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What is Feng shui and how does it relate to Taoism?

Taoism (literally, ‘teaching of the way’) is a philosophical and spiritual tradition of Chinese origin that explains how to live in harmony with the tao, considered the source, pattern and substance of all that exists.

Feng shui is part of this philosophical system, which is concerned with providing principles for people to inhabit spaces in a conscious and harmonious way, in order to achieve a positive influence on their lives.

Nowadays, in spite of being mostly considered as a pseudoscience (that is to say, a system of beliefs that cannot be proved with the scientific method), there are those who assure that its principles work. So much so that there are many firms that advise on how to decorate a house aligned with the principles of Feng Shui. Some even work with large international companies.

So that you can begin to integrate this oriental discipline in your life, we tell you how you can use some of its basic principles to decorate your home. We talk about the forces of yin and yang and the five creative elements.

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How to decorate the house under the principles of Feng shui: yin energy

Yin and yang are two Taoist concepts used to represent the duality that this philosophy attributes to everything in the universe. Thus, it describes the two fundamental opposing and complementary forces that are found in all things.

This reference is important when decorating the house following the principles of Feng shui. Thus, the yin energy is associated with the night, the shadow, feelings, the female sex, calm and stillness. It corresponds to cold weather, sweet flavors and winter.

According to Monica Koppel’s book Easy Feng Shui for the Home (Alamah, 2003), soft, relaxing, harmonious and long-tempo music, which evokes and awakens feelings of reflection, as well as floral aromas, contribute to create a yin space.

Therefore, in the rest areas of the house, such as the bedroom (which should be in the back, the furthest away from the movement of the street), we will seek to flow the force of yin. How? Using materials that promote a ‘cushioned’ and warm environment, such as wooden floors and carpets of natural materials (synthetic ones can emit particles that damage health, which is not aligned with Feng shui theories).

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It is also a good idea to decorate the bedroom with wallpaper or fabric tapestries, dim and indirect lighting, plants, curtains and soft and plush cotton or linen comforters. Furniture should be made of wood or plant fibers to promote yin energy, which facilitates the expression of feelings and thoughts and promotes meditation and relaxation.

The Barein headboard, made of bamboo and natural rattan grid, is ideal to put behind the bed if we intend to promote yin energy in the bedroom. In addition, it is Japandi style, a trend that flags the simplicity, minimalism and love for natural materials of Japanese and Scandinavian houses.

ABBY WOODEN MIRROR

Abby wooden mirror, rustic style.
Rectangular mirror with a recycled old wood frame.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Measurements: 76x4x100 cm

178,00€ without VAT

215.38€ ( incl. VAT )

I want it now

How to decorate your home under the principles of Feng shui: yang energy

Yang energy corresponds to joy and festivity. It is associated with the sun, the day, the summer and the heat, the external image and the social relationship. It is considered the masculine force of nature. Rhythmic, danceable music, which evokes and awakens festive and active feelings, as well as fruity, strong and fresh aromas, contribute to the design of a yang atmosphere.

Therefore, the yang space is the one we should pursue when decorating the house in its social areas, such as the living room and dining room. As far as buildings are concerned, it corresponds to the front part of the house, the one closest to the street.

Materials and textures associated with this energy are slab, marble or stone floors, with a hard and firm texture. In addition, it is good to use glass tables, metallic objects, window blinds, bright and direct light and firm and rigid furniture.

The Dixit wood and metal console table, with its robust and industrial look despite its light lines, is ideal for decorating these areas of the house. It has a powder-coated metal structure and a solid natural mango wood top.

DIXIT WOOD AND METAL SIDEBOARD

Dixit wood and metal sideboard, Industrial style.
Steel frame with black powder paint finishing.
Solid natural mango wood tabletop (2cm thickness).
This product is handcrafted, measurements may vary by approximately 2 or 3 cm, and the wood tone may differ depending on the batches.
Measurements: 120x36x74 cm

179,00€ without VAT

216.59€ ( incl. VAT )

I want it now

Thanks to this fusion of metal and wood, we will favor the combination of energies, so that we will be able to decorate the house with balanced and harmonious choices. Feng shui recommends avoiding excesses, avoiding rooms that are too yin or too yang. For the atmosphere to flow, we must keep in mind that “in a yin space there is yang, and within a yang environment there is yin, just as day gives way to night and vice versa,” as explained by the author Monica Koppel.

How to decorate the house with the Feng shui philosophy: the five forces

In addition to taking into account the yin and yang energies, when decorating the house following the principles of Feng shui, we must also know the five forces that, according to this philosophy, form everything that exists: water, wood, fire, earth and metal.

