Feng Shui Home Staging

For a faster, more profitable home sale

Applying feng shui home staging basics to your home before you place it on the real estate market can bring positive and harmonious energy to those who enter.

The goal of feng shui is to allow "qi," (pronounced "chi") or positive energy to create a balanced environment in your home.

Feng shui and home staging have similar things in common, like decluttering, cleaning, depersonalizing and repair.

Feng shui experts believe that clutter blocks the flow of good energy.

Simple changes in the selection and placement of furniture, accessories, and the use of color can improve the flow of energy and the way people feel as they enter your home.

I became interested in feng shui when I worked as a real estate agent. I showed a house to a couple who were looking for a home with good feng shui.

I was intrigued by their comments as we walked through the house, discussing the pros and cons and was compelled to learn more about it.

What is feng shui?

Feng shui ("fung shway") is an ancient Chinese design practice of arranging the spaces around us. Properly arranged, they can bring you happiness, good health and prosperity. 

Feng shui is a complicated practice with so many different elements that require years of training to master. This page barely scratches the surface and I am certainly no expert. 

Translated, Feng shui means  “wind" (feng) and "water" (shui). Feng shui enhances well-being by rearranging how "Chi," (energy), flows through a home.

According to feng shui, objects and spaces have different energies that affect each other in various ways. The objects you bring into your home are believed to have positive or negative energies.

The goal of feng shui is to balance these energies to create an atmosphere that aligns with your ambitions and dreams. Proper feng shui will promote prosperity, good health, creativity, respect, good social relationships and self-confidence.

Most of us have heard of "yin" and "yang." Polarity refers to the male (yang) and female (yin) energy in a room. Your goal is to balance the yin and yang in your home.

Yin qualities are female, soft, passive, motherly and dark, while yang qualities are male, hard, exertive and bright. The goal is to balance the dark and light, hard and soft, curvy and straight, even geometric and floral patterns when putting together your feng shui home design. Sounds a lot like interior design, doesn't it?

Attaining your goals will just seem easier when energy is allowed to flow freely and focus where you need it. When energy is blocked, life just feels harder. 

For quick feng shui tips for your home, watch the video below by Morris Design.

The four feng shui elements

The feng shui elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. A basic understanding of these elements and how to use them can bring more positive energy to your life.

A balance between the yang elements, (earth and fire), and the yin elements, (water and metal) will help you to achieve a more harmonious life. 

• Wood - is considered the originator of all new life and growth. Wood is a symbol of health, enlargement and creativity. Wood flooring and furniture is acceptable, live wood is preferred. Bring life to your home by incorporating shades of green and live plants. 

• Fire - contains more energy than the other elements. The fire element works well in a room that lacks energy, but use it sparingly. Fire is a strong element associated with passion, success, and action. Like fire, too much of this element can cause damage in your life. The color red is related to the fire element. An interesting aside; the color red can agitate some people. On the other hand, note how successful men prefer wearing red ties. 

• Earth - Earth elements have a grounding energy that delivers peace, stability, and safety. It brings security in business and relationships. Examples are; terracotta, clay, marble and granite. A home staging basic, neutral colors, or earth tones used in your home decor will bring you serenity.

• Metal - is related to earth, but contains less energy because it's malleable and liquid. Not surprisingly, the metal element is associated with wealth, especially gold and silver tones. Metal brings clarity, focus, good health, even love.  Employ metal elements in your home decor in fabric colors, accessories, and artwork. If you're home staging, strive for a cohesive look by using the same metal finishes in a room.

• Water- (the most ‘yin’) is highly prized because of it's fluid and changeable attributes. Water is associated with purification, cleansing, good fortune and  abundance. Bring the water element inside with pictures of calm water scenes, color spots of blue, water features, and curvy features. 

Feng shui home staging steps

 Following are some BASIC tips to get you started on your feng shui home staging.

Decluttering

Clutter is a deep and perplexing energy that can drain your mental and physical health. We are all familiar with the illness of hoarding. It can start by letting clutter get out of control.

Clutter keeps you from doing the things you desire-- you want to get it under control, but don't have the energy or know how to start.

Most of us have corralled clutter to just a few areas; tucked away in closets, boxes in the attic, or a spare room where we throw things in and quickly shut the door.

There are people who have never parked their car in the garage because it's being used for storage. Moving the clutter to another space won't keep it from preying on your mind either. It'll just prevent you from moving on.

Like home staging, feng shui recommends that you declutter, depersonalize, clean and repair. Decluttering and ridding yourself of items you have been clinging to for years will help clear the bad energy from your life and move you in a positive direction.

You'll find that once you have a system in place, the process will go much easier. And the positive relief and energy surge that follows will simply amaze you, even if you only declutter for 15 minutes a day. 

Items that hold bad memories should definitely be tossed or given away. Hold onto only those items that make you happy.

