks to feng shui principles.

Everyday Signs of Feng Shui

Even the sudden urge to rearrange your furniture is a reflection of feng shui at work. When you feel compelled to move things around, you’re responding to the energy in your living space and seeking a better, more comfortable arrangement.

Getting Started with Feng Shui: The Basics

If you’re just beginning your journey with feng shui, here are three simple yet powerful ways to enhance the flow of chi, or energy, in your home right away.

1. Keep the Toilet Seat Down

Closing the toilet lid is more than just a matter of cleanliness and courtesy—it’s an important feng shui practice. Leaving the lid up allows positive energy to escape down the drain, so always keep the toilet seat and lid closed to help retain good energy within your living space. This tip isn’t just for your own home; remember to do this wherever you stay, including hotels and vacation rentals, for the best travel feng shui.

2. Place Your Bed in the Command Position

To ensure restorative sleep and a sense of security, your bed should be in what’s called the command position. This means using a solid headboard that’s placed against the wall opposite the door, so you can see the entrance without being directly in line with it. Avoid open-frame, spindle, or slatted headboards—choose something sturdy and solid.

Also, your feet should never point straight toward the door, a position known in feng shui as the “coffin position,” because it’s believed to allow energy to flow straight out of the room.

The command position is all about protecting and supporting yourself while you sleep, which is the time when you are most vulnerable during the day. Your headboard should feel supportive, and you should genuinely like or love it.

In fact, try to fill your home only with items that you enjoy—if you don’t love something, consider letting it go.

From a practical standpoint, the command position also means you wouldn’t be directly visible or accessible from the doorway, adding an extra sense of protection.

3. Clear the Clutter

Keeping your space free of clutter is one of the most impactful feng shui practices. Clutter blocks the clear flow of chi and makes it hard to feel clarity in your environment. Teaching everyone in your home, from partners to children or roommates, to keep spaces tidy sets a positive intention. Even simply deciding to start clearing clutter is an important step. Begin small—tackle clutter on a dresser or bathroom counter before moving on to other areas.

The living room is especially significant in feng shui, as it represents the entire house. Keeping this space clutter-free will have a positive effect on the whole home, making it the best place to start if you want to see meaningful change.

There are many ways to improve the energy in your home, but by starting with these three tips, you’ll already be on your way to creating a more balanced and harmonious living space.