9 Feng Shui principles that matter when buying or selling a house

What is Feng Shui?

Meaning "wind" and "water", feng shui is a concept originating from Chinese Taoist principles, enhanced by Eastern practices and now globally regarded for its relevance to working with natural harmony to maximize the energy all around us. Feng shui is based off of the following essential principles: the commanding position, the spot in the room that is farthest diagonally from the door; the bagua, or a floor map that balances and positions different features of every room to harness energy relative to such attributes as family, wealth and health; the five elements of Taoist tradition, earth, metal, water, wood and fire, that balance each other relative to the attributes that you are trying to enhance in each room or your home overall.

Why is it important to buying and selling a house?

In short, feng shui serves to create a harmony between humans and their environment that maximizes efficiency, health and happiness. With proper positioning of components of a room relative to the bagua and a harmonious blending of the 5 elements, feng shui helps to harness the proper flow of the principle known in Chinese culture as Ch'i (or chi as it is known in western culture) that is considered to be the life force that guides us. For those looking to sell their home or looking to buy a home, having proper feng shui can make a difference between creating an inviting, functional and healthful space versus a house that is dysfunctional and unwelcoming.

9 Feng shui principles when buying a house

With the importance and relevance of feng shui in mind, there are 9 principles that will facilitate proper feng shui when buying or selling a house.

1. Your house's address: The number portion of your home's address has a contributing factor to the energy that predominates in that space. In order to determine what type of energy is in your home, add up the numbers present. For example, if your home is 1234, add them up to get 10. Then add these digits to get 1. The goal of this analysis is to reduce the numbers to the eventual, single digit sum. You can then use the feng shui guide to determine what kind of energy will manifest in that home. For example, a home with a sum of 1 exudes an aura of independence, which may work well for people looking for a new transition or to start a business, whereas a sum of 9 provides an ambience of selflessness and possibility. Each sum has its merits and detractions, which may help to guide you relative to the goals of your home.
2. House positioning: Where your house is positioned will also affect the energy of your home. The ideal feng shui positioning is south facing, with the house slightly sloped down from the rear to the front and where the back yard is slightly larger than the front. A good view without obstructions such as trees or buildings is also ideal.
3. House location: As the famed real estate mantra exclaims, location, location, location is critical to proper feng shui. A clean street with good neighbors is an ideal asset of a properly located house, as is the topography around the house; lush vegetation is a sign that chi is abundant and properly balanced, while a dry landscape is not as healthful. Similarly, flowing water in front of the home, whether with a stream, river or even a pond, is considered fortuitous, whereas a large body of water in the rear of the home is considered a bad sign, especially if the water is larger than the home.
4. Adjacent features: There are only so many things that you can control about where your home is located, but obvious, permanent features will play an important part in the energy of your home. It is considered exceptionally unlucky if a property is located next to a cemetery, hospital or prison given the energy flows relative to these locations; even churches and other tall buildings are not considered ideal neighbors given the disruptive effects on energy flow. Similarly, a house positioned at the end of a t intersection or cul-de-sac is considered to be a culprit for the direction of Sha Chi or negative energy coming towards the home. Rail lines and gas stations have a similar effect given the energy flow and the implications of the fire and metal energy emanating from the respective structures that could create an imbalance relative to your home. A similar energy balance arises from the presence of power lines, whose proximity to residential properties is often limited due to the physiological effects and which compounds the obstructive placement of utility poles. Having a house on a dead end street is also considered a bad feng shui, as the meaning of the sign is understood quite literally.
5. Entry way: The entry way to a home is the gateway to the flow of energy and is a pivotal feature for capturing the principles of feng shui. Given the influence of the commanding position, avoiding direct door alignment prevents an onrush of chi into and out of your home each time the door is opened. Further, happiness-promoting front entryways should be welcoming. Landscaping with flowers, a clean walkway leading into the home from the driveway and a clean welcome mat brings positive energy into the home. As importantly, making an entry way bright, clean and tasteful amplifies the energy entering the home.
6. Clean windows: Windows are the gateway into your home on many energy levels. Windows allow you to enjoy an accessibility to the outdoors without leaving your home and make your home seem inviting from the outside. Most importantly, clean windows let in more light and make your space more welcoming and inviting. This is a fairly intuitive aspect of inhabiting a space but can be overlooked when you are buying or selling a home.
7. Make your home spacious: When you are selling or buying a home, it is generally done unfurnished, but the absence of furniture doesn't mean that an environment is guaranteed to be uncluttered. One of the most renowned principles of feng shui is the orientation towards an open, spacious and uncluttered environment. Making rooms as spacious as possible and multi-dimensional as possible will help to reduce clutter and make your home functional as well as welcoming. Likewise, concealing any less desirable elements, such as trash bins, facilitates an uncluttered energy flow.
8. Decorations: Your choice of color scheme can have a substantial impact on the overall energy of your home. Neutral colors for walls and fixtures are actually more harmonious than bright colors, which can be overstimulating, especially with abundant sunlight. That being said, each color has its influence on energy levels and can be incorporated as accents in cabinetry, curtains or paintings. In some of the areas of the home, such as the bathroom, it's best to keep things simple, as decorating in uncomplementary styles, such as a water theme in a bathroom, can actually invite negative energy.
9. Room positioning: You can't control every element of your home's layout, but if you've remodeled or are looking for a home, choosing a house with ideal room positioning can create a more harmonious energy flow. For example, having the master bedroom and the kitchen towards the back of the house is considered better for feng shui, while you should avoid having a kitchen or bathroom positioned in line with the front door of the home. Likewise, you want all spaces, especially pivotal spaces such as a master bedroom, to feel fresh and inviting. Abundant ventilation and circulation, whether with plentiful windows or other means, will help to create a vibrant environs.

There are many other elements to feng shui that can effect the subtleties of your home. Greenery is considered an essential element, so having more plants that are tastefully positioned within your home helps to create a health-giving climate. Minimal furnishing without obstacles helps to ensure that energy is not impeded. As noted, proper positioning of furnishings and ensuring that the proper furniture and equipment are positioned in the proper room (you don't want the treadmill in the bedroom!) help to create a balanced energy plane.

These elements, of course, are subjective to taste and dependent on the eventual occupant of the home. For those looking to buy or sell their home, following the above guidelines will help to create a sound foundation for maximizing a successful transaction. More importantly, especially if you are buying a home, it will help to foster a healthy and happy environment for years to come.