Many people want to create a calming and tranquil space where they can kick back and relax, or a home filled with positive energy, or a space to show off precious antiques. People often wonder if it is possible to combine antiques and feng shui