House Features That Create Bad Feng Shui

Introduction to Feng Shui and the Home

Feng shui, which translates to “wind water” in Chinese, is an ancient philosophy and practice focused on harmonizing the flow of energy, or “qi”, in spaces. It is based on the belief that the placement of objects and the overall layout of a home can impact the energy flow and in turn affect various aspects of life such as health, relationships, and prosperity.

In feng shui, a home is viewed as a living organism where qi needs to circulate smoothly and accumulate in the best areas in order to create balance. The front door is considered the “mouth of qi”, the ideal location for energy to enter. Once inside, qi should be able to move throughout the whole home without encountering obstructions or drains. The goal is to have positive energy accumulate in key locations like living and dining rooms.

Certain common home designs can disrupt the natural energy flow and create negative feng shui. Features like hidden front doors, misaligned rooms, and centrally located staircases or bathrooms are some examples. Fortunately, small adjustments to decor and layout can redirect energy flow and dramatically improve feng shui. This article will highlight common poor feng shui home features and provide suggestions to harmonize energy flow.

Hidden Front Door

The front door of a home holds great importance in feng shui as it is the main entry point for opportunities and energy (qi) to flow in. An invisible or hidden front door can prevent this beneficial energy from entering freely.

One simple diagnostic test is to imagine you are a first-time visitor approaching the home. Would you be able to easily identify and see the front door? If the front door is obscured, behind foliage, in a recess, or generally difficult to spot, then it is likely problematic from a feng shui perspective.

Some solutions to improve the visibility and prominence of the front door include:

Adding signage or house numbers to make it stand out.
Trimming back or removing obstructive plants, fences or other objects in front of it.
Painting the door a noticeable, vibrant color.
Installing a distinct welcome mat, decorative tiles/stones or potted plants to signify the entry.
Using lighting such as pathway lamps or spotlights to illuminate and draw attention to the door.

By making the front door more visible and prominent, you allow energy to flow in unimpeded and invite new opportunities into your life and home. This simple feng shui enhancement can make a significant difference.

Doors Aligned

When the front and back doors of a home are aligned, it allows qi (or energy) to rush straight through the home without accumulating or circulating. This is considered bad feng shui because you want the entering qi to flow gently through the home and accumulate in key areas.

Having aligned doors is like having an energy superhighway, with qi zooming through your home. This can make it feel unsettled and unstable.

One solution is to place a piece of furniture or another large object directly between the two doors. This helps break up the straight pathway and causes the entering qi to bounce off the object and disperse more gently into the home. A large plant, cabinet, or sofa placed between the doors can make a huge difference. You want to avoid having an open and obvious straight pathway between the front and back doors.

Stairs Facing Front Door

In feng shui, it’s considered unfavorable to have stairs directly facing the front door. This is because the arrangement allows qi (or energy) to flow straight upstairs when entering the home, rather than accumulating on the main floor.

Without proper qi circulation on the lower levels, areas like the living room, kitchen, and dining room can feel drained of energy. The upper floors become overloaded. This throws off the balance of energy distribution in the home.

There are a few solutions to redirect the upward flow of qi when stairs are positioned in front of the front door:

Place a large plant, piece of furniture, or other decorative object at the base of the stairs, between the stairs and front door. This will help break up the direct path of qi flowing upstairs.
Hang a faceted crystal near the front door or at the bottom of the stairs. The crystal can help slow down and disperse the rushing qi.
Install a small water fountain or aquarium near the front door. The water movement provides a cleansing effect and balances the energy.
Add a mirror on the wall opposite the stairs to symbolically reflect qi back downstairs.

The goal is to redirect and slow down the qi flow so energy accumulates and circulates on the main floor. Simple feng shui adjustments like these can make a significant difference in the feel and ambiance of the home’s entryway.

Bathroom Door Facing Front Door

Having the bathroom door directly across from the front door can be bad for feng shui energy flow in the home. When the front door brings in vibrant qi energy, that energy can be drained away by facing the bathroom door.

The bathroom is considered an area of water energy, which can conflict with the positive energy entering through the front door. Having the two doors align allows the energy to flow directly from one to the other without accumulating in the home.

To improve the feng shui, place a large plant, screen, or piece of furniture between the bathroom door and front door. This will help disperse the incoming qi energy so it circulates throughout the home rather than getting flushed away by the bathroom. You can also keep the bathroom door closed as much as possible to block the direct path.

Adding lighting or crystals by the front door can also help energize the incoming qi so it’s strong enough to circulate. Overall, avoid aligning the front and bathroom doors so that energy is balanced and not drained away.

Staircase in Center of Home Destabilizes Life Areas

Having a staircase located right in the center of a home can create instability and imbalance in other important areas of your life according to feng shui principles. This is because the staircase becomes the focal point, drawing energy upwards and leaving the other spaces deficient.

