
Roughly this time last year, the world was obsessed with Marie Kondo and her lessons of “sparking joy” through decluttering and tidying up. The Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, dropped on January 1, 2019, and as the world rose from its post-Christmas food hangovers (and actual NYE hangovers) we realised we needed to go on a de-cluttering binge.
Now, with 2020 fast approaching, there’s another way we can reinvigorate our homes. Speaking to Mamamia, feng shui expert Edgar Lok Tin Yung shared his words of wisdom on how people can utilise the Chinese principles of ‘feng shui’ to bring more luck, health and prosperity into our homes.
Because who wouldn’t want more of that?
The Block’s Shaynna Blaze tells us how portable screens can be helpful to decorate a rental home without worrying about any damage.
So what exactly is feng shui?
As a direct translation, ‘feng shui’ means wind (feng) water (shui). The term refers to two of the five elements in Chinese philosophy, the other three of which are fire, earth and metal.
“Feng shui is a set of techniques intended to manipulate the wind and water Qi (or ‘energy’) for a built structure or soon-to-be-built structure to bring in offspring, wealth, health and longevity for the occupants,” says Edgar.
While high ceilings, great lighting and a throw cushion can help, sometimes you’ll go into a room and it’ll just feel right. Edgar puts this down to the ‘feng shui’ of a room.
According to research, it’s got tangible benefits too. In a report from HSBC, over half of Australians would be more likely to purchase a home that has implemented feng shui principles, something Edgar has seen first hand.
“In my 20+ years of experience as a Feng Shui Master, I have seen many cases of homes with correct feng shui activations for sale and in most of these cases the properties sold for more than the expected price,” he says.
“The positive energy will make the house vibrant and attract more buyers to bid for the house.”
But how can one bring “health, wealth, prosperity, longevity” into the home? Essentially, there are “feng shui rules” and good and bad feng shui configurations which dictate how you should design your home.
So, if you’re looking to revamp the feng shui of your home before the new year, here are five easy tips to get you started.
What should I do to my home before the New Year arrives?
1. Start with the entryway.
You might think the bedroom is the most important room in the house, but according to the rules of feng shui, it’s actually the entryway or hallway.
“Traditional feng shui tells us that the most important area in a house or office is the main door or the main entrance as this is the connection point to the outside world,” instructs Edgar.
Top Comments
Mamamia, you can be so confusing sometimes. We have one article (rightly) mocking the most ridiculous 'wellness' trends of the year, like butthole sunning and drinking celery juice. And yet here you're telling us that a water feature will make us prosperous, and a fridge in the wrong place will cause health issues.