1. Decorating the house with water in Feng shui

Water is responsible for giving life and nurturing creativity, and corresponds to emotions and feelings. In Chinese culture, it represents the arrival of money and opportunities, and it is said that rivers are in charge of nourishing the house with this force. Nowadays, the streets symbolize rivers, so it is advisable that some of them pass in front of the property.

When decorating the house, water is represented with glass objects, asymmetrical and irregular shapes and dark tones: gray, navy blue and black. It is a recommended element in spaces where you want to promote spirituality, inner development, tranquility, rest, sleep and deep thinking.

Therefore, to integrate this element at home, nothing like the Sixten wooden mirror, with a frame made of old reclaimed wood. In addition, it combines beautifully with the next element, wood, which is made to grow by water.

SIXTEN WOODEN MIRROR

Wooden mirror Rustic style. It’s a rectangular mirror with a recovered aged wood frame.
Not suitable for outdoors.
Size: 80x5x180 cm

229,00€ without VAT

277.09€ ( incl. VAT )

I want it now

2. Decorating the house with wood in Feng shui

Water nourishes wood, which is responsible for growth, creativity and spontaneity. It derives dynamism, activity, restlessness and exercise. It nurtures joy, happiness and social manifestation. It provides curiosity and impetus, development through experimentation, childhood and adolescence, and for all this, it is ideal in children’s and youth rooms.

When decorating the house, it is represented with wooden objects and furniture, with landscapes of forests and gardens, elongated shapes, green and light blue tones, textile fibers of vegetable origin such as linen or cotton and natural plants, flowers and trees.

3. Decorating the house with fire in Feng shui

Wood fuels fire, which promotes joy, cheerfulness and festivity. It promotes flourishing, public relations, communication and a sense of acceptance in the world. It also nurtures stability, caution and motherhood.

When decorating the house, it is represented by candles, lamps, lights, electrical appliances, fireplaces, stoves, photographs of people, human and animal sculptures, objects from bones, feathers, skins, animal textile fibers: wool or silk, triangular and pyramidal shapes, bright red, orange and yellow colors. It is the energy of passion and its physical and verbal manifestation.

Therefore, in rooms where you receive guests, be sure to have the element of fire through a complete lighting, which goes beyond the classic ceiling lamp. Do it with accessories like the Yebra table lamp, made of natural rattan.

YEBRA TABLE LAMP

Table lamp made of natural rattan.
Size: Ø29xH41 cm | Cable length: 120 cm

22,00€ without VAT

26.62€ ( incl. VAT )

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4. Decorating the house with earth in Feng shui

Fire nourishes the earth; it represents solidity, caution and fecundity. It corresponds to tenderness, security and care, that is, to the stage of forming homes, choosing paths and setting goals: maturity.

When it comes to decorating the home, it manifests itself with objects, ornaments and accessories that come directly from the earth: porcelain, clay, stucco, bricks... Also with landscapes of mountains and volcanoes, square and flat shapes and earthy tones such as ochre, gold and burnt red.

Thus, the Aluda upholstered armchair, with its attractive reddish tone, will bring out all the strength of the earth element in the spaces where you are looking for family harmony thanks to its seat and backrest upholstered in velvet-like fabric.

ABBY WOODEN MIRROR

Abby wooden mirror, rustic style.
Rectangular mirror with a recycled old wood frame.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Measurements: 76x4x100 cm

178,00€ without VAT

215.38€ ( incl. VAT )

I want it now

5. Decorating the house with metal in Feng shui

Earth gives life to metal, responsible for solidity, security and leadership. It is related to coldness, clarity, order and cleanliness. It nourishes the depth of thoughts and the capacity of analysis and facilitates organization. In Chinese culture, it represents solidity and consolidation, and is responsible for bringing discipline and order to the living space.

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When decorating the house, it is represented with metallic, shiny and reflective objects; with circular, oval and arched shapes; with white, metallic Chinese red, pastel and silver colors; with landscapes of rocks and cliffs, quartz, geodes and precious stones and with pieces of art. For all these reasons, it is an element that will be useful to use in work areas such as the office or study.

Feng shui discipline to decorate the house: a complex system

There is much to learn if we seek to decorate the house following the Feng shui philosophy, a traditional system that takes into account forces, energies, materials and even orientations when dictating how to set the spaces. If you follow its precepts, it promises to improve your life by helping you achieve very specific goals, such as getting a better rest, enhancing analytical thinking or promoting family harmony.

Are you decorating your spaces with MisterWils' furniture? Tag us on your Instagram posts so we can share it and keep inspiring our decolovers and interior designers network.