Feng Shui Home Buying Checklist: Finding the Right Energy Flow for Your New Home

Feng shui, which translates to “wind” and “water” from Chinese, is an ancient Eastern practice that aims to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. In particular, feng shui focuses on properly harnessing the flow of chi, or the universal life force energy, to promote health, happiness and good fortune.

When applied to homes, feng shui principles help determine whether a house has good chi energy flow or issues that should be remedied. As such, feng shui provides an important compass for home buyers to make informed decisions and find the most auspicious dwelling aligned with their energy needs. By using a feng shui checklist when house hunting, you can methodically assess if a home supports your goals and avoid major problems down the line. No home will be perfectly aligned with feng shui, but you can identify and fix minor issues with simple cures. With the right knowledge and tools, you’ll be equipped to find a harmonious home.

Consider the Facing Direction

According to feng shui principles, a home’s facing direction can impact the flow of energy and fortune for those living there. When evaluating a home purchase, carefully consider the compass direction the front door and main rooms face.

The most auspicious facing direction is south, as this allows the home to absorb the maximum amount of natural sunlight and positive energy. Facing east is the second best option, as the sunrise brings fresh opportunities each day. West-facing homes still get good light, but the energy peaks in the late afternoon when families are winding down. The least ideal is north because the shady side of the home lacks direct sunlight.

Completely avoid purchasing a home where the front entrance or main rooms face inauspicious directions like northwest (symbolizing heaven’s curse) or north-northwest (the “ghost gate”). These directions are believed to funnel negative energy that ruins family relationships and financial stability.

While a perfect feng shui facing direction may not be possible, seriously weigh the home’s orientation when making your selection. Minor adjustments like choosing a certain unit in an apartment building could make a difference. Paying attention to directional flows can help set your new home up for success.

Evaluate Surrounding Roads and Land Formations

In feng shui, sharp straight roads, intersections, bridges, and surrounding land formations like trees or buildings can create “poison arrows” that direct negative chi energy right at your home. This is based on the feng shui concept that energy travels in straight lines unless diffused or deflected.

Straight roads aimed directly at your front door, sharp road intersections at the front of your home, bridges situated in front, pointed tree branches, or nearby buildings positioned like arrows are examples of poison arrows. The straight chi pathways pierce your home’s protective energy field, allowing negative energy to penetrate into your living spaces.

When evaluating a property, observe if any surrounding roads, bridges, trees or buildings take aim at your front door or living room windows. Avoid purchasing a home directly in the path of these problematic energy arrows. If unavoidable due to the neighborhood layout, there are remedies like screening with tall bushes or fences to help diffuse the sharp energy.

Check Proximity to Negative Energy Locations

According to feng shui principles, you’ll want to avoid buying a home near locations that are considered to have negative energy. This includes staying away from areas in close proximity to cemeteries, hospitals, funeral homes, waste treatment plants, landfills, high-tension wires, radio towers, and microwave towers. The negative chi energy from these types of locations can have an adverse impact on the surrounding environment and flow of energy within your home.

When reviewing potential homes to purchase, look at what is located nearby within approximately 500 feet to one mile. While being further away is ideal, even homes located a mile or more away from negative energy locations can still be impacted depending on other environmental factors. Carefully scrutinize what types of establishments and facilities are situated nearby before deciding on a home.

Some additional negative energy locations to take note of include:

Prisons or jails
Nightclubs or bars
Slaughterhouses
Crematory facilities
Abandoned buildings
Adult entertainment stores
Gambling facilities

While being right next door to one of these locations is an obvious red flag, even being down the street can allow the negative energy to seep in. Think carefully about what your home will be surrounded by and how protected it will feel before making an offer. With diligent research beforehand, you can avoid buying a home affected by negative chi energy from nearby locations.

Examine the Land Terrain and Slope

An ideal home location according to feng shui has a low, gentle slope and enough trees and vegetation for yin energy. Completely flat landscapes are too yin and stagnant, while a steep slope is too active and yang.

Look for a moderately sloped lot that gently rises behind the home. This “turquoise dragon” shape brings good chi. Avoid living on the top of a tall hill or slope as that brings too much exposure. Homes at the bottom of a valley can feel oppressed.

Land that rises too steeply behind a home is likened to a “killing breath” and believed to sap finances and health. Similarly problematic is living at the foot of a mountain or large hill as it “presses down” on the home.

For the best feng shui, a landscape with rolling hills and valleys is ideal. Having some elevation behind the home brings good fortune. Just avoid overly steep or completely flat and exposed sites when examining terrain. The slope should provide a nice mix of security and openness.

Inspect the Front Door and Entryway

The front door is like the “mouth of chi” and controls how energy enters a home. Its location, size, colors and alignment with other rooms and features can make a major feng shui impact.

