The power of a beautiful hardwood floor in any home cannot be underestimated. In addition to its beauty, it affects your feel, space, lifestyle, and the value of your home. Did you know that it can also bring good vibes into your home? Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of arranging and arranging a room, a house, and even an entire office building. the purpose is to channel the natural flow of energy, called qi (pronounced chi).
Reading: Feng shui wood floor direction
Those familiar with feng shui understand that incorporating some of its practical ideas when planning a hardwood floor can make a world of difference. In feng shui, wood can help you achieve an environment that is welcoming, calm, serene, and peaceful.
Our blog this time invites you to keep an open mind to the ideals of feng shui and how a hardwood floor can enhance the flow and positive energy of your space.
what is feng shui?
feng and shui in Chinese mean “wind” and “water”. This combination of science and art originated in China between 2,000 and 6,000 years ago.
the philosophy of feng shui is essential in new construction, especially in asia. it is a practice of orienting the building and arranging living spaces to balance the natural world. the goal is to harness positive energy forces and establish harmony between people and their environment.
True believers feel that following the rules of feng shui makes us happier, more peaceful and more successful in our homes or offices. who doesn’t want more of that?
the bagua map
The word “bagua” in Chinese means “eight areas”. A bagua is the energy map that feng shui practitioners superimpose on the floor plan of a house. highlights eight types of energy related to different life circumstances plus a ninth area that covers general health and wellness.
These areas are:
- career & path of life
- love & marriage
- family & health
- prosperity & abundance
- helpful people & travel
- creativity & children
- skills & knowledge
- fame & reputation
each area has unique characteristics. For example, wealth uses the color purple, the number 5, rectangular and columnar shapes, and its element is wood.
presumably, a rectangular hardwood floor is a great start to bringing wealth into your home.
There are also 5 elements that influence the bagua areas.
the 5 elements
Without delving too deeply into feng shui theory, we should mention the five elements of wood, fire, earth, water, and metal.
These elements are derived from Taoist beliefs that the five elements are interconnected in life. they work together to create a harmonious system. The foundation of feng shui is to balance these five elements in your home and living areas.
feng shui tips for the floor of your house
Feng shui is about bringing positive energy into the home. everything affects the energy of the room, including the flooring materials, the color of the room, the placement of furniture, and other features. Here are some of the essential elements of feng shui and how to use them.
floor material
The type of material and its colors are essential elements for the room and the home. If you love beautiful hardwood floors, there’s good news. the preferred flooring material for feng shui is wood. hardwood, such as oak, will bring positive energy to your health and well-being.
Soft woods like pine are supposed to create a relaxing environment. think how relaxing it is to stay in a rustic cabin in the woods made from knotty pine. pine is the wood used to make saunas. So, there’s something nice about having wood under your feet or around you.
Another hardwood flooring option is to use exotic wood finished with natural oil. choose tung oil for a natural wood floor finish. you can read more in this article, “how to finish your hardwood floor with tung oil”.
channel the flow of qi
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Wood planks can direct the flow of qi energy, like traffic on a highway. note the direction of the boards. for example, you don’t want to place tables in a narrow hallway because they act as a barrier to the flow of qi. instead, follow the length of the hallway. if you want to slow down the flow of qi in the room, place the boards diagonally.
feng shui floor colors
color is important in feng shui. Since flooring is considered an earth element, colors should be earth tones such as brown, tan, green, and gray. these are calming colors that promote harmony and health.
Choose colors for the walls and ceilings that complement the color of the flooring. feng shui dictates that using darker or deeper shades can dampen the energy of the room. however, adding live, green plants can increase the energy in the room and enhance the beauty of the hardwood floor.
feng shui dictates that it is best to select neutral, earthy, natural colors. Since the concept of feng shui is to enhance people’s connection to their surroundings, it’s best to leave hardwood floors as close to their natural color as possible.
feng shui floor shapes or patterns
Shapes are another essential design aspect of the feng shui process. shapes and designs can strengthen or block the flow of energy. sometimes the wrong shapes can create dead or stagnant zones within the house.