Clean your house!

After decluttering, you'll need to clean every part of the house. This includes the inside of closets, cabinets and drawers, spider webs on the ceiling, light fixtures, etc.

Once clean, you may notice areas where repairs are needed. If you're trying to sell your home, now is the time to repair or replace anything that is damaged. This will keep buyers from negotiating the price of your house down. 

To bring more good energy into the house, start moving your stuff out to make room for the new owner's stuff. The great thing about decluttering it that it also gives you a head start on your own packing.

After decluttering, cleaning and repairing, you should move on to the depersonalizing part of your plan. Once you have accomplished all these steps, you're ready to move on to feng shui home staging. 

Feng shui tips for color

For more information on what color combinations work best, consult this Feng Shui Color Guide.

The front door and entry

Feng shui the front door

The front entry is one of the most important areas of the home. Feng shui home design begins at the entrance, because a house absorbs its main energy nourishment through this door. The front door is called the “mouth of qi” because this is where energy and qi enters a home. 

To start, clear any trees or bushes that block the windows at the front of the house. Create an inviting path to entice buyers up to the front door.

Make your front door welcoming by painting it a color that contrasts with the rest of the house.

Place round leafed plants and flowers on each side of the door, as sharp leaved plants can feel unwelcoming to visitors.

Keep the porch and entry spotless and don't forget to turn on the porch lights for night viewings to welcome viewers. Add a new welcome mat to the entry as well.

Feng shui tip: Engage buyer's senses at the door by hanging a wind chime on the front right corner of your house. This is the buyer's area of the home. Or place a relaxing gurgling water feature near the main entry.

Feng shui the front entry

Good feng shui in the foyer should welcome and direct the flow of energy into the house rather than push it away or weaken it. The front entry is typically the "first impression" room. 

A first impression room should "wow" buyers, so they'll want to see the rest of your home.

Because energy comes through doors, keep entries free of clutter and furniture that could interrupt the flow of energy.

For a small entry, place a brightly colored rug in on the floor. Colorful art or a strong wall color can also serve as a focal point.

If the first room off the entry is a bathroom, be sure to keep the door shut. The sight of a open toilet is taboo in modern feng shui and home staging. 

A mirror that faces the front door is considered bad design in feng shui, because a mirror reflecting the front door pushes energy away instead of welcoming it into the home.

Home stagers love using mirrors because they expand space and reflect light, making a small space appear larger. Move the mirror to another wall facing a different direction. 

Avoid hanging two large mirrors facing each other. In feng shui this creates a vortex of energy between the two that is very combative and stuck. And why would your place a mirror to reflect another mirror anyway?

Feng shui home staging in the kitchen

If you have a perfect "work triangle," (oven-sink-fridge) then your kitchen already has the right balance between the two competing elements of fire and water.

The most important thing you can do in the kitchen when selling your house, is to keep it spotlessly clean and clutter-free.

Keep counter-tops clear and be sure to declutter the inside of drawers and cabinets, because home buyers WILL look inside to see if there's enough room for their things.

Remove everything inside the kitchen cabinets and drawers, returning only half. This is a home staging tip that makes your cupboards look more spacious inside. 

Stage kitchen countertops with decorative items, a bowl of fruit, a vase of flowers, or a live plant. 

In feng shui, food signifies wealth and abundance. This is why you so often see a bowl of fruit in feng shui kitchens, especially oranges.

Oranges are valued for their color and shape. Lemons, limes, or a bowl of bright red apples are good items to display in the feng shui kitchen, as well.

Create a vignette on the counter or kitchen island using a bottle of wine and lovely wine glasses; perhaps a small wood breadboard (without the knife!) accompanied by a rustic loaf of bread and a pot of jam.

• The earth color yellow is a good feng shui color choice for the kitchen; not only will it lift your spirits, it is also considered good for digestion. Other good color selections are white, brown, and red.

• Avoid using water element colors of black and blue in the kitchen. These colors will suppress the fire element.

• To avoid negative feng shui, stash away sharp items, like knives and other implements used for cutting. 

• Hang a large mirror in the dining room to reflect the food. Remember, food denotes wealth and abundance.

• Create good scents in your home with cinnamon and pine.

• Anything associated with cleaning or waste, like brooms, mops, and especially a garbage can, should be tucked away out of sight. These things contain negative energy, and if stored in sight, will deplete energy from a room.

Feng shui home staging in the bathroom

Above all, keep the bathroom sparkling clean and organized. A messy and unorganized bathroom will only compound any negative energy.

Keep daily use items, like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc., out of sight. 

According to modern feng shui, toilets and drains can suck energy out of a room, so keep toilet lids down and bathroom doors shut.

We all love the "spa-like" look in a bathroom. It makes us feel relaxed, rejuvenated and pampered. You can't go wrong with whites and pale neutrals.

