5 feng shui tips to make your home a haven of calm

By Lindsay Rothfeld2014-11-05 14:56:40 -0600

You have papers strewn across your living room floor, the cupboards aren't properly organized and you're in dire need of redecoration basically, you're living a cluttered life. This is where feng shui comes in. An ancient art of balancing energies in your physical space to create inner harmony, the Chinese philosophical system may be the breathe of fresh air you've been hoping for.

Mashable spoke with Dana Claudat, who writes about everyday feng shui on her blog The Tao of Dana, and asked her to spill some design and style tips for bringing feng shui to your home.

First, a little more about the art and science of feng shui: According to Claudat, space affects us in big ways, even though we may not realize it. Feng shui principles explain how our lives are a mirror of our environment, and how if you re-arrange your space, you change your life. Essentially, feng shui is the art of arranging your environment.

We're all too familiar with the horrible anxiety-provoking feeling that seeps in as we enter a messy home. And the moment we clean up that clutter, those ill feelings turn to clarity and peace. Feng shui creates this feeling by connecting us to nature. Whereas thousands of years ago, that connection was easier to make, in our hyper-developed world we often need to make effort to connect to nature and bring plants, moving water, crystals and even trees into our homes to create that natural, calming balance, Claudat says.

If growth is something you're craving in your life, think about greening your home by adding indoor trees or plants avoid the cactus, though, as dangerous spikes are considered bad juju when grown inside. Try placing them in places where you spend (or would like to spend) productive, positive time. Let's say your goal is to cook healthier food more often: Put a plant in your kitchen. Or, if you' like to be more productive at work, plants on your desk or home office can bring positive, creative energy to your work environment. The "chi," or life-force of the plant, will energize the space.

A "stuck" space" usually reflects a "stuck" life, so whether you're struggling with writer's block or are generally in a slump, moving things around the room can help liven the atmosphere. Feng shui has a magical number to help guide you through this process of getting unstuck: 27. Twenty-seven is a multiple of nine (a lucky number in traditional schools of feng shui), and when the single digits two and seven are added together, the result is nine as well. Just by moving 27 things around the room whether it's a paper clip or a desk you can bring energy to a room that was previously lacking it.

"I've totally reorganized the furniture in 'stuck energy' rooms to get them [to exude] excitement, while sometimes I only need to reorganize the junk drawer. Feel your way through this process, moving things around until you feel that you feel refreshed and re-inspired," Claudat suggests.

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5 feng shui tips to make your home a haven of calm