7 Feng Shui Decorating Mistakes
Photo by Holly Stratton on Unsplash
While we don’t really believe in feng shui “mistakes,” there are some things we often see in people’s homes that can pose challenges. These are things that we would generally recommend avoiding, but please don’t worry if you have some of them in your home! This doesn’t mean that you’ve done something wrong or that you need to move. Instead, we encourage you to approach these “mistakes” as opportunities to be curious. You can even look at them as gifts — whether you remove, repair, or simply notice one of these challenges in your home, you’ve been given the opportunity to work with it and change the qi in your space.
Here are seven feng shui “mistakes” and how we suggest working with them:
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Blocked doors
Ideally, all of your doors should be able to open a full 90 degrees. Doors have a powerful feng shui symbolism. They represent the voices of the individuals living in the home, and they are also portals where energy moves from one space to another. Qi should be able to move smoothly throughout the home, including through doors. If you have a door that’s blocked and can’t open fully, this limits the qi and opportunities you’re able to receive. Doors are often blocked by clutter, so if that’s the case, remove any objects obstructing your door and find a new place for them or let them go.
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Trying to make a feng shui change in every bagua area
The bagua is a tool we use in feng shui that is made up of eight areas around a center, and each section represents a different area of life. If you’re not familiar with the feng shui bagua, you can download our free bagua kit. Many people want to make a feng shui change in all nine areas when they learn about the bagua, which makes sense! After all, why wouldn’t you want to work on your prosperity, health, love, career, and family life all at once? However, this isn’t the best approach because it means you are aiming for perfection, which isn’t a realistic goal. Instead, we recommend choosing one or three areas to work on. This way, you are focusing on just the aspects of your life that are most pertinent right now, and this is also much more achievable.
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Dried, dying, or sick flowers or plants
Fresh, living plants and flowers are great feng shui additions because they introduce vital qi. If your plants are dying, however, this doesn’t apply! There’s nothing wrong with caring for a plant and trying to bring it back to life, but it’s important to be honest about how it’s really doing and how it’s making you feel. If you’ve been trying for a while and the plant isn’t improving, and it makes you sad or stressed when you see it, it might be time to return the plant to the earth. Similarly, we do not recommend dried flowers. If you have preserved flowers that you love because you find them beautiful or they remind you of a special memory, that is okay, but we would not suggest using them for a feng shui purpose. To learn more about how to use plants as feng shui adjustments, listen to this podcast episode.
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Sharp, thorny, or pointy plants
If you’re using a plant as a feng shui adjustment, the general rule is to avoid sharp, pointy, or thorny leaves. This doesn’t mean you have to throw out a beloved cactus! It’s okay to have plants just because you like them, and plants with thorns or sharp leaves can also provide protection. However, most of the time we prefer plants with soft and rounded or heart-shaped leaves because they invite a softer energy, which is more supportive in most situations.
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Broken or obscured mirrors
Mirrors are very symbolic in most cultures. When you’re using mirrors for a feng shui purpose, they should be clear and unbroken. Mirrors can do many things in feng shui, and most often, we are using them to create a sense of possibility and expansiveness. They can expand your energy and allow you to see things more clearly. If your mirror is broken or cloudy, it won’t have this effect. When you’re using a mirror in feng shui, look for one that will reflect your space clearly.
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Storage under the bed
While it makes a lot of sense practically, especially in small homes where space is limited, it’s not ideal to have storage under the bed from a feng shui perspective. This applies to beds with built-in storage as well as boxes and loose storage. You spend many hours sleeping above these things, and their energy affects you. Storage under the bed can represent subconscious blocks, and it can also affect your sleep. Ideally it’s best to have nothing under your bed so that qi can flow freely around you while you’re sleeping. If you need that space for storage, stick to soft, sleep-related items like pillows and linens.
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Bed without a headboard
In feng shui, headboards provide support and allow you to feel more protected when you’re sleeping. It’s not recommended to have a bed floating in the room without something to ground it to the wall. It’s okay if you’ve made a design decision to not have a headboard, but this could also be an opportunity to shift your furnishings and see how you feel. In terms of different headboard options, the most important thing is that it should be securely fastened to the bed or up against the wall so that it doesn’t shake. Upholstered or solid wood headboards are great, and it’s best to avoid metal if you can.
As you consider which of these feng shui challenges to address in your home, remember that these are just suggestions and general advice. Everyone’s situation is unique and you can always make your own decisions. If there are certain changes we’ve suggested that you don’t plan on making, it can be helpful to notice whether this is something that really isn’t possible or practical in your space, or whether you are just feeling resistant — and then be curious about that. And remember that you can always hire a feng shui consultant if you are looking for more personalized guidance!