How Do I Feng Shui My House? 8 Simple Tips To Create Peace
Feng shui (pronounced fung shway, translation: wind-water) is an ancient (over 3,000 years old) Chinese practice that focuses on balance and flow in your environment. In simple terms, it’s the art of arranging your home so that energy—called chi—moves freely, supporting your health, relationships, and peace of mind. A feng shui house doesn’t have to be complicated; it’s about making thoughtful choices that create harmony.
What is Kan Yu?
Years ago, when I owned and operated a little gift shop, I was setting up displays the way I always did—moving pieces around until everything felt calm and beautiful. A woman walked in, quietly watched for a moment, and then asked me, “Do you know what you’re doing?”
I smiled and said, “What do you mean?” She explained, “You’re practicing Kan Yu.” Kan Yu means: Ways of Heaven and Arrangements of Earth. Kan Yu, often called the root of feng shui, reflects the belief that our surroundings mirror the natural order of the universe. By aligning the “Ways of Heaven and Arrangements of Earth,” we create spaces that feel balanced, supportive, and deeply connected to nature.
At the time, I had never heard of Kan Yu or even thought of my process as feng shui. I was simply following my instincts, arranging items until the energy of the room felt balanced and the flow felt natural. It was my creative element. She nodded and said warmly, “That’s wonderful.”
That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that feng shui isn’t always about strict rules—it’s about intuition, beauty, and creating spaces where energy flows freely. I’ve always loved making a room feel peaceful and harmonious, and feng shui gave me language for what came naturally.
I wanted this post to be easy yet impactful, so I’ve outlined eight simple feng shui house tips you can start using today. Each step is designed to help you move energy freely, balance your space, and create a home that invites peace and calm.
Tip 1: Clear the Entrance
Start with your front door. In feng shui, this is known as the “mouth of chi,” where energy enters. A dark, cluttered, or blocked doorway is considered bad feng shui for a house because it prevents good energy from coming in and flowing into other parts of the house.
Ways to clear the entrance:
Cleaning – Clean and sweep the area thoroughly, removing dust, dirt, and any lingering clutter so the space feels fresh, open, and ready to welcome positive energy.
Lighting – Add soft, welcoming light to the entrance just inside your home, brightening the space so it feels open and inviting while encouraging positive energy to flow deeper into the house.
Decor – Put a small table by the door with a plant or a wooden bowl for keys. Add a neutral, natural colored doormat
Shoes – If you want shoes by your front door, find a way to conceal and store them like this shoe cabinet, this shoe cabinet, or the one showcased to the right.
Tip 2: Open Pathways
Notice how easy it is to walk through your home. If furniture makes you bump into things or clutter narrows a hallway, energy is also “bumping” and getting stuck. When placing furniture I really tune into how it makes me feel, if I place a chair and it just feels off, then I move it until it feels better.
From the point you enter a room the energy should continiously flow in an organic way to the other side of the room.
This is where feng shui furniture placement matters:
Sofas – Arrange sofas to allow the energy to flow along the front side or the back side of the sofa into the next room. Postition sofa so it feels supportive to your room and that it supports the way you live.
Chairs – Place straight or at a slight diagonal, depending on how the energy moves through the space, creating a sense of conversation and openness.
Tables – Arranged so movement feels effortless; you should be able to walk around them from every angle without bumping into edges or feeling blocked.
Decor – Place a small table by the door with a simple touch, like a potted plant or a wooden bowl to catch keys, and ground the space with a neutral, natural-colored doormat that sets a calm, welcoming tone as you enter.
Avoid pushing all furniture tightly against the walls—pulling pieces slightly forward creates balance and flow.
Tip 3: Balance the Bedroom
The bedroom is one of the most important areas to consider in feng shui, because it directly affects your rest, health, and relationships. This space should feel like a sanctuary—a place where your mind and body can fully recharge.
Small shifts in layout and design can dramatically improve the energy flow, creating an environment that supports deep sleep and a sense of peace.
Ways to feng shui your bedroom:
Limit Electronics – Televisions, laptops, and phones bring active energy into a space that should feel restful. They calso emit light and can disturb sleep quality.
Keep Clutter Out – Especially under the bed. Energy needs to circulate freely, and storage under the bed can create restlessness.
Choose Calming Colors – Soft, natural tones (earthy neutrals, gentle blues, greens, or blushes) support relaxation better than bold or overly bright colors.
Balance the Bed – Ideally, have nightstands or small tables on both sides of the bed for stability and equality in relationships. Place the bed in a “commanding position,” meaning you can see the door but aren’t directly in line with it.
Use Soft Lighting – Lamps or dimmers are better than harsh overhead lights. Warm light creates a soothing atmosphere.
Artwork Matters – Hang artwork that feels peaceful or uplifting, avoiding images that feel chaotic, lonely, or aggressive.
