Feng Shui is about locating yourselves in the best place in your environment, the place that enables us to take advantage of all the forces, both seen and unseen, that can benefit us.

By harmonising our living spaces through our feng shui furniture arrangement tips and feng shui office setup along with natural laws, we stand to reap great rewards in improved well-being, better health, deeper and more meaningful relationships greater success in our careers, increased wealth and more consistency and stability in life giving us greater peace of mind.

While the study of feng shui is, in its entirety, rather complex to say the least, there are general principals that you can apply in your home, office and surrounding landscape that will aid in harmonising your environment.

We have listed some of the top feng shui free hints and tips in the following sections:

• Feng Shui Compass reading
• Feng Shui Office relocation
• Feng Shui for Hombebuyers
• Feng Shui and Fountains
• Feng Shui and Numbers
• Feng Shui and Cleansing
• Incense Burning tips
• Guide to Selecting A Feng Shui Consultant
• Feng Shui and your External Environment
• Feng Shui and Water
• Feng Shui in the Kitchen
• Feng Shui in the Office
• Feng Shui in the Home
• Feng Shui in the Bedroom
• Design a Feng Shui Nursery

If you would like a professional opinion on how to improve the Feng Shui in your life we recommend contacting a qualified feng shui consultant

How to design a feng shui nursery is a good question. Bringing a newborn into this world is considered to be one of the most important events in our lives.

But... where do you start to design a feng shui nursery? And there are the obvious standard requirements such as cleanliness, comfort, good ventilation, removing any sharp objects from the nursery etc… And then there is the décor - feng shui room colors. The theme is something that should come from your heart – it is like a gift from you to your little one.

You can even gift a feng shui good luck symbol. However, the effectiveness of feng shui in your baby’s bedroom is dependant on the nursery’s location in the home and in direct relationship to the year the home was built. Feng Shui in the nursery will also be affected by the exact degree of the homes orientation. However, this requires a feng shui expert or at least some classical feng shui lessons.

Nonetheless, there are still some 'form' considerations that are supportive in creating good Feng Shui in the bedroom if followed correctly.

design a feng shui nursery tip #1.) Place the head of the crib up against a solid wall. This limits the level of movement around this area and therefore provides support and stability whilst sleeping.
 
design a feng shui nursery tip #2.) Remove all mirrors from the nursery. If you cannot do this then…help your baby by covering it with a thick dense fabric or screen.

design a feng shui nursery tip #3.) Ensure that the external electrical box is not located on the same wall as the head of the baby’s crib.

design a feng shui nursery tip #4.) It is important to not have your bed resting under an overhanging beam. The closeness and largeness of the beam – the stronger its negative influence will be felt. It would serve you best to simply move the crib in this instance.

design a feng shui nursery tip #5.) Avoid placing the foot of the crib in direct alignment with the door/entry point to the nursery. This creates a rush of energy towards your baby and hence can bring about disturbed sleeping patterns. 

design a feng shui nursery #6.) Ensure that your baby’s bedroom is not opposite a T-junction. If moving to another room is out of the question, then a ‘special shield’ can be used to reduce the impact.

Click here for the full article on "design a feng shui nursery".

The most important part of a Feng Shui consultation is the Compass reading and an authentic, quality compass is indispensable. Without one you cannot practice traditional Feng Shui.

Taking a compass reading may look easy and certainly appear so on the surface, but it is not necessarily so. It takes practice to obtain an accurate reading and if you are consulting you must be accurate at this point otherwise your assessment and all your recommendations could be wrong. Accuracy is of paramount importance and cannot be compromised.

Feng Shui Compass reading tip #1.) Ensure that you purchase a quality Chinese Compass called the ‘Lo Pan’. There are many cheap versions for sale, however, these are better served as decorative objects – especially if you consider accuracy as being important. One of the better ones you will find available is Master Lo’s - Lo Pan. This one also includes some Western characters for easier reading without compromising the classical information required.

Feng Shui Compass reading tip #2.) Centre yourself. So very often I have seen the sensitive needle of a quality compass moving frantically when being used by a nervous student.

