Common Feng Shui Decorating Mistakes

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice focused on harmonizing the energy flow in living spaces to promote health, happiness, and good fortune. The term feng shui literally translates to “wind-water” in English, referring to the belief that the natural landscape impacts the flow of vital life force energy known as qi or chi.

The main goal of feng shui is to harness the flow of energy in an environment by properly orienting, arranging, and decorating it. This helps create balance and harmony that is thought to improve various aspects of life like relationships, career, and prosperity. Properly arranging a home, office, or other space in accordance with feng shui principles ensures that energy can flow smoothly without blockages, collisions, or other disruptions.

When designing or decorating an interior space with feng shui in mind, the focus is on promoting natural energy patterns that allow qi to circulate freely. Certain feng shui techniques can invite beneficial energy in while containing or deflecting harmful energy. One of the key tools is the Bagua map, which shows how different areas of your home or room correlate to aspects of life. Mistakes in interior design can throw off this energy balance and flow.

This article will explore some of the most common feng shui mistakes to avoid when decorating your home. Applying feng shui properly takes some practice, but learning what not to do is a great place to start improving the energy of your space. With the right adjustments informed by feng shui wisdom, your environment can become a source of good fortune.

Mistake 1 — Dried Flowers and Plants

In feng shui, fresh flowers and thriving plants represent new beginnings and growth. Their vital energy brings a vibrant, lively feel to a space.

On the other hand, dried, dying or sick plants and flowers symbolize decay and emit stagnant chi. Their lifeless energy blocks the healthy flow of qi and has an adverse effect.

It’s best to promptly remove faded blooms, withered leaves and any vegetation past its prime. Their dwindling energy becomes trapped inside your home. Over time, this erodes the uplifting atmosphere that accompanies vibrant, healthy greenery.

Replace dried flowers and plants with fresh alternatives. Or go without if you don’t have time to care for living plants. It’s better to have nothing at all than dead or unhealthy plants releasing negative energy into your surroundings.

Mistake 2 — Sharp, Pointy Plants

Plants with thorns, spikes, or sharp points are believed to disrupt the free flow of energy in a space according to feng shui principles. The sharp points direct energy in an intense, straight line rather than allowing it to gently meander. This can feel unsettling, abrasive, and confrontational.

Ideally, plants should have soft, round shapes and leaves to promote a harmonious environment. The exception is plants with subtle thorns on the stem rather than aggressive thorns on leaves and flowers. Subtle stem thorns likely won’t interfere with energy flow.

Some examples of plants to avoid for their sharper features include cacti, aloe vera, agave, crown of thorns, bougainvillea, roses, and other thorny bushes or flowers. Replace these with calmer alternatives like philodendrons, ferns, palms, orchids, and lilies. Focus on smooth, flowing silhouettes.

In the end, energetically harsh plants visually reflect their sharpness. For a more peaceful atmosphere, cultivate plants with softness, fluidity and non-threatening forms. Let them promote equilibrium rather than turmoil.

Mistake 3: Broken or Obscured Mirrors Don’t Reflect Truth

In feng shui, mirrors are considered powerful tools for enhancing good energy. Mirrors symbolize water in feng shui, which relates to calmness, clarity and reflection. Properly placed mirrors can double positive energy, expand space and allow for self-reflection.

However, mirrors with cracked, chipped or missing sections are believed to distort truth and allow for miscommunication. Obscured mirrors covered by curtains, overlays or other objects also block the full reflection and don’t allow truth to shine through fully.

Broken or covered mirrors are thought to “trap” energy, rather than reflect it back freely. This trapped energy represents untruths, misconceptions and things being hidden or distorted. Having a broken or blocked mirror can make it harder to see situations clearly and communicate openly.

To avoid this, feng shui recommends replacing any cracked or damaged mirrors. Make sure mirrors are clean and unobstructed so their reflective power shines through. Position mirrors thoughtfully to maximize openness, positivity and truth in relationships and communication throughout the home.

Mistake 4 — Bagua Mirror Placement

One common feng shui mistake is improperly placing Bagua mirrors inside the home rather than outside. The Bagua mirror has a special purpose — to deflect negative energy away from the home. Therefore, the ideal placement is outside the front door or on the exterior walls flanking the entrance. Having the convex side of the Bagua mirror face outward will reflect the bad “chi” or energy away from the home.

Placing a Bagua mirror on the inside of your home serves no protective purpose. The proper feng shui application is above an exterior door or on an external wall. Don’t make the mistake of using a Bagua mirror internally just as a decorative object. This will be ineffective and goes against classic feng shui wisdom. Exterior placement ensures you are harnessing the full benefits of the Bagua mirror.

Mistake 5: Using Random Asian Objects Not Suited for Feng Shui

In feng shui, every object in your home has significance in how energy flows. It’s easy to fall into the trap of using random Asian decorations or objects simply because they “look” feng shui. However, authentic feng shui relies on using items with intention and purpose.

