Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art of arranging things within a space in such a way as to create a good flow of energy that leads to balance. Sometimes referred to as geomancy, it focuses on the way the “qi”, the life force energy that flows through a space.
The art of feng shui is thousands of years old, yet remains a practice that’s still relied upon to bring balance and harmony into a space. Design elements such as a wall color or a furniture layout all play a role in the overall feel of a room, and in feng shui terms, affect the energy of the space.
If you’re curious about this philosophy but aren’t sure where to get started, feng shui expert Anjie Cho is sharing her best tips. Sometimes knowing what not to do is the best starting point, so we asked Cho to share the most common feng shui faux pas people make so you can avoid them. She talks everything from florals to furniture placement and storage, and her insights may just surprise you.
1. Displaying Dried or Artificial Flowers
While displaying dried or artificial flowers in your home may require less maintenance, when it comes to feng shui, you’ll want to replace them with fresh flowers as they have life energy. “Dried or fake flowers do not have the same qi (life force energy), and are often used in homes in lieu of fresh flowers because the homeowner wants them to last forever,” Cho says. Although that may be practical, she explains that the beauty of flowers is deeply entwined in their fleeting impermanence.
If you’re wondering whether it’s ok to dry and keep a meaningful bouquet of flowers, Cho says there are exceptions to the rule. “There are definitely situations where if you have well loved dried or fake flowers, like a preserved wedding bouquet, they’re 100% okay—just don’t use them for a feng shui adjustment,” she says.
2. Placing a Desk in Front of a Window
You might decide to place your home office desk in front of a window so you can take in the view as you work, but according to Cho, it’s one of the most common feng shui faux pas. “From a feng shui perspective, it’s not ideal because your qi goes out the window and doesn’t stay with your work or desk”, she says. It may be ok to position the desk in front of a window if it’s purely for decorative purposes, but not if it’s your primary work spot. “If you work at this desk a lot and are very focused on your career success, try turning it so that the window is to your side,” Cho suggests.
3. Putting a Bench at the Foot of the Bed
It might seem like a bench at the foot of the bed completes the bedroom, but for feng shui purposes, you’ll want to stay away from this placement. “The foot of your bed can represent opportunities, especially for your career, and placing a bench or other furniture at the foot of the bed will block access for that energy,” Cho explains.
4. Storing Things Under the Bed
“In feng shui, ideally the energy can flow around you smoothly while you’re sleeping for the best health,” Cho says. The empty space under the bed may seem like a great place to store out-of-season clothing and other clutter, but Cho advises against it. She explains the qi of the items under your bed affects you while you’re sleeping. “You sleep in bed, unconscious and receptive, for a third of your life, so the items that you sleep directly over affect you,” she says.
You might be thinking, that sounds great, but what if the space under the bed is the only place to store some of your belongings? Cho takes a realistic approach to bedroom storage, saying, “I also understand, being a New Yorker, that we don’t have a ton of storage space. So if you have to have storage under the bed, stick to sleep related or soft items like linens, pillows, the like.” She advises against storing anything emotionally charged under your bed, whether it’s stressful tax returns or active objects like your gym shoes.
5. Only Adding Color Through Through Painted Walls
Color is one of the many tools that are used in feng shui, but Cho says it’s just one tool. Don’t make the faux pas of taking things so literally as to think that because the bagua area for wealth is purple, you now have to paint your walls purple—even if you hate the color. “There are many paths on the feng shui journey and painting your entire house purple doesn’t need to be one of them,” Cho points out.
Wall paint is not the only vehicle for incorporating a certain color into your space. “If you’re called to work with colors, the color can be invited into your home and life, but it doesn’t have to be painted walls; It can be in decor, clothing, crystals, even underwear, or using a purple pen to journal,” Cho notes.
6. Mixing Different Feng Shui Styles
The internet is full of feng shui suggestions, as are books, magazines, and people you meet—but Cho warns against mixing and matching different feng shui suggestions. “There are dozens of schools of feng shui and so it’s easy to find conflicting information,” she says. Her recommendation is to trust your intuition and go with the one feng shui expert, book, or tip that resonates with you and following it through with mindful intention. “Just like a bread recipe, when you’re starting out, find one recipe that you’ll commit to and try it out before you attempt to combine various recipes,” Cho says.
7. Tossing Cactus Plants
If indoor plants are your thing, Cho reveals you should never toss your cactus plants. “It’s true that in general, soft and heart shaped leaf plants are preferable for a feng shui adjustment, but it doesn’t mean that you need to toss out any plants that don’t meet that criteria,” she explains. Cho says that if the cactus is healthy, well-loved, meaningful to you, and thriving, then it’s imparting those qualities back at you.
However, you’ll want to keep an eye out on the message the cactus may be sending. “A spiky cactus gives off ‘stay away’ or protective vibes—which is totally appropriate and helpful in many situations,” Cho explains. However if your situation changes, you may want to move or give the cactus away. “Maybe you notice that you’re ready to date and you have a huge thriving cactus in your love corner. So when you’re ready, maybe it can move elsewhere or you can gift it to someone else in need of its support,” Cho suggests.
8. Confusion With Applying the Feng Shui Bagua
One of the most well known tools in feng shui is called the bagua. While it may be a significant tool, Cho stresses that it’s not the only tool you can use. “If you have a complicated floor plan it’s totally ok to not use it,” she says. To avoid confusion with applying the bagua, she reiterates that it’s important not to mix and match different feng shui schools and suggestions. “It’s helpful to just work with one book, expert, or tip and follow their guidelines,” she says. “Because there are many schools, each one may apply it differently and probably conflict, therefore confusing you.”
9. Worrying About Bad Feng Shui
Lastly, Cho says you shouldn’t worry too much about bad feng shui. “It’s easy to get in the weeds and start to worry about everything that is ‘bad’ about your home and life,” she says. She explains that the foundation of the feng shui teachings is built upon non-duality, like yin and yang, and notes that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are two sides of the same coin.
“Sometimes we may be attracted to a space that had ‘bad’ feng shui, but it was really what we needed; or maybe it starts to exacerbate a wound that is ripe to heal,” Cho says. The key is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all thing when it comes to feng shui: “What is bad for someone may be life-changingly good for someone else,” Cho says.