Feng Shui Compass reading tip #3.) Determine the front of the building and stand at a distance facing the home and holding the Lo Pan horizontally. Use the red nylon line of the compass to line your compass at 90degrees with the home. At this point, take notice of where you are standing and avoid being near electrical power, magnetic rocks and large pools of water.

Feng Shui Compass reading tip #4.) Focus on the magnetic needle in the centre (the heavens pool) and turn the circular plate until the magnetic needle and the thin red line at the bottom are in total alignment. The head of the needle should be resting above the 2 red dots of the red thin line.

Feng Shui Compass reading tip #5.) The degree that the red nylon line is resting on – closest to your body represents the exact degree of orientation. Now you can begin to plot the energy grid for your home or business.

Relocating your business premises can be a tricky situation. Apart from having specific commercial needs that are completely relevant to the industry you operate in, there are also questions of how to ensure that you attract Prosperous Feng Shui.

Feng Shui and Office Relocation tip #1.) Determining the history of the previous businesses to operate within this office environment is a worthwhile procedure. Find out if the businesses were successful and have moved to larger premises. Or…..did they suffer from disharmony with a high staff turnover or, just simply did not make enough money.

Feng Shui and Office Relocation tip #2.) Are there any ‘poison arrows’ or ‘sha chi’ directed at your premises? These usually come in the form of sharp points such as the corners of other buildings pointing directly towards the front door and management offices bringing with them a troubling influence. In these situations a Ba Gua or Temple Lions may help to minimize this influence.

Feng Shui and Office Relocation tip #3.) Avoid too many irregular or odd shaped offices within the complex that you are considering. Whilst they may be appealing in some ways they are not conducive to generating good, stable chi/energy.

Feng Shui and Office Relocation tip #4.) Shun offices with a complete open plan. In some modern offices the open plan scenario (and with certain conditions this can be auspicious) goes too far. It is vital that closed office space is available to some key people within the organisation.

"choosing a home and neighborhood feng shui" can be a tricky situation and so very often I am asked – “what do we look for”. Apart from having specific family needs there is also the question of whether the new home in question will surely bring with it - good Feng Shui.

Feng Shui for Homebuyers tip #1.) Find out the history of the previous occupants. If this home has repeatedly produced similar difficulties for the various occupants then you will know that there is a strong possibility that you could receive the same influence unless of course……. you are able to make major changes. So, do your homework and check the list of previous owners by talking to your Real Estate agent and prospective neighbours.

Feng Shui for Homebuyers tip #2.) Assess the external environment. Is it supported by the ‘Form School’ principles of goof Feng Shui? Do you see the black Tortoise behind you? This can be a mountain, another house, a row of trees, a building, a tall dense fence - anything that is considered support at the rear.

Is the green Dragon to the left? (Standing at the doorway looking towards the road) this can be another house, tree or even another fence line. Do you have a Tiger to the right (standing at the doorway looking towards the road) this is usually a smaller home or row of trees.

And, lastly, do you have a phoenix to the front? This is usually considered to be an open space at the front of your home with a small mountain in the distance. This can be your front garden, a park or lake. This ideal land formation gives you support and protection – a good foundation from which to create a more successful home.

Read more about Form or Landscape school Feng Shui.

Feng Shui for Homebuyers tip #3.) Soak in the atmosphere surrounding the home. Good energy will usually bring with it rich soil, healthy flora and local fauna.

Feng Shui for Homebuyers tip #4.) Avoid long narrow paths, driveways and particularly roads leading directly to your front door or bedroom. Also, it is best to steer clear of homes that are overwhelmed by their neighbours presence or another homes sharp edges. Whilst it is best to avoid this formation, if you don’t have any other choice then perhaps it would be worthwhile to use a Ba Gua or a Kirin which will help to minimize the influence of this configuration.

Feng Shui for Homebuyers tip #5.) I often suggest that you avoid buying homes with large swimming pools, rivers and water falls/fountains in the back garden. Whilst these can provide the final touch to a home and even evoke a sense of serenity – if they are not well placed then they can create havoc. Once you have purchased a home then your consultant can assist you in determining the most auspicious location for your pool or water feature. Read more about Water and Feng Shui.

