In this post, I wanted to highlight the 4 main areas that need to be particularly spotless for a Feng Shui-approved home:
Porch, front door and entryway:
A home attracts its Chi (good or bad life energy) through the front door. That's why the front door area is probably the most important spot to get right in Feng Shui. If you have a front door that is clean, vibrant and welcoming, the better the quality of the Chi for the residents. A clean porch and a neat and decluttered front entrance will attract the right kind of Chi. I decided to paint my front door a bright orange (as we have a low roof above the porch) in order to attract vibrant Chi. In addition, this color never looks dirty or old.
Decorate your entrance according to the element corresponding with the gua it's in. For example, a yellow house front door might be suitable for an entrance located in the North East. An apartment with a front door in the career could benefit from a black or dark blue front door... Take my short bagua course if you would like to know in which Feng Shui gua your front door is located.
Lighting should be adequate so that your porch or front door stands out. It is also important that the house number be very visible from the street or in case you live in an apt, your apartment number should be visible from the hallway. Treat “chi” like a guest who is searching their way to your home.
No clutter should be near the front door (no shoes, no old planters, no gardening tools, no umbrellas). If you must keep shoes or umbrellas outside, you can install a shoe bench that hides the shoes completely or display an attractive umbrella bucket. Have a console outside if possible where you display a few potted plants and other attractive objects you would like to keep there.
The entryway is the second most important space in our home right after the front door. In Feng shui, we call the entryway and the front door "the mouth of Chi". Through the mouth of Chi do we get our energy (similar to the breath we get through our nostrils and airways).
If your front door opens straight into the living room and you don't have a hallway, I always recommend creating a space that retains the energy and prevents it from entering your home too fast. This might be achieved with a low bookshelf, an area rug, or a round console table with flowers on it. Always keep the home entrance very clean.
In Feng Shui, the entryway gives a taste for the rest of the house so make sure it flows and looks good and that guests know where they are expected to go.
An old Chinese tradition is to sweep your entryway daily with a broom, but I use instead a strong and efficient vacuum I love.
The Stove
In Feng Shui, the kitchen could be compared to the "heart" of the home as it is where a home's warmth comes from. A kitchen should not feel cold or have "cutting" energy as we sometimes see in modern design . It should be cozy and inviting.
But the stove is the appliance that needs daily attention from you. A stove gets dirty every day (if you use it daily, of course) and being a symbol of prosperity, it needs to be spotless. But just as it is important to clean it daily, it is supremely important to cook daily meals on it in order to attract abundance. Even if it’s just a simple porridge in the morning or boiling water for tea at night, I recommend using the stove. Of course, it’s even better if you cook daily meals on it as well and share them sitting down at the dinner table with family or close friends, another symbol of abundance.
All windows and mirrors
Clean all your house mirrors and windows for clarity of mind and prosperity.
Think of doing it every couple of days or at least every week if you have kids and pets or live in a dusty or rainy area. I know it’s a lot but the satisfaction that comes with cleaning a mirror or window is just sublime. Doing this provides the brain with a burst of dopamine (a healthy version of getting likes on Instagram)
The Center of the Home
Finally, the center of the home is where the Chi gets harmoniously distributed (or not). Pay attention to the center and vacuum and tidy up the space daily. No clutter is allowed in the center as it literally destroys any attempts the Chi has at providing energy to the different Guas (this is a link to my ebook which gives you all the steps necessary to create balance and peace in your home).
The best way to purify your space is still to smudge it (watch my short video) or place a salt water cure in your home.
Many blessings,
Marianne