The Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, was traditionally celebrated with family reunions and gatherings at home. For the younger generations, the holiday has become more of a time for relaxation and vacation. Younger generations are apt to use the week long break to travel home. Traditions surrounding the Chinese New Year are aimed to bring good fortune to house and family. Extended feasts are composed of symbolic dishes representing health, wealth, and other forms of good luck. Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar. Based on lunar and solar paths, ancient Chinese calendars were given to farmers by the government so they could arrange planting and harvest dates for the coming year. Chinese zodiac patterns also influenced the calendar, bringing us to 2015, the year of the goat.
I thought I would honor the Chinese New Year by focusing on the method of Feng Shui. The ancient art of Feng Shui is meant to create a balanced and harmonious interior to promote health and good fortune for the inhabitants of the space. Its roots are in the Tao philosophy, where there is a strong connection to nature and a belief that the land is viable and brimming with energy. Feng Shui is flexible and can be personalized to focus on individual goals, such as professional success or favorable health. According to this practice, if the energy in your home is balanced, then when your energy aligns with your homes energy, you will find harmony and good fortune.
The optimum flow of energy, also known as chi, is achieved by balancing the five elements of Feng Shui. Wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are all symbols that should be represented in a harmonious environment. While each Feng Shui element may be represented by many different shapes, colors, or objects, today I’ve paired each energy with some of my favorite go-to home décor items.
Source: HGTV
Wood
Creativity and growth are represented by wood elements. Hinting at the dawn of a new day or the rebirth of the land during the spring, adding wood elements to your décor will bring about personal progress and awareness. One way to do this is to add plants to your interior rooms. According to Feng Shui principles, a bamboo plant is always a good option as it is strong, easy to care for, and attracts favorable chi.
Sources: Burnham Design, BHG, Window Box, Fotohacker, The Marion House Book
Fire
Fire is the most fickle of the five elements and because of this it must be used cautiously. Add fire energy to inspire boldness, transformation, and determination. Candles are a simple and affordable decorative accent to add to your home to represent this daring element.
Sources: French Country Cottage, BHG, Apartment Therapy, Tuesdays With Dorie
Earth
Earth elements provide grounding and a stable, balanced energy to your home. While strong, this element also represents calm and peace. Featuring a serene landscape canvas over your fireplace or creating a gallery wall with a collection of sunlit vista images will allow for earth energy to flow freely through your rooms.
Sources: Horchow, Apartment Therapy, Elizabeth Floyd, Samperton
Metal
Metal affects mental clarity and intelligence. If you aim to improve your focus and systematic aptitude, be sure to incorporate the metal element into your space. This should be a simple addition as metallics are always popular in home décor. The colors may sway from gold to silver to bronze depending on the latest trends, but can easily be added with a few decorative metal bowls, a table lamp, or cabinet hardware.
Source: Anna Williams
Water
Spiritual and emotional matters are addressed with the water element. When this element is balanced, the characteristics of insight, judgment, and motivation are to be improved. Mirrors are used as a pleasant representation of water’s energy as their reflective properties mimic the reflection of still water.
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Sources: BHG, Jarlath Mellett, Matters of Style, House Beautiful
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If you yearn to alter your life’s path or just feel a little off balance but not sure where to start, why not begin at home by applying some Feng Shui theories to your personal sanctuary? The thought of a balanced and harmonious interior leading to a more balanced soul is a concept that I think makes perfect sense.
Xīnnián kuàilè!
