Feng shui for the entrance and living room: what to know before you build

Feng shui is know-how, passed down over many generations, on choosing orientation, placing rooms and arranging things in the home. Much of it is very practical: a house with enough air and light is more pleasant to live in. Below are the things worth discussing while the house is being designed, when everything is still easy to change.

The front door welcomes energy

The front door should be generous and open onto a bright space. Keep the area in front of the door tidy, and avoid columns, large trees or trash bins blocking the path. Door sizes are often measured with the Lo Ban ruler to pick a good segment. You can try it right now on our Lo Ban Ruler Lookup page.

Avoid a straight line from front door to back door

Tradition frowns on a front door lined up directly with the back door, because air rushes straight through the house. In practical terms, passersby can also see right inside. A light partition, a low cabinet or a patch of greenery can slow the airflow down.

Keep the living room bright and airy

The living room is the center of the home. It should have large windows, few furnishings and clear walkways. The sofa should rest against a solid wall, with a view of the door from where you sit. Avoid placing seating right under a large beam; if that can't be avoided, a ceiling can be added to hide the beam.

Every family, its own layout

The orientation of the house, the homeowner's age and the shape of the plot differ from home to home, so there is no one-size-fits-all formula. If feng shui matters to your family, tell your architect from the very beginning so it can be built into the design, rather than fixed after the house is finished.