Feng shui for the kitchen and bedroom: arranging for peace of mind

In feng shui, the kitchen and the bedroom get the closest attention, since one is where you cook every day and the other is where you rest. The tips below are easy to apply, even in a home you already live in.

Keep the stove away from the front door

Traditional belief holds that a stove visible from the door lets good fortune slip away. In practice, wind blowing straight in from the door makes the flame flicker, and guests look right into the cooking area as they walk in. Place the stove in the inner part of the house, partly screened by a wall or cabinets.

Don't put the stove right next to the sink

Feng shui calls this a clash between water and fire. In everyday use, water splashing onto the stove is also a real nuisance. Leave a stretch of countertop between the stove and the sink, which separates the two and gives you space for food prep.

Put the bed against a solid wall

The head of the bed should rest against a solid wall, not right up against a window. Avoid lining the bed up directly with the door, and avoid having a beam over the head of the bed. Being able to see the door from bed helps people feel more at ease.

A tidy, calm bedroom

A bedroom doesn't need to be very large. Use light colors, soft lighting and few furnishings. A large mirror shouldn't face the bed directly; you can mount it inside a wardrobe door instead.

Tell your architect early

The positions of the stove and the bed are tied to plumbing, power outlets and windows, so they need to be settled while the house is being designed. Once the house is built, changes cost a lot more.