Feng Shui for Homebuyers tip #6.) Avoid homes that have energy leakage. One of the most common forms of this are homes that have the front door directly opposite the back door as in the case of most homes built in the Federation period. If you must have this type of home then ensure that you are able to counter this issue by adding a door in the appropriate position.

Active or moving water as in the case of feng shui water fountains and feng shui fish tank are used to activate a prosperous energy. Contrary to some information, moving water is primarily used to stimulate and promote additional energy towards the financial aspect of your life. Therefore, good feng shui and water placement is vital.

Traditionally, to encourage wealth a feng shui aquarium fish tank was used. However, today one of the simplest ways is.... to introduce feng shui water fountains that appeal to your taste.

Another positive effect of feng shui and water fountains, is that flowing or moving water also increases negative ions in the air and so can counter the negative effects of positive ions that accumulate due to pollution.

Fish Tanks or Fountains all have the same effect as it is the constant movement that is required along with the element of Water. So choose one that suits you.

feng shui and water placement tip #1.) The most important step is to determine the location of your prosperity position within your home or office. If you are uncertain use the services of a qualified feng shui consultant – sometimes we all need a little help.

feng shui and water placement tip #2.) Choose quality feng shui indoor water fountains. Apart from facing the prospect of replacing a cheap version quickly, there are also the concerns of noise and water spillage to consider - both of which can be irritating rather than soothing. So, ensure that you take your time and choose wisely.

feng shui and water placement tip #3.) Clean your feng shui water fountains regularly. As with anything else that is important to you – take care of it.

With the acceptance of numerology and the strong devotion to numerical symbols by some over millennia it isn’t any wonder that there is so much concern raised over the influence that a particular number can evoke. Telephone numbers and car number plates are the two that generate most attempts at control and to a lesser extent house numbers.

One of the reasons some numbers are considered lucky and others unlucky is because the way the number sounds when spoken amongst the Cantonese. However, in real Feng Shui terms they may have the reverse implication.

Feng Shui and Numbers tip #1.) The most commonly questioned number is Four. The dislike for this number is derived from its pronunciation. When spoken in Cantonese it sounds similar to the word for death. And…….this would be like an English speaking person giving their address to a friend as living at number death. So, it is understandable that it is not a favoured numeral. However, in classical Feng Shui terms it is associated with ‘sex and romance’.

Feng Shui and Numbers tip #2.) The number most commonly considered to be auspicious is the number Eight. One of the reasons it is so favoured is because in Chinese it sounds similar to the word describing prosperity and abundance – ‘faat’. As well as this, for the past forty years, in classical Feng Shui terms it has been the number associated with prosperity and…..until 2024 it is considered to be the influence of constant and‘current prosperity’.

Feng Shui and Numbers tip #3.) The number Nine is also considered to be a prosperous number in classical Feng Shui. This is considered to generate the influence of unexpected money.

Feng Shui and Numbers tip #4.) Lastly, the number Five is considered to be an unfortunate number in classical Feng Shui. This is considered to generate the influence of difficulties and obstacles. If I were to avoid any particular number – this one would be it. If you know where this is located then minimise its influence by placing an all metal Wind Chime or 5 element Pagoda in that area.

Feng Shui and Numbers tip #5.) What about a string of numbers? In Feng Shui and unlike numerology we do not add them together. We consider that the last number holds the strength and main influence. For example; 48 – some people suggest that this is highly inauspicious in that it includes a Four and when added together through the system of numerology it reduces to a single digit of Four. However, in Feng Shui terms it is considered to be an okay number. The eight is in the last position.

Feng Shui and Numbers tip #6.) Finally - one of the strings of numbers considered to be most auspicious is 168. This is because it sounds like the words of ‘everyday prosperity’.

Whilst Feng Shui is not Cleansing, many of us have experienced unexplained feelings of negativity either through direct contact with a person, place, or thing.
Within our homes and workplaces the residual energies of our positive and negative experiences linger. If we reside in an old home, then the residual energies of previous inhabitants are co-mingled with our own energies.

Through arguments or tragic events, destructive negative emotions are released. Over the years these energies continue to escalate and accumulate with a compounding effect. Often, people respond to these energies within a dwelling without realizing it.  They may experience headaches, tension, sadness, & other negative emotions associated with the pattern within the building.