Regarding floor patterns, feng shui suggests making floors less noticeable. the idea is not to make them so obvious that they draw attention and energy to the ground. drawing energy down relates to being down and out, a negative feeling.
For proper feng shui, avoid highly visual patterns such as herringbone, stripes, or checkerboards. Also, you should avoid star and diamond shapes. according to feng shui philosophy, a diamond is an inverted chessboard at a 45° angle. the dots represent “poison arrows” that point towards all doors, blocking energy. for the same reason, avoid starburst patterns.
One shape that does work is the hexagon because it doesn’t have sharp arrowheads. With a little understanding and good design practices, it is possible to have a beautiful floor that adheres to the principles of feng shui.
the design of your floor
a feng shui floor design uses the same material throughout the house. having different floors for each room disrupts the flow of qi and reduces positive energy. if you insist on having another floor, try changing only the kitchen and bathrooms.
The way the boards are placed will dictate the direction of energy flow. Whether you want to adhere to feng shui or not, laying boards across the width of a hallway just doesn’t look good. makes it appear narrower and shorter than it already is.
A possible exception is if the hallway leads directly to a window or door. Placing the boards widthwise slows down the qi and prevents it from leaving the house.
feng shui tips for each area of your home
we talked about bagua and the previous eight zones. here are some design tips for each of the zones.
rooms facing east
To boost feng shui energy in eastern rooms, use wood flooring and furniture. avoid using things made of metal. Favorable shapes for eastern rooms are rectangular, wavy, square, and natural shapes, such as stones.
southeast rooms
The decoration of this room should have natural crystals, wood, carpets and china. add shapes for southeastern rooms like wavy, flowing, square, and rectangular.
rooms facing south
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For these rooms, use wood furniture and totally natural fibers such as sisal, linen and jute. accessories and accent piece shapes for southern rooms are pyramids, triangles, stars, and diamonds.
southwest rooms
include rock crystals, candles and china, but leave out mirror-like surfaces or wooden furniture. use triangles, diamonds, stars, and pyramids as part of your decorations.
west rooms
Go with things made of rock crystal, metal, earthenware, and glass. the best shapes are round and square.
northwest rooms
Look for china (ceramic, clay, pottery, etc.), glass, metal, and natural crystals when furnishing a Northwest room. the three shapes are oval, round and square.
north rooms
For the best qi flow in this room, decorate it with shiny surfaces like glass or metal. feng shui shapes include wavy, round, and oval.
northeast rooms
Furniture in these rooms is the same as the Northwest rooms. use candles, rock crystals and all china. for shapes, choose pyramids, stars, diamonds, triangles, and squares.
wood floors and feng shui
There’s no hard and fast rule for flooring, but solid wood ticks all the boxes for a healthier, more organized home. Wood is one of the five essential elements that promote growth and creativity. installing hardwood floors throughout your home adds continuity from room to room.
Although you can use other flooring materials, such as tile or stone, wood is more relaxing. In practical terms, home buyers prefer wood to other materials. select a matte finish instead of a high gloss floor. paint the ceiling a bright color with lots of light to help energize the room. the theory is that a high gloss floor reflects light. people tend to keep their heads down looking at the ground, which reduces their energy.
solid oak flooring offers good feng shui
Feng shui is flexible when it comes to the type of wood flooring. You can’t go wrong with oak because it’s durable, affordable, and looks beautiful in any décor. for the best energy, use the same wood and color throughout the house. having light floors in one room and dark floors in the next blocks the flow of energy.
oak with a natural matte finish offers the balance of light you want in every room. oak floors are also practical. they hold up to kids, pets, spills and traffic for generations.
If you plan to install solid oak flooring, check out easiklip’s line of solid oak flooring. They offer four light colors, Natural, Rustic White Bleach, Gray Wash, and Rustic Smoke. They go well with light colored walls to bring positive energy to any room.
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