For example, you may pick up a laughing Buddha statue at an import store because it seems auspicious. But if you don’t properly activate it or place it in the appropriate Bagua area, it will fail to produce benefits. Or you may buy a Chinese calligraphy scroll and hang it simply for aesthetics vs. displaying affirmations or blessings.

While Asian-inspired decor can add wonderful accents, feng shui is less about appearances. Every object should have meaning and enhance chi. Avoid cluttering your space with random Asian art or knickknacks that serve no energetic goal. Instead, select decor mindfully based on feng shui principles. Work with a consultant if needed to properly activate and position special items.

With intention and mindfulness, you can transform your home using feng shui decorating. But resist the urge to use Asian objects haphazardly without purpose. Always let proper placement and activation guide your choices.

Mistake 6 — Storage Under Beds

In feng shui, the area under the bed represents the energy of your subconscious and inner self. When you store items like boxes, shoes, books, etc. under the bed, it creates a blockade for this energy flow. The clutter literally stops the positive chi from circulating properly around this space.

As a result, the vital energy your body needs for rejuvenation while you sleep gets disrupted. You may experience insomnia, fatigue, or even nightmares when the under-bed area is cluttered. It prevents you from fully recharging at night.

The recommended feng shui fix is to clear out all the clutter from under the bed. This allows for unobstructed chi circulation while you sleep. You’ll find it easier to get deep, restful sleep. Some feng shui experts also advise making the underside of the bed visually “lighter” and more open. You can do this by using risers or an open bed frame rather than a solid box frame. A lighter, airier space under the bed encourages better energy flow.

Mistake 7 — Bed Without a Secure Headboard

In feng shui, having a sturdy, solid headboard on your bed is considered very important for good energy flow. The headboard provides a sense of stability and security when sleeping or resting in bed. Without a proper headboard, you may feel unsettled and exposed. Some key reasons to avoid having a bed without a secure headboard include:

• The headboard serves as a form of protection and support behind your head when sleeping. Having an open space behind your head while in bed leaves you energetically vulnerable.
• The headboard helps contain and anchor the energy in your bed and bedroom. An open space behind the bed can allow energy to be dispersed and drained away.
• Having a bed without a headboard placed against a solid wall goes against good feng shui principles for the bedroom. The bed head should be aligned with a solid wall for feelings of security.
• Having no headboard can symbolically represent a lack of support in your life relationships or a feeling of helplessness.
• The headboard backs the bed visually and reinforces it as the main furniture piece and focal point of the bedroom. An open bed without a headboard looks unstable and incomplete.

Overall, making sure your bed has a solid, secure headboard is an important feng shui recommendation for optimal energy in the bedroom. Don’t overlook this important design principle.

Mistake 8 — Don’t Block Doors from Opening 90 Degrees

In feng shui, it’s important that doors are able to open a full 90 degrees without blocking. This allows for the free flow of energy (chi) to move smoothly throughout your home. When doors are blocked from opening fully, it creates a bottleneck effect that restricts and slows the flow of energy.

Doors that don’t open all the way often get stuck or jammed, which indicates friction and trapped energy. The ideal feng shui door will swing open freely and effortlessly. Having ample space around doors also creates a feeling of openness and abundance.

To fix a blocked door situation, clear any obstructing furniture, plants or other objects that prevent the door from fully opening. If the door itself is too small for the doorway or is off-center, consider replacing it. The slight hassle is worth it for optimal energy circulation.

With doors that can open a full 90 degrees, positive chi is invited to enter freely, energizing every area of your home. The free-flowing movement promotes prosperity, new opportunities and an overall smoother journey through life.

Mistake 9 — Trying to Fix all Bagua Home Energy Areas at Once

According to feng shui principles, the bagua map divides your home into nine areas that each govern different aspects of your life — wealth, health, family, knowledge, fame, relationships, children, helpful people and career. It’s tempting to try and activate all of these areas when applying feng shui to your home. However, feng shui masters recommend taking a more systematic approach and choosing just one or two areas to focus on improving at a time.

There are a few key reasons why fixing all bagua areas simultaneously is not recommended:

• It can feel overwhelming and you may not give each area the proper attention it deserves. Take your time and be thorough.
• There are specific feng shui cures and enhancements suited to each individual area. Tackling just one or two areas allows you to select the most appropriate remedies.
• Activating too many areas at once runs the risk of creating disharmony rather than the balance and flow you want to achieve.
• You won’t be able to accurately assess the impact and results when making too many energizing changes simultaneously.

Instead, thoughtfully evaluate which bagua area is most important for you to strengthen right now. Perhaps wealth, career or relationships need a boost. Carefully apply feng shui enhancements to energize just this area first. Once you feel the shift, you can move to another section of your home. With a targeted, step-by-step approach, you’ll begin to create positive feng shui energy that transforms your living space.