Feng Shui Tips for a Good House Floor Plan

Introduction to Feng Shui and Room Placement

Feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of harmonizing energies within a space, pays special attention to the placement and orientation of rooms. Proper room layout is believed to promote health, happiness, and good fortune.

Several key feng shui factors influence optimal room placement:

Commanding Position: Identifying the commanding position or power spot within a home. This is typically a prominent location that oversees the entire home, allowing good energy flow.
Center of the Home: Centralizing the heart of the home. This grounding area often contains important shared spaces like the living room.
Staircases: Considering staircase placement and orientation for smooth energy movement.
Overall Shape: Evaluating the footprint and contours of the home. Certain shapes and angles can create inauspicious energy traps.
Front Door: Making the front door inviting to draw in positive chi energy.
Bedrooms: Carefully placing bedrooms to promote relaxation and relationship harmony.
Kitchen and Dining: Situating these gathering spaces in optimal positions for togetherness.
Living and Family Rooms: Creating energetic balance among frequently used community areas.

Proper room placement with feng shui principles helps promote harmony and flow within a home.

Choose the Commanding Position

The commanding position is considered the optimal location in a home or room from a Feng Shui perspective. It allows the occupant to be supported and stabilized with a solid wall behind them while facing the entrance and observing any activity. Sitting with your back to an active door is believed to create a feeling of vulnerability in Feng Shui.

The ideal commanding position is furthest from the entry while still having a full view of it. In many homes, this is at the back of the living room facing the front door or at the head of the dining table facing the kitchen entrance. For a bedroom, the commanding position is as far from the door as possible, often diagonally across from the entry.

If the commanding position in a room is not optimal due to layout constraints, you can enhance the stability of your position in a few ways. Add lighting behind and beside your regular seat to create the feeling of a solid wall at your back. Hang a mirror to reflect the door area so you can observe any activity. Face a solid wall rather than an open window or doorway if options allow. Place protective symbols or energy activators like a small fountain behind your seat to boost your command of the space. With intentional adjustments, you can maximize the commanding position in your home.

Centralize the Heart of the Home

The center of a home holds special significance in feng shui as it represents the heart. Just as the heart energizes and nourishes the entire body, the center of your house radiates energy to the rest of the rooms. Feng shui principles advise placing key areas of your home at the center to maximize positive energy flow.

Ideally, the center of your floor plan should contain an open and bright space, such as your living room, family room, dining room, or courtyard. These vital gathering areas nourish family togetherness when centered. Avoid placing bathrooms, closets, and utility rooms in the middle of your layout.

If structural constraints prevent putting living areas in the center, you can enhance the heart of your home through feng shui enhancements. Incorporate wood and earth elements through fresh flowers, plants, art, and decor. Include more lighting to brighten the space. You can also use mirrors strategically to reflect activity from other rooms into the center. With thoughtful adjustments, you can transform even awkward center spaces into harmonious hearts for your home.

Mind Staircase Flow and Orientation

The positioning and orientation of staircases is an important Feng Shui consideration that can promote good energy flow in the home or contribute to areas of stagnant Qi. Ideally, staircases should be positioned in auspicious areas of the home according to the Bagua map. The stairs themselves should open up into bright, spacious areas as opposed to narrow hallways or claustrophobic spaces.

It is best to avoid placing stairs in the center of the home or the center of an important room as this can create a feeling of instability. Staircases positioned against a wall are preferable. Curved or winding staircases are inauspicious since they represent twisted or indirect Qi energy, so straight staircases are the most optimal.

Regarding staircase orientation, stairs going up should not align directly with the front door as this allows energy to enter and quickly exit the home without circulating. The most suitable staircase flow is up from the back of the home to the front. This enables the Qi to flow indirectly from the more private areas to the more public areas. Stairs oriented from Northwest to Southeast are also fortunate.

If dealing with a problematic staircase that goes straight up from the front door, a solution is to place a curved wall, screen, plants or other obstruction to interrupt the direct flow of energy. For winding staircases, visually balance them with strong straight lines and rectangular shapes in furnishings. Install fast growing plants at the base of problem stairs to aid energy flow. Ensure adequate lighting around dark stairwells. In general, keep staircases well-lit and free of clutter to counter inauspicious Qi.

Evaluate the Footprint and Shape

The overall shape and footprint of a home plays an important role in Feng Shui. Certain shapes are considered more auspicious, while other shapes can present challenges.

The most auspicious home shapes are rectangular and square, which represents stability and balance. A rectangular or square floor plan contains all four cardinal directions – north, south, east and west. This allows for a solid foundation and centered energy according to Feng Shui principles.

Alternatively, irregular shapes with missing corners or extensions can disrupt energy flow. Common inauspicious shapes are L-shapes, T-shapes, Y-shapes or shapes with missing corners. These shapes create an imbalance, with energy potentially leaking out of the missing corners and angles.

If your home has an irregular footprint, not to worry. There are remedies in Feng Shui to restore balance and prevent energy from draining away.

For missing corners, you can “fill them in” with mirrors to symbolically complete the shape.
For large extensions or wings off the main house, anchor them with heavy furniture to weigh down the energy.
L shapes can benefit from a freestanding bookshelf or screen to ground the space.
T shapes and Y shapes can be balanced by anchoring the individual stems with furniture or art.

Getting creative with decor and furniture placement allows you to transform challenging floor plans into balanced, harmonious spaces. Pay special attention to anchoring and stabilizing each section of an irregular shaped home. With some thoughtful adjustments, even the most unique footprint can achieve good Feng Shui.

Make the Front Door Inviting

The front door is one of the most important features of a home in feng shui. Its positioning relative to the floor plan and overall energy flow has a big impact. When enhancing your home’s feng shui, focusing on your front door can create a great first impression.