Limit Mirrors – Mirrors that reflect hte bed are best avoided. Also, too many mirrors can bounce energy around and disrupt calmness.
Bring in Nature – A small plant, wooden accents, or natural fabrics can help ground the room without overwhelming it.
Tip 4: Use the Elements
A feng shui house feels balanced when the five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—are present. You don’t need all of them in every room, but weaving them into your space creates harmony.
Here are a few ways you can add the five elements into your home:
Wood – Wooden accents for growth can be introduced through furniture, picture frames, or even a simple wooden bowl, bringing stability, vitality, and a natural grounding energy into the room.
Fire – Candles for fire, and even soft ambient lighting like lanterns or a glowing salt lamp, add warmth, vitality, and gentle energy that uplifts the atmosphere without overwhelming it.
Earth – Ceramics or pottery, paired with living plants, represent the earth element in feng shui, grounding the room and improving stability while also enhancing air quality and natural balance.
Metal – Metal elements—such as picture frames, bowls, or metallic accents—bring clarity, focus, and precision to a space, helping to sharpen the energy and support mental clarity.
Water – Water fountains are one of the most popular feng shui examples for inviting flow, abundance, and fresh energy into your home.
Tip 5: Notice What to Avoid
Certain objects and arrangements can block energy or even create stress without you realizing it. In feng shui, these are called “poison arrows”—things that point harsh energy into your space and make it feel heavy or unsettled.
Things to avoid:
Broken or Damaged Objects – These types of objects hold stagnant energy and should be repaired or removed.
Dead or Dying Plants – Replace them with healthy greenery to bring fresh life into the room.
Clutter – When you have a cluttered house, energy is blocked and trapped. This keeps energy from circulating. Once clutter is removed, you will feel a huge difference.
Sharp Edges – If you can remove objects with sharp edges, this is best, especially if it’s an edge pointed at you when you enter a room. If you can’t remove the sharp edges, soften them with textiles, plants, or lighting. Placing these items near the sharp edge helps diffuse the harshness and redirect the energy flow.
Tip 6: Add Simple Enhancements
Sometimes the easiest way to feel the benefits of feng shui is through small, practical changes. You don’t have to redesign your entire home—just a few thoughtful adjustments can improve energy flow and make your space feel lighter and more connected.
Simple feng shui additions:
Mirrors – Hang mirrors (except for bedrooms) to reflect natural light and make a room feel bigger, brighter, and more spacious.
Plants – Place healthy, thriving plants throughout your home to purify the air, bring in fresh, positive energy, and create a natural sense of balance in every room.
Rugs – Use rugs throughout your home to anchor furniture, define spaces, and create stability. In gathering areas like the dining room or living room, rugs also strengthen family connection and make the space feel grounded.
Lighting – Use layered, soft lighting throughout your home to brighten dark corners, encourage energy flow, and create balance. Natural light by day and warm lamps by night help every room feel open and inviting.
Use round tables or decor to soften sharp edges and reduce tension.
Tip 7: Keep It Grounded
Some people ask, “Is feng shui real?” While it began as an ancient Chinese philosophy, modern research shows that well-lit, clutter-free, and thoughtfully organized spaces can lower stress and improve mood.
To keep your space grounded, try these feng shui practices:
Choose Solid, Supportive Furniture – Heavy, stable pieces like wooden tables or sturdy bed frames help anchor a room.
Use Natural Materials – Incorporate stone, clay, wood, or cotton to connect your home to the earth element.
Keep the Floor Clear – Avoid clutter piles; open floor space allows energy to settle evenly.
Balance Vertical and Horizontal Elements – Tall plants or bookshelves draw energy upward, while wide furniture balances it at ground level.
Tip 8: Use Neutral Colors
Color plays a powerful role in feng shui, shaping the mood and energy of your home. While bright or bold colors can sometimes feel overwhelming or disruptive, neutral and natural tones create a sense of balance, calm, and flow.
Using neutral colors in a feng shui home:
Earthy Tones – choose earthy tones and different shades of beige, sand, taupe, clay, green, brown to create stability. I used to have a hard time with beige back when I decorated with gray and black. Now, I totally get it. Natural earthy tones are calming and peaceful.
Soft Whites and Creams – Add whites and creams in with earthy tones for openness and clarity. This gives you a great color pallette for your whole house so it feels cohesive.
Layer Natural Textures – Such as linen, jute, or wool to add warmth without bold color.
Avoid Bright or Neon Shades – These colors can easily overstimulate and disrupt energy flow.
The Takeaway
Learning how to feng shui your house doesn’t mean following strict rules. Feng shui is about observing how your home feels, making small adjustments, and noticing the difference.
Clear your entry, open pathways, balance your bedroom, and avoid clutter—and you’ll feel the shift toward a more peaceful, supportive home.
Let Us Know
Have you used feng shui in your home? Share your experience and tips in the comments below—I’d love to hear how it turned out for you!
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