We can affect the subtle energies around us and in our living environments by cleansing.

To restore the harmony and balance within the home or office, there are a few techniques that have been known through the ages to calm the negative energies, to assist them in their dissipation, and to introduce brighter energies within the environment.

Cleansing tip #1.) Smudgesticks in particular have been used by traditional cultures to cleanse and clear an area, be it a home, a room within a home, or an office.

When cleansing; keep the windows and doors closed to the room you have chosen to smudge. Gently waft the smoke from the floor up toward the ceiling making sure to reach the corners and behind the door. At the same time focus your thoughts on clearing negative energy so that joy, love prosperity and/or healing may enter this space. Placing your intention is a crucial part of this process.

Cleansing tip #2.) The use of incense or smudge sticks can be enhanced by the use of Tibetan Cymbals, which are often used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals for clearing & cleansing  environments, so that the room is once more ‘open’ & harmonious and able to welcome beneficial energies to create a more happy and successful place.

Cleansing tip #3.) To help retain this clear environment use the appropriate Feng Shui symbolism. For example the Dragon or the Fu Dogs for protection, or Deities to draw in the specific influences or vibration you wish to create - Love, wealth, health or abundance.

The word "perfume" comes from the Latin per meaning "through" and fumus meaning "smoke", signifying the origin of all perfumery and, of course, this includes incense.

Incense has for centuries, been used for religious ceremonies in both Western and Eastern cultures. Depending on the aromatic influence of the incense it is also used for many other purposes.

Sandalwood is known to aid in reducing nervous tension and to have an overall calming, mellowing effect. Over the centuries it has been widely used to aid in your meditation practice.

It is often used to cleanse any given environment so as to raise the energetic vibration within the atmosphere. For this reason, it is also used as an aid to meditation practices.

Amber is a passionate, warm and smooth scent, giving a deep lustrous fragrance that so many people love.

Amber is reputed to inspire success and good fortune within the environment that it is regularly used. It dissipates negative energy and also promotes the ability to focus during meditation.

Frankincense has a delightfully rich, dense fragrance and is one of the gifts of the wise men.

It assists in communication on a higher plane and therefore, it’s considered to be particularly good for people who are working on their spiritual progress and want to open up to higher spiritual elements.

It also has warming and relaxing properties and so it makes a great choice for dealing with stress.

Most people are unaware that it's one of the best fragrances to burn for clearing a home or workplace, as it can clear and refresh even the toughest and worst atmospheres.

White Sage is an incense used to intentionally cleanse a space, be it your home or work environment. It has a purifying scent said to absorb negativity and misfortune.

It's good for cleansing a room that has a residual negative energy, left behind by another person. It’s great for cleansing spaces where there has been a lot of emotional energy, negative thought patterns or just simply a new house you're about to move into and make your own.

When burning incense at home, place the incense stick in a suitable holder on a heat resistant surface. Ignite end of the incense stick, leave for four - seven seconds, then blow out the flame. Ensure that the incense continues to smoulder which is how it begins to release its scent into the air.

Selecting a Feng Shui consultant tip #1.) At The first step is to decide whether you want the services of a traditional Feng Shui consultant or one that practices a modern day version of Feng Shui.

Practitioners of traditional Feng Shui belong to one or more of the following schools: San Yuan (three periods), San He (three combinations), Pa Chai (Eight Mansions) or Hsuan K’ung (Mysterious Subtleties). These schools have hundreds even thousands of years of theory, research and application, which is in complete contrast to the contemporary versions of feng shui.

Selecting a Feng Shui consultant tip #2.) Determine a practitioners qualifications and training. Once you have done this, ask them to verify their claims.

For example; if apractitioner states they have been privately trained by a particular master (or others), they should always be prepared to provide you with proof as this is the highest accolade a practitioner can obtain.

Selecting a Feng Shui consultant tip #3.)Read and learn, read and learn, read and learn.

If you know some principles of Feng Shui then you are in a better position to ask more informed questions of prospective consultants evaluating their answers intelligently and making your choice accordingly. Just ensure that the material you read is worthwhile. Books and Articles.

Selecting a Feng Shui consultant tip #4.) Ensure that a consultant is willing to explain the rationale behind each recommendation.