Feng shui recommends avoiding a centered staircase if possible when designing or remodeling a home. However, for many existing homes, moving the staircase may not be feasible. In that case, there are some simple tips to reduce the destabilizing effects:

Place a few large, leafy plants around the base of the stairs. The wood element of the plants helps anchor the energy and keep it from rushing upwards.
Add a heavy sculpture, large piece of furniture or decorative column beside the stairs. The solid weight helps stabilize the energy flow.
Use art, mirrors or feng shui crystals near the stairs to slow down and disperse the ascending qi energy. This strengthens the other bagua areas.
Hang a faceted crystal near the staircase so it catches light and refracts energy outwards into the rest of the space.
Use commanding position feng shui if the staircase leads to the master bedroom. Place a plant at the base of the stairs or a heavy object on the landing to keep energy grounded.

With a few strategic tweaks, it’s possible to minimize the destabilizing influence of a staircase located in the center of your home. Test different remedies until you find what works best to harmonize the energies in your space.

Bathroom Center of Home

Having a bathroom situated in the center of a home can create issues with feng shui and drain vital energy from this important area. The bathroom is seen as having more negative and draining energy than other rooms, so placing it front and center in a home’s layout can negatively impact the flow of qi.

Ideally, bathrooms should be positioned in less central areas of a home. However, for many existing home layouts where the bathroom is already centrally located, there are remedies to improve the feng shui.

Adding living plants is one of the most common and effective solutions. The wood and vibrant plant energy can counteract the depleting energy of the bathroom. Plants with rounded leaves or vines are said to be especially beneficial for their flowing and uplifting energy. Place several plants or a large plant in the bathroom itself or just outside the bathroom doorway to boost the area.

Other remedies include keeping the bathroom door closed as often as possible, using mirrors judiciously, keeping the bathroom clutter-free, and using shades of blue in decor to create a calming environment. With some simple feng shui adjustments, it’s possible to transform a centrally located bathroom from a drain on energy to an area that contributes to overall positive qi flow in the home.

Bedroom Over Garage Creates Instability

Having a bedroom located directly over the garage can create problems with instability in your home’s feng shui. The noise, vibration, and movement from cars pulling in and out below the bedroom can disturb the energy in this space. Since the bedroom is such an important space for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation, this placement goes against good feng shui principles.

When a bedroom is situated over an active garage, it makes it difficult for the occupants to feel settled and grounded. The motion beneath creates a feeling of constant instability. This can lead to disrupted sleep, restlessness, and a lack of stability in other areas of life.

There are a few potential solutions for improving the feng shui of a bedroom located over the garage:

If possible, move the bedroom to a different part of the home that is not directly over the garage. This will remove the root of the problem.
Add lots of lush greenery and plants in the bedroom. The wood element can help stabilize and ground the movement and activity from the garage below.
Incorporate more heavy, grounded materials in bedroom decor such as stone, marble or dark wood. Weighty materials can offset the lightness and motion.
Use carpets and rugs with earthy colors like greens, browns and terracottas. These earthy colors embody stability.
Hang a crystal near the bed to absorb erratic energy from below. Crystals can stabilize energy.

Making some feng shui adjustments can help restore balance and stability to a bedroom located over a busy garage. Consider moving the room or adding grounding elements to counteract the motion and create a restful space.

Long Narrow Hallways

In feng shui, long narrow hallways can create issues in the flow of qi (energy) through the home. When hallways are very long and narrow, the qi is able to enter the home too quickly without accumulating properly. This can make the energy feel chaotic.

There are a few solutions to improve the feng shui of long narrow hallways:

Place crystals or plants along the length of the hallway to help slow down and accumulate the qi as it passes through. Crystals are thought to have an energizing and stabilizing effect.
Hang artwork along the hallway walls to act like checkpoints for the qi to pause at before continuing down the hall. Ideally, choose artwork with natural scenes or calming abstract designs. Avoid artwork with a frenetic feeling.
Add a large plant, piece of furniture or decorative item at the end of the hallway to prevent qi from rushing through completely. This helps diffuse the energy.
Use mirrors to expand the feel of the space and prevent qi from barreling down the narrow corridor.
Paint the walls a more neutral, earthy tone rather than bright white, which can contribute to the chaotic feeling.

With a few feng shui adjustments, long narrow hallways can be transformed into spaces that allow qi to comfortably and smoothly fill your home. The right crystals, plants, artwork and furnishings can make a significant difference.

Conclusion

Feng shui principles provide guidance on optimizing the flow of energy within a home. Key areas to evaluate include the placement of the front door, alignment of doors, location of staircases and bathrooms, and orientation of bedrooms. Even small adjustments can create more balance and harmony.

The main learning from this article on feng shui features is that the flow of qi energy impacts opportunities and stability. Redirecting, slowing down, or stabilizing the flow of qi through strategic adjustments can improve vitality. Simple solutions like adding plants, crystals or artwork can make a difference.

Want to go more in depth? Check out feng shui books by [author name] or take a course from a certified practitioner. Get an evaluation from a professional consultant before making major renovations. With some small changes, you can transform your home into a sanctuary filled with prosperity and positive energy.