FENG SHUI

USEFUL TIP: A good way to figure out the energy flow in your house is to imagine a river flowing through it - which areas fill up easily with water and which are left dry?

Throughout my career I have witnessed numerous styles travel in and out of fashion. I have never thought of myself as a designer that actively follows trends but I’ve always been able to differentiate a fad from a classic. However, in this period of retrospective design, trends seem to be more fast and frequent than ever before. The world of design feels saturated with multiple styles and eras being revived and combined. It can feel a bit overwhelming. In order to navigate this, I have found myself returning to my knowledge of design philosophy; the core principles of design that have endured time and transcended ‘trend’. 

In our last post Season’s Senses I discussed the Hygge philosophy, this time I want to look at Feng Shui. Feng Shui, at its surface level, came to the attention of the western design world in the 90’s. Instead of gaining popularity on social media like Hygge, it was self-help books that flew off the shelves about how to ‘feng shui your life’. Everyone was doing it, including Bridget Jones. This simplified version packaged for the west felt like a fad, however the true philosophy of Feng Shui withstands.

Image via the Feng Shui Society. Contact them to find a Feng Shui training course or consultant.

A BRIEF HISTORY

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese discipline dating back thousands of years that translates to ‘wind-water’. It was initially used to identify safe locations where communities would be able to settle, farm and flourish. It was later used to determine the best sites for burial grounds and sacred buildings. It’s primary concern is with the flow of Qi/Chi (氣) “natural energy” in a space and the objects that block it. Traditionally, Feng Shui was treated like a secret art and knowledge was only passed down within families.

FENG SHUI AND INTERIOR DESIGN

Feng Shui is a complex and ancient discipline - one that I am constantly learning about. It would be disingenuous for me to try and explain or simplify all the rules so instead I’d like to share a few of the key ideas that have informed me as a designer over the years.

The first thing to understand about Feng Shui is that it’s largely about balancing components. It’s believed that if we can balance out the natural elements - earth, wood, fire, metal and water - then we can balance the energy within our home, helping us live more harmonious lives. I often refer to this ideology when developing a design as it can be applied to the selection of both materials and colour.

COLOUR

I talk a lot about colour psychology when I discuss interior design. Colour can transform a space and our mood. Similarly, Feng Shui believes that colour is a very powerful tool for harnessing desired energies. Each natural element is represented by a palette of colours. This varies between different schools of Feng Shui however the most common are - Wood: green/brown, Fire: red/dark yellow/orange, Earth: sandy/light brown, Metal: white/grey, Water: blue/black. 

Green is believed to be a good colour to activate energy, especially when used in different shades. It connotes health and growth so is suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Plants are a great way to introduce green throughout a house. Ideal placement for plants are on the inside or outside of corners as it’s believed that the sharp angles give off bad energy. The greenery counters this energy and softens any harsh lines.

Little Greene ‘Jewel Beetle’

MIRRORS

Mirrors are a fantastic design tool - especially when it comes to applying Feng Shui to a demanding space. Most homes in the UK aren’t structurally designed to allow for good Feng Shui. For example, narrow hallways, often found in terrace houses, can stifle energy flows. A big mirror is the best way to combat this as they activate energy and extend spaces. Try not to position a mirror where it will directly reflect a door, staircase, loo or any door facing outside (as this would just bounce energy straight back out).

Image and mirror via Cox & Cox. Mirrors are excellent for dining areas as it’s believed that the doubling of the food symbolizes abundance for the household.

Image and mirror via Cox & Cox.

Feng Shui is a lot more meticulous and technical in comparison to Hygge. However, like most design philosophies, Feng Shui, at its heart is about being conscious. It is a belief that habitat and inhabitant are connected beyond geography and the material. In a time that feels so unstable, I believe creating some structure and balance at home is one of the best things we could do for ourselves.

SEASON'S SENSES

The Danish philosophy of Hygge, pronounced ‘hoo-guh’, has been gaining popularity here in the UK for the last couple of years. I see the word everywhere online and in the shops. The term loosely means ‘coziness’ however this is not meant in an external or material way. It is not as simple as a few knitted blankets. Hygge is more of a psychological sense of coziness, a feeling of warmth - a calm, good feeling in the soul. The feeling you get when you read a book in front of a fire with a hot chocolate, or share a night in with a bottle of wine between friends. When I first read about Hygge I connected with it immediately as I have a very similar philosophy when it comes to design. Our homes are sanctuaries, our safe places where we can be our most relaxed and comfortable selves. They are necessary retreats from the outside world and this is never more true than in the winter when our natural instincts encourage us to hibernate. 

The process of designing a space that allows for this ‘cozy’ environment goes beyond aesthetic. It involves all the senses. By considering the experience of a room on multiple levels it is possible to create an atmosphere conducive to deep relaxation and calm.

TEXTURE & NATURE

Texture and natural materials are key. During the winter we tend to spend more time indoors and less time outside. Therefore it is really important to bring nature indoors in any way we can.  The warmth of wooden furniture, both visually and to the touch, is noticeably different to that of glass or metal. Collect some pine cones to decorate with and of course, for those celebrating - put up the Christmas tree! (I love to get a Norway spruce as it not only looks beautiful but also smells stunning). 

Combining thick-knit and fine-knit natural fiber blankets in different neutral tones is an easy way to introduce texture to a room. Fleece rugs are also a great way to incorporate a different natural texture into a space.

Photo via The Fabulous Fleece Company

Photo source unknown

Photo via Nkuku.com

LIGHT

The days are shorter and our hours of daylight are often dimmed by thick layers of grey cloud. It can feel oppressive and gloomy. I combat this by trying to find whatever natural light that I can. When the sun is hard to find, I turn to fire. The warm glow from a candle or an open fire has an innate comforting quality. Hurricane lanterns are a great way to house candles of different shapes and sizes in a safe way if you don’t have a working fireplace or wood burner. Candleholders and lanterns with cutouts are also a very effective way to introduce texture through shadow. I remember seeing some wall lanterns similar to the candleholders below for the first time when I visited Morocco a few years ago. During the day I had no idea what they were, they seemed like a pretty plain wall decoration. But at night, when they were lit, it was like magic. The patterns of light created by something so simple were stunning.

Photo via Zenza

SMELL

Smell is so important when it comes to the experience of a room, especially over the winter period. The smells of an open fire, freshly cut pine and gingerbread baking in the oven evoke feelings of warmth and comfort (and hunger!). If you’re not a fan of hoovering up the needles of a Norway spruce, or if you don’t celebrate Christmas, an easy way to introduce the fresh smell of the outdoors is to add sprigs of pine or cedar to a winter garland or flower arrangement. I also suggest investing in a good quality scented candle or reed diffuser with notes of wood and spice. 

Photo via Shibang Designs

My main piece of advice when designing a home for winter is to avoid anything artificial, anything that doesn’t feel, smell or look real. Focus on atmosphere, nature and warmth and you can’t go too far wrong!