Feng shui is an age-old Chinese aesthetic practice used in homes to create a peaceful and balanced environment. This is done through strategic placement of furniture and deliberate decoration. The method works to effectively create a healthy environment to encourage feelings of creativity, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Clean the Air

One of the core beliefs of feng shui is that having healthy air and abundant light in the home will encourage both physical and spiritual health. Open a window or two in each room, use air purifiers throughout the house, and open the curtain and blinds for a well-lit living area. Placing mirrors where the sun naturally hits walls is a common feng shui trick for spreading the light throughout a home. You can also use air purifying plants to reduce carbon dioxide and increase oxygen—bamboo palms, ivy, and Boston ferns are excellent for this. Dust can contain mites and airborne pathogens which cloud both the air and your lungs, so be sure to dust thoroughly when you start your feng shui.

Homes with an excess of clutter or junk can become negative spaces that are difficult to thrive in. Donate or sell unused books, decor, or extra furniture for rooms that have more space to create a neutral, clean environment. Clear away stacked papers or overflowing trash bins to better enable movement of both the people and the energy (Qi) in the home.

Use Vibrant Colors

Feng shui colors are vibrant and bright with different meanings that can change the energy in the home. Reds can be used to encourage fire, joy and passion in the area, while blues have a calming effect and promote peace in a room. Oranges, used to promote social activity and communication, are excellent choices for foyers and sitting rooms. Yellow, similarly, encourages cheerful interaction and the forging of friendships.

Keep Lines Clean and Furniture Simple

Minimalist and modern furniture is very feng shui-friendly, believed to allow energy to slide easily over and around it. Too many lines and decoration in a furniture piece will cause energy to crowd in one space—for dedicated practitioners of feng shui, this will negate all other efforts. Meg Carver, an interior design expert with Crowley Furniture, says that the most feng shui-appropriate furniture pieces possess flat planes and neutral colors, enabling the flow of energy and encouraging the clean, uncluttered aesthetic of the practice.

By incorporating these basics into your interior decoration, you may find you feel more at peace and refreshed in your own home. Feng shui, however, is not a static practice and must be maintained with constant attention to the feel of the decoration, the quality of the air, and the amount of light in the home.