Good advice is based on understanding sound principles – not a rigid or ritualistic process. A competent practitioner should be able to explain why some buildings are conducive to the development of positive energy and others are not. They should be able to explain why this is the case and what can be done to achieve the best from your environment.

Selecting a Feng Shui consultant tip #5.) A practitioner should have a formal apprenticeship.

You don’t need to be Chinese to practice Feng Shui well. However, the only way to study Feng Shui seriously is to enter into an apprenticeship with a Master. A competent practitioner should be trained in both landform and compass school Feng Shui and be familiar with Chinese culture enabling them to tell you the origins and history of the school in which they trained.

Feng Shui is not just about the internal environment of your home or office. A big impact on your life and efficiency of your business can be determined by the external landscape and environment. Consequently care must be taken when selecting a site.

Not everyone can afford prime land that is also considered to be auspicious according to Feng Shui principles so, here are some guidelines:-

Feng Shui and your External Environment tip #1.) The most ideal location for your home or office is where you have a mountain at the back of the building. A slightly lower mountain to the left - when you are standing at the front of your home looking out towards the road - and a smaller mountain yet again to the right, with open space or water to the front. This ideal formation provides you with support and protection – a good foundation from which to move forward in your life.

Feng Shui and your External Environment tip #2.) Auspicious energy travels in a meandering motion, and long, straight and particularly narrow paths, such as roads, are in Feng Shui terms considered to be inauspicious and harmful. Avoid straight paths or roads leading directly to your front door or bedroom window. 

Feng Shui and your External Environment tip #3.) Look for regular shaped blocks such as square or rectangular ones. A block that widens towards the back of the land is also okay. However, triangular blocks should be avoided – if this is impossible to avoid, then very clever landscaping is required to lessen the impact.

Feng Shui and your External Environment tip #4.) Avoid land that slopes away to the back of the block. This results in a lack of support and a sense of being exposed. One possible solution to lessen the impact of this formation is to plant a row of tall, dense trees along the back fence line or alternatively, attach privacy screens and grow creepers.

In Feng Shui water is one of the more powerful elements. Water is able to transform the prosperous chi in your office or home environment to bring you and your family balance and harmony.

Water in Feng Shui is usually employed for wealth creation and it is an important tool for stimulating this aspect of your life.

It is important, however, to ensure that it is a balanced and harmonious flow of water if you want a favourable result. Listed below are some tips to remember regarding water and good Feng Shui.

Feng Shui and Water tip #1.) There could be missed opportunities if the water flows behind the home and a disturbance to the overall harmony of the occupants.

Feng Shui and Water tip #2.)  Good Feng Shui prevails when the water meanders past the main door. It is important that balance prevails; meaning that water does not move too slowly or.........too quickly

Feng Shui and Water tip #3.)  When water is flowing directly towards the front door of your home it is considered threatening - particularly when it is travelling fast.

Feng Shui and Water tip #4.)  When a prosperous energy is at the front of your home it is considered most auspicious when embraced by water.

Read more about feng shui and water

In Feng Shui the kitchen is one of the more important areas in the home and is associated with the health and livelihood of the family. 

The kitchen is where food is prepared and, especially in ancient times, an abundance of good food was associated with prosperity as well as good health.

Hopefully these Feng Shui tips support you in creating the best space possible in your kitchen so that you have good health and prosperity in abundance. 'Good Cooking'

Feng Shui in the kitchen tip #1.)   The kitchen should be protected from the front entrance. This means that it is best to not have an unobstructed view of the kitchen - particularly the stove. This way should any malevolent energy enter the home it does not directly affect one of the more important areas of the home.

Feng Shui in the kitchen tip #2.) The stove is considered to be the most important object in the kitchen and its correct placement is essential to ensuring good health. Therefore, should you be building a new home, it is wise to place the stove so that it is set against a solid wall rather than the modern island style that has gained popularity recently.

Feng Shui in the kitchen tip #3.) Further to tip #2 it is also beneficial to ensure correct placement of the stove so that it is not facing the exterior of the home (i.e. an outside wall) especially if the wall has windows.

Feng Shui in the kitchen tip #4.) When cooking it’s also advisable to not have your back to the door leading into the kitchen.

