De-Stress Your Home with Feng Shui

Stress is an integral part of modern life, and for the sake of our health we know we need to manage it, something we do well sometimes and less successfully at others. One stressor many of us overlook, yet can address relatively easily, is the energy of our living space.

Our homes should be a haven from stress and anxiety. Yet residual energy, particularly the heavier kind left behind by people, difficult conversations and strong emotions, tends to take up permanent residence like an invisible houseguest whose influence is all-pervading. Even the colours, furnishings and art we choose can shape how a room feels.

The right feng shui combinations may help create a calmer space. A qualified feng shui consultant (through the Association of Feng Shui Consultants International) can review your whole home, but often small adjustments in a few key areas are enough to settle the energy. For supportive ways to manage everyday tension, see our notes on mood and stress.

Clear the clutter

Start by looking for clutter, something we can grow so used to that we stop seeing it. Left unchecked, it can leave us feeling claustrophobic, distracted, disorganised and guilty for not dealing with it.

Begin at the entrance to your home. The front door is known as the "mouth of chi", the point through which positive energy enters and, ideally, drifts through the house. Clutter here can halt or slow that flow. Where possible, use closed storage for the bags, briefcases and shoes that family members like to leave near the door, or get everyone into the habit of taking these items to their rooms.

Extend the tidy-up outside too:

• Keep garden beds weed-free and paths swept
• Clear cobwebs from around the entrance
• Plant pots of colourful bulbs or annuals
• Touch up paint where needed and add a welcoming door mat

If you enter through a garage, the same principle applies: keep the area clean and clear. From there, gradually work through the rest of the home. Sell, donate, gift or, as a last resort, toss anything no longer used, wanted or loved. Simply moving clutter out of sight does not work; it needs to leave the home entirely.

The bedroom

Bedrooms are best kept for rest and romance, which means work-related items really have no place there. The reality of small-space city living means many of us must work in the bedroom anyway. If so, screen off the work area with a folding screen or a tall plant, and limit electronics as much as possible.

The best position for the bed is against a solid wall for a sense of security and grounding, with easy access from both sides. Where you can, avoid storing anything under the bed so energy can circulate freely and support sound sleep. If under-bed storage is unavoidable, keep it to soft items such as clothes. Closing the door of an ensuite bathroom at night helps keep each room's function and energy separate.

Choose gentle curves

For a calmer, more relaxed home, choose furniture with rounded corners rather than sharp right angles where you can. Sharp points and corners can leave us feeling tense and defensive.

Indoor plants are a lovely addition too, with a positive influence on mood, productivity and a sense of wellbeing. Choose plants that are free of thorns and spikes and have soft leaves.

Add texture

An excess of smooth surfaces in a room, such as glass, metal, stone, polished wood and silky furnishings, can leave it feeling cold and unfriendly, which makes relaxation harder. This is something we never see in nature, with its endless variety of textures: rough tree bark, gritty sand, rocky landscapes and grassy fields.

Adding texture with rugs, natural fabrics, distressed wood and unpolished stone warms a room and creates a more comfortable, restful atmosphere.

Small, intentional changes to your space can make home feel like the sanctuary it should be. If ongoing stress is affecting your sleep, energy or wellbeing, a naturopathic consultation can help you look at the wider picture.

This article is general information and not a substitute for individual advice. Please speak with a qualified practitioner about your own circumstances.