Look to nature for bathroom decorating ideas; accessorize the bathroom with objects from the earth; a bowl of seashells, driftwood, loofahs, and a live plant.

Roll fresh white towels and place in a basket. Use unscented candles to create a soothing atmosphere.

Avoid decorating the bathroom with strong water elements, such as pictures of waterfalls or turbulent ocean scenes. There is already a strong water element in the bathroom.

Don't use black and blue colors, as they'll bolster the energy you need to keep under control. 

Feng shui home staging in the bedroom

The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in feng shui, because of all the time we spend there. While we sleep, we are relaxed and open to energy flowing around us.

• Because the bedroom is a place for healing and relaxation, avoid artwork with violent themes and aggressive energy which can sap the energy you need for healing.

• Color is important; for walls, select soothing neutral colors, from white to chocolate brown, pale greens and blues. For a little romance in your life, place red roses near the bed.

• Remove electronics, exercise equipment, and/or an office desk in the bedroom, as they represent the wrong kind of energy needed for sleep. 

• Place two nightstands with matching lamps on each side of the bed; they don't have to match perfectly, but should be close in scale. The goal is to match each side of the bed. One nightstand can have a masculine energy while the other is feminine, depending on how you choose to accessorize them.

• A mirror shouldn't face the bed.

• Place the bed against a solid wall, never under a window. There is too much chi flowing in and out of windows, causing too much energy for a restful sleep.

• Avoid placing your bed where it faces a door or toilet. 

• Don't sleep on the floor or close to the floor in a low bedframe. Good feng shui requires a bed elevated off the floor for good energy flow.

• The preferred feng shui headboard is solid wood or upholstered fabric. With an upholstered headboard, you will be combining complementary energies of strength (wood) and softness (fabric).

• The mattress should be comfortable and the bed linens of quality fabric.

• Place your bed in the "command position." This is one of the most important principles in feng shui, as it determines how you can position yourself in life. When you're in the command position, you're in control of your life and open to positive energy.

• In this position you can see the door while lying in bed, but you're not in a direct line with the doorway. Beds in line with the doorway are considered to be in the "coffin position."

• According to feng shui principles, a bed lined up with the door resembles the way a person lies in a coffin, with feet taken away first, not a restful thought! Doors are energy connectors and if your bed is in line with the door, your energy will be pulled and weakened.

• Open the windows to allow oxygen and fresh air in while you sleep. Bring plants into the room for good health.

• The best feng shui lighting for the bedroom at night is candlelight. Or, dim the lights for a similar feeling.

Feng shui furniture

• Furniture with sharp edges or angles can cut energy. Open shelving and book cases too; it's believed that sharp corners can act like knifes. Corners can be softened by placing plants with round leaves at the corners.

• Large pieces of furniture, like beds, armoires, sofas, etc., should be placed against a solid wall. 

• Round, curved edges are preferred because they allow energy to flow more freely. Simplicity is desired above ornate, fussy furniture.

• Never allow the back of a sofa to face the entrance of a room. This is unwelcoming and bounces energy from the room. Instead, face the sofa toward the entrance. 

• In feng shui home design, it's considered wrong to place the back of furniture to a window or door, as it exposes one to possible attack through these portals.

• If you can't avoid positioning the back of the sofa to the entry, soften the energy by placing a long sofa table behind it and accessorizing with round leafed plants.

Feng Shui Lighting

Indoor and outdoor lighting contains energy that we have the ability to control. We can soften or activate it according to our particular needs.

Why live with harsh and ugly florescent lighting in our homes?

It should come as no surprise to learn that fluorescent lighting is just plain, bad feng shui. It's extremely unflattering and has been known to cause fatigue, headaches, and feelings of isolation and depression.

If you can't replace your florescent light fixtures, swap out your bulbs with "happy" lightbulbs from "Verilux."

A Verilux bulb produces a glare-free, flicker-free, instant-on, bright white light that shows true colors, eases eyestrain, and saves money. 

Natural light is considered the most preferred form of indoor lighting for home staging and feng shui. Opening curtains and drapes will infuse the indoors with wonderful light.

For harsh overhead lighting, place pairs of table or floor lamps around a room to create different levels of lighting. Balance is important in feng shui and that applies to lighting too.

Place outdoor lighting along a path leading to your front door to entice night time viewers to your home.

More feng shui home staging tips

• Create more open spaces in your home. Feng shuists believe that spaces allow positive energy to flow freely.

• Mirrors should not face chairs or beds. Place mirrors to reflect the outdoors.

• Display attractive hardcover books, because books represent education.

• Windows should face only pleasing, natural views if possible. Of course, we know that isn't realistic unless you build your own house. That's what window treatments are for! Filter out an unfortunate view with proper window treatments.

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This page updated 7-30-2022