Developers and planners should consider these 6 design features fundamental to feng shui.

1. Front Door Accessibility – This should be considered for both the building and the individual units.  The front door is considered a key area in feng shui and should have the most visibility. The path to the entrance must be fully accessible without any confusion about how to arrive there.  When owners, tenants and guests can leave and arrive at their front door without struggle everyone benefits.  On a daily basis the atmosphere will not be permeated with frustration and annoyance.  In feng shui, the front door is understood to be the place where opportunities find you and enter into your life.
2. Entrance Foyer – Stairs should not face the front door.  All the opportunities that have arrived at the front door will be pushed out by the downward push of the opposing stairway.
3. The front door and the back door should be offset so that they are not aligned.  The energy will move from the front door quickly to the back door which challenges the finances of the occupants.
4. Bathrooms should not be visible from the front door-this relates to health and finances.
5. The kitchen should not be the focal point when entering into the condo or apartment-this relates to finances, health and nutrition.
6. Bedrooms – The position of the bed and sleeping area of the bedroom is a key area in feng shui.  The bed should be located on a solid wall with the door visible to someone lying in bed.  In feng shui, we call this the commanding position.  Feng shui bedroom design should consider the placement of the bed as a priority; a solid wall without windows, doors or closets.  It is also important that the bedroom wall where the head of the bed is located should not be a shared wall with the kitchen or a bathroom.   Finally, shared utility closets in multi-unit dwellings can emit a tremendous amount of electromagnetic fields and their locations should be well planned to minimize the impact on bedrooms.

Tip: The foyer or entryway should easily transition into a gathering room where the seating arrangement is inviting.

The Feng Shui Factor: Modern Homes Ancient Blueprint discusses all of these aspects in detail and the concepts can easily be applied to multi-unit dwellings.

MaryAnn Russell

Feng Shui Consultant, Author

Feng Shui Factor

© Copyright 2007-09 All Rights Reserved

For some time I’ve been planning to extend the hard scape and patio area in my backyard.   I’ve had different design ideas but I basically know what I want in the finished look.  The area involves the East Family/Health and the Northeast Knowledge area.  In this case, extending the patio will create more balance and make the outdoor living space more functional.  I was struggling with a small part of the area (that will eventually be the extended patio) because it seriously lacks a beautiful focal point and I consider it to be a “dead zone” when it comes to foliage.

Let me tell you where I’ve made my mistake while waiting for the right time to move ahead with this project.  This so called “dead zone” makes up a small part of my backyard and, from an aesthetic point of view, looks lifeless and bleak.  From a feng shui perspective it weakens the balance of the exterior.  Every time I look at the area a little dissatisfied voice in my head makes a criticism.  Symbolically a “dead zone” is not good, along with the simple fact that the energy is not “vital” in that area of the yard.

I had to come up with a simple interim solution because I just couldn’t stand to look at the “dead zone” anymore.  I bought 3 of the same type of trees I have in the rest of the yard and I put them in grow pots.   Also, to create a more finished arrangement, I placed some solar lanterns between the pots.  So, whether we put the new patio in next week or next year, I won’t have to look at a “void” in the yard.  The new trees will continue to grow and the lanterns can be relocated anywhere.

I am sure you have areas in your home or property that you would love to improve when the time is right;  just don’t make the mistake I did and do nothing.  There is always something you can do to improve it.  I basically took the design elements from the rest of the yard and carried them over to the “dead zone” for a temporary but reusable arrangement.  My husband’s response was, “why didn’t we do this sooner?”

The second feng shui idea I’ve been focusing on is the room or area of the house you spend the most time in.  This area of the home becomes a “room of great influence” and should be well balanced, functional and beautiful.  I would encourage you to pay careful attention to the feng shui in this area.  When you walk into your “most used room” it should elicit a sense of peace and satisfaction for you on every level.  A space where you spend a great deal of time influences your health and well being and can be considered “formative”.  Recently I had some crown molding added to my “most used room” and the outcome created the following:

• Improved the floor to ceiling or spacial balance
• General ambiance of the room was elevated because the “eye” tends upward toward the new design feature
• Added a sense of strength and solidity to the entire room

I hope some of these ideas get you thinking about your own feng shui and how your environment  is connected to your quality of  life.  If you have any questions always feel free to send me an email or call my office.

Best Wishes,

MaryAnn Russell

714-842-7728 PST

Feng Shui Factor

Anti-Aging