When inspecting the front door and entryway:

The front door should not be in line with a staircase, bathroom or kitchen if possible. This creates a disruptive straight chi pathway.
The front door ideally opens into a lobby, foyer or sitting room, not immediately into the center of the home. This allows chi to circulate before entering the rest of the rooms.
Avoid a front door that opens directly at the foot of a staircase. The stairs can drain energy upward too quickly.
The front door should not be obscured or blocked from sight when approaching the home. Bushes, trees or structures blocking it create an unwelcoming impression.
Larger front doors tend to allow energy to flow in more easily. Extend the size as much as feasible.
The door itself should open and close smoothly. Sticking or creaking doors block chi.
Opt for a solid, high quality front door in a natural material like wood. Glass doors allow energy to flow out too quickly.
Choose warm, welcoming colors for the front door like red, orange or purple to attract positive chi. Avoid dull or neutral colors.
The entryway should be free of clutter which blocks chi. Add lighting and plants to nourish the chi.

Following feng shui for the front door and entryway establishes a strong first impression and allows chi to flow optimally into the home.

Evaluate Staircase Placement

The placement of staircases is an important feng shui consideration when buying a home. The location and orientation of stairs can impact the flow of chi energy as well as safety and convenience within the home.

Ideally, staircases should be located toward the back of the home. Having stairs positioned near the front door is considered inauspicious in feng shui, as this setup “flushes” the home’s good energy and wealth luck down and out the door. Staircases are better situated deeper inside the home.

For optimal chi flow, stairs should ascend in a clockwise direction as you face up the staircase. This mirrors the rising energy associated with growth and improvement. Staircases that go counterclockwise can metaphorically bring you down, disrupting the home’s good energy.

The positioning of stairs underneath or cutting across the path of overhead beams should also be avoided. This is known as a “knife beam” in feng shui, which can “chop” the luck and positive energy coming down the staircase. Proper staircase placement avoids bisecting support beams.

Landings should not be situated in such a way that when you look up or down the stairs, you see the underside of a landing or staircase above. This viewpoint causes inauspicious downward “draining” energy. Stairs open to the ceiling are best.

When evaluating staircase placement in a home, improper locations that disrupt energy flow or seem unsafe should be remedied or avoided. Proper staircase placement supports good feng shui and a harmonious home.

Check Bathroom Placement

In feng shui, the bathroom placement relative to bedrooms is an important consideration. Ideally, the bathroom should not be located adjacent to or share a wall with a bedroom. This is because the bathroom contains draining energy as it is where we expel waste, which can disturb the positive chi of the bedroom.

It’s recommended to position bathrooms far from bedrooms whenever possible. The bathroom can be located across the hall or on a different floor level. Having a bathroom attached to the master bedroom is acceptable, but avoid attaching bathrooms to any other bedrooms.

If the floor plan does have a bathroom sharing a wall with a bedroom, there are some remedies. Add a solid door rather than a pocket door, and avoid mirrors or reflective surfaces on the shared wall. You can also place art, fresh flowers or decor items in the corner where they meet to mitigate the interaction of energies. With some adjustments, it’s possible to improve bathroom positioning that isn’t completely ideal according to feng shui principles.

Review Kitchen Placement

The placement of the kitchen is very important in feng shui. The kitchen is considered the “heart” of the home and where energy or chi flows from. There are several guidelines to follow:

The kitchen should not be situated right as you enter the front door. This causes the chi energy to rush right out of the home.
The kitchen is best positioned in the back of the home, farthest from the front door. This allows chi to flow gently throughout the whole home.
Avoid placing the kitchen opposite the front door. This creates a direct clash of energy.
The kitchen should also not be situated under a bathroom or other rooms above it. This causes downward draining energy.
Ideally the kitchen has a solid wall supporting it. Avoid positioning the kitchen under a staircase or beam.
The kitchen should be separate from the bedroom if possible. Mingling cooking energy with restful bedroom energy causes discord.
Make sure the kitchen has a source of natural light and fresh air flow. Keep it bright and avoid completely closed off kitchens.

When evaluating kitchen placement in a home, carefully observe where it is located in relation to the front door and nearby rooms. Follow feng shui principles to allow chi to circulate properly. If the kitchen has major issues, consider possible remedies like adding plants, crystals or decor to counteract the energy flow.

Examine Living and Dining Room Placement

According to feng shui principles, the ideal location for the living room is in the center of the home or in the back half. This placement promotes good energy flow throughout the rest of the house. Avoid having the living room situated right by the front door, as this can create an overly yang energy.

For optimal energy, the living room should be open, inviting, and free of clutter. Make sure furniture is positioned to allow chi to circulate. Having the living room in the commanding position facing the entrance brings good fortune.

The best feng shui dining room placement is in the front half of the home, closer to the entrance. Situate the dining table so diners have a view of the exterior door while not being directly in line with it. The dining room works well integrated as part of an open floor plan adjacent to the kitchen. Just be sure the dining area has its own distinct space and doesn’t blend entirely with the kitchen.

When evaluating living and dining room placement, visualize the flow of energy through the home. Having active rooms situated toward the back while restful rooms are closer to the front results in harmony. Assess if the layout promotes tranquility and togetherness for residents.

Feng Shui Home Buying Checklist