More than 3,000 years ago in China, Feng Shui, the art of placing things, was invented. The word Feng means "wind" and Shui means "water." It is believed that you must have perfect balance of the negative forces called the "yin" and the positive forces called the "yang." Together, when balanced, they produce good "qi," which renders health and vitality.

It is widely known that our built environment affects the way we feel. A room can affect our sense of comfort and mood. Colors also have an effect on the way we feel. Successful spaces use light, texture, and color to give a space character, form, and balance. Feng Shui looks at both the tangible and intangible aspects that effect balance to one's space. As you will read, good taste and common sense solve many of the Feng Shui principles.

• A building in need of renovations can have a negative effect on prosperity. Keep all mechanical services in good working condition.
• Financial and career difficulties may be caused by clutter. Clutter constricts energy flow in a space as well as in our consciousness.

• Build on elevated ground, preferably one in view of a lake or river.
• The front portion should be lower than the rear portion.
• There should be a good mix of trees to act as a buffer, but not to keep away too much sun.
• The site should not be directly at the end of a cul-de-sac or road. (If you were to continue driving on the road, you would hit the house.)
• An entrance should also not face the end of the road.
• If a home is situated with the rear facing a body of water or higher ground, then the entrance should also be placed at the rear of the home.
• If the property lines are on an angle, you should not have wall lines parallel to them.

• Walls that project on the northeast or southwest of the building are said to bring wealth and luck. Also, projections limited to one-third of the length on the north or east side are said to bring luck.
• Avoid driveways that run directly toward any living areas of the home. The best driveway design would be a circular one.
• Your home should be positioned so that the driveway of the home across the street should not point at your front door or bedroom windows.
• Avoid long, straight, narrow paths leading up to your front door.
• Entry doors should open smoothly and open into a wide-open space, well-lit, and very warm and inviting. Avoid doors opening onto walls in front of them.
• Do not have anything in your front yard blocking your front door, like trees for example. Create a buffer zone between your house and the street. Gardens, trellised walkways, and a front porch are some elements that can act as a buffer.

• The most important part of the bedroom is the bed, and the positioning is very critical. While lying in bed, one should be able to see the entrance. A mirror can also be substituted if having direct view to the door is impossible.
• Although a mirror can be used to see the door to the bedroom, mirrors are not recommended. A mirror in the bedroom that allows you to see yourself while lying in bed can result in restlessness and poor sleep.
• The bed should not face a west or east window. The light at morning or night can be disturbing.
• Some believe the bed should not be exactly north, south, east, or west but slightly angled so it will not conflict with the magnetic pull of the earth.
• The bed should not be placed under a sloped ceiling.
• The bed should not be oriented toward the door.
• The bed should be against a solid wall rather than a half wall or glass wall.
• The bed should not face a mirror. It could shock the spirit when it leaves your body while sleeping.
• Avoid overhanging beams or knifelike corners from being directly across from the bed.
• For the politics of a marriage, allow equal room on either side of the bed and avoid having any overbearing, large pieces of furniture on the sides of the bed.
• To keep the partnership of a marriage strong, avoid horseshoe-shaped houses with the entry in the inset of the horseshoe.

• Neither the sink nor the refrigerator should be located next to the stove. Avoiding this alleviates conflict between yin (water) and yang (fire).
• The stove should face south or east.
• Avoid having the person cooking with his or her back facing the entrance to the kitchen or other family and guests.
• Avoid sharp, angular cabinets or furniture in the kitchen. All corners should be rounded. If the kitchen is intended to be an eat-in kitchen, then the table should be round or oval and the chairs should be soft.
• Avoid bathrooms adjacent to the kitchen. This location of the bathroom will drain financial fortune.
• Avoid having the kitchen as the first thing that one would see when entering the home.

• The master's chair should not face a door or window, either of which can produce glare.
• Furniture should not resemble a triangle that points to a bedroom door.

• The dining room table should be round. The number of chairs should always be in pairs or even numbers. Odd numbers represent loneliness.
• The décor of a dining room should be bright and cheerful. Avoid crowded situations, especially if the dining takes place in the kitchen. Work, homework, or any other non-eating-related function should not take place in the dining room. Eating is considered a sacred activity, and using the dinner table for other purposes would disrupt this activity.
• A dining room really has no specific placement in the house.

• The bathroom should be located away from the kitchen and main entry.
• Bathrooms should be kept away from the entrance of a house. The best location for this type of space is in the back.
• Do not place a bathroom next to or adjacent to the dining room or the kitchen. The energy of these spaces is incompatible.
• A bathroom should never be placed in the center of a house.
• Bathrooms should also never be located at the end of a corridor. This energy is bad for reproduction.
• The functions of the bathrooms and toilets are best kept separate from all other functions in the house, including those of the bedroom.

• Avoid long, straight, and narrow stairs because they are thought to constrict energy.
• Avoid narrow spiral staircases because they conduct energy too quickly.
• Avoid stairs that point directly toward the entrance door. This situation will drain money and financial opportunity.
• The energy that is conducted by stairs can produce bad fortune. Spacious, open, well-lit stairs that open to a large landing are the best for good fortune.

• Storage spaces like cellars, attics, and closets should be well-lit, free of clutter, function properly, free of leaky pipes, and free of damaged or jury-rigged equipment.
• These spaces should be well-organized and easy to access. The only items that should be stored are those that have true potential for use. This will avoid all clutter.
• Respect to the history of a family is very important. All mementos and family heirlooms should be stored with great care.

Red = Favorableness

Green = Longevity

Yellow = Authority

Blue = Heavenly Blessings

White = Purity

This is a basic overview of what we feel are some of the important aspects of Feng Shui that relate to home design. For more detailed information, we at Myhome101 would encourage you to do further research.