Feng shui principles recommend placing the front door in an auspicious position that aligns properly with the interior layout. The ideal location is where it has space to open fully without obstruction, allowing energy to flow in freely. Consider the angle and placement of your front door in relation to surrounding walls and rooms.

Positioning the front door in a recessed, obscured, or cluttered area can block opportunities and positive chi. Aim for prominent visibility and accessibility from the street. This allows the home to make a strong first impression.

Make sure the area around the front door is uncluttered and inviting. Decorative touches like plants, lighting, art, and a fresh coat of paint helps increase curb appeal while enhancing the entry’s feng shui. Pay attention to the proportions of your front door and consider enlarging it if it feels too small relative to the home.

By honoring traditional feng shui wisdom for entry placement and design, your front door will welcome prosperity and good fortune into your home.

Optimize Bedroom Layout and Position

The bedroom is a sanctuary and should enable relaxation, romance, and rejuvenation. Pay special attention to the layout and location of bedrooms in a home to promote harmonious energy flow.

The best location for the master bedroom is furthest in the back of the home or in a far corner, which provides protection and maximizes privacy. Avoid positioning the master bedroom in the center of the home or directly in line with the front door, as this diminishes privacy. Corner master bedrooms with two exterior walls are ideal.

For children’s or secondary bedrooms, locate them closer to the front of the home for more vibrant, active energy. Bedrooms positioned facing east or south will receive the most natural morning light and warmth. Avoid bedrooms on the lower/basement level which can feel compressed.

Proper bed placement brings balance through consciously orchestrating the flow of energy while sleeping. Position the bed furthest from and facing toward the entry door to allow the occupant to see anyone entering. Having a solid wall behind the bed creates stability. Avoid positioning the bed under windows, beams, or ceiling fans that disrupt energy flow.

If bedroom layout is awkward, Feng Shui offers spatial remedies. Place live plants in stagnant corners to help energy circulate. Hang a faceted crystal near the door to deflect and absorb negative energy from entering. Introduce gentle lighting, artwork and fabrics promoting serenity. These enhancements transform even challenging bedroom layouts into peaceful sanctuaries.

Kitchen and Dining – Important Gathering Areas

In Feng Shui, the kitchen represents nourishment, family, and health. Placing the kitchen in the commanding position supports these positive associations. Ideal kitchen placement is in the back of the home, aligned with the central axis. A large, open kitchen layout with plenty of natural light promotes robust energy flow.

For enhanced nourishment and vitality, choose a rectangular or L-shaped kitchen design. Soft, rounded edges and light colors can help make the kitchen feel more inviting. Strategic placement of lighting illuminates key kitchen areas like cooking stations and dining spaces.

Adjacent to the kitchen, an expansive dining room provides an outlet for gathering, community, and connection. Position the dining area toward the back of the home, near the kitchen. An open floorplan links these spaces, allowing chi energy to circulate freely. Alcoves, decorative arches, or partial walls help delineate kitchen and dining zones while maintaining an airy, unobstructed ambiance.

Spatial enhancements bring prosperity and abundance to kitchens and dining rooms. Incorporate wood elements like ceiling beams, furniture, and flooring which represent vitality. Display fresh flowers, fruits, or plants as living symbols of growth and nourishment. Finally, energize these spaces with the five Feng Shui elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal. Vibrant, thoughtfully arranged kitchens and dining rooms become hubs for family and community gathering.

Set Up Optimal Living and Family Rooms

The living room and family room are key gathering spaces that deserve special attention in Feng Shui room placement.

Living Room Commanding Position

Situate the living room in a commanding position at the front of the home. This allows it to be the heart of the home that sets the tone for the rest of the spaces. Position furniture to take advantage of the best natural lighting and views. Avoid placing TVs and sofas in the center of the room or with their backs to the entryway, as this blocks positive chi energy flow.

Family Room Layout for Harmony

When laying out the family room, strive for an open and inviting flow. Use defined activity zones to allow peaceful reading nooks, play areas for kids, and space to gather for movies or gaming. Ensure seating faces toward the center and focal points of the room for harmony.

Furniture Arrangement for Balance

Carefully consider furniture arrangement in the living and family rooms. Avoid clutter, instead opting for clean lines and simplicity. Balance weightier pieces with lighter ones and use symmetry to evoke a sense of equilibrium. Make sure seating arrangements promote togetherness and easy flow for balanced chi energy.

With intentional Feng Shui principles applied to your living and family room layouts, these vital community spaces in your home can facilitate positive energy flow, harmony, and balance for all who gather there.

Achieve Balance with Feng Shui for Room Placement

Feng shui focuses on promoting balance, harmony and positive energy flow throughout the home. Proper room placement is key for allowing chi to move freely. Here’s a summary of the main feng shui guidelines covered:

Choose a commanding position for your home with a strong front entrance and view.
Centralize the “heart” of the home in a prominent area like the living room.
Pay attention to staircase flow and orientation for smooth energy movement.
Evaluate the overall footprint and shape of the home exterior.
Make the front door visually appealing, prominent and inviting.
Optimize bedroom layout and position for restful sleep.
Set up gathering spaces like kitchens and dining rooms in active yet peaceful spots.
Create open, uncluttered living and family rooms as leisure spaces.

By carefully considering room placement in your home, you allow energy to circulate while establishing important functional spaces. The result is a harmonious environment that nurtures its inhabitants. Balance also promotes productivity, success and overall wellbeing.

For further reading, consult a qualified feng shui practitioner for an evaluation. Books and online resources can provide additional room placement tips specific to your goals or home architecture. With thoughtful planning, you can achieve better energy balance simply by mindfully arranging your rooms.