Using feng shui principles in the office environment can greatly improve office efficiency. The growing respect for the principles of Feng Shui by Western Society is now impacting businesses everywhere. So good feng shui office setup is used widely today.

By following the ancient Chinese philosophy of creating harmonious and prosperous environments, a good feng shui office layout helps to free up the power of smooth, efficient and prosperous energy into your workplace.

As the world continues to interact online it is now commonplace for people to work from home. If you are operating a business from home, or simply have a home office or study, then it is worthwhile to ensure that your office follows some basic feng shui tips for the office.

feng shui in the office tip #1.)   The most important feng shui free hints and tips for your office is that it is well placed in the prosperous position of the building and that the decor (including feng shui room colors) fits with the feng shui principles outlined in the other tips listed on this page.

feng shui in the Office tip #2.)  It is essential that you have a solid wall behind your desk. This will provide more support giving you greater authority and the improved ability to focus.

feng shui in the office tip #3.) When placing the desk, have one end butted up against a wall. As with the above tip this once again assists with the aspect of support and stability in your endeavours

feng shui in the office tip #4.)  Face the direction of your prosperity whilst you’re working. In this way you are welcoming your wealth rather than turning your back on it.

feng shui in the office tip #5.)   Given that your office is well located, further enhance the positive, proseprous energy by ensuring your fengshui office has a well placed window which will allow an abundance of natural light to brighten your environment. 

Click here for "feng shui" gifts for the office

When considering the overall Feng Shui of your home the entrance should be a top priority as the energy entering this part of your home is the single most important factor to determining the quality of success you experience in life.

If you are building a new home we recommend speaking to a qualified Feng Shui Consultant to determine the best position for the entrance to your home.

If you are looking to improve the entrance to your existing home there are some FEng Shui tips to keep in mind.

Feng Shui in the Home tip #1.) Ensure that there is nothing external blocking or intefering with the energy entering your home. Objects such as trees or large poles as well as objects with sharp points will prevent the energy entering smoothly into your home.

Feng Shui in the Home tip #2.) For the best possible Feng Shui in your home, it is best to have the entrance area be spacious rather than constricted. In this way it improves the flow of energy into your home. So remove all clutter surrounding the entrance to your home and allow the energy to enter unhindered.

Feng Shui in the Home tip #3.) How you light your entrance is important in regards to achieving good Feng Shui in your home. A well lit entry is more conducive to circulating your positive chi than a dark and dingy one.

Feng Shui in the Home tip #4.) If you are building a new home try and avoid having the entrance directly opposite a set of stairs leading to an upper level. This will support the chi to also stimulate and flow more freely throughout the entry/base level of your home.

At the Feng Shui Shop we receive many questions from our customers about "feng shui bedroom arrangements". The bedroom is a place for rest and regeneration. Therefore, its considered one of the most important rooms in the home. Therefore in fengshui circles it is given top priority.

Given you spend almost a third of your life sleeping, achieving good Feng Shui in the bedroom is obviously going to have a major, positive impact on your life. So much so that feng shui for stress relief is often requested.

The effectiveness of feng shui in the bedroom is dependant on its location in the home and in direct relationship to the year the home was built. Feng Shui in the bedroom is also affected by the exact degree of orientation.

Nonetheless, there are some 'form' considerations that are supportive in creating good feng shui in the bedroom if followed correctly.

feng shui in the Bedroom tip #1.) Ensure that the head of the bed is against a solid wall. This limits the level of movement around this area and therefore provides support and stability whilst sleeping.

feng shui in the bedroom tip #2.) Avoid placing the foot of the bed in direct alignment with the door/entry point to the bedroom. This creates a rush of energy towards you and hence can create disturbed sleep.

feng shui in the bedroom tip #3.) To create good feng shui in the bedroom it is best not to place your bed directly underneath an overhead beam. The closer and the larger the beam - the stronger its negative influence will be felt.

feng shui in the bedroom tip #4.) To ensure that you maximise your bedrooms feng shui potential - do not have mirrors in the room. This is particularly so when the mirror is located at the foot of the bed. So..... help yourself by either removing the mirror or covering it with a dense fabric each night whilst you sleep.

Read more about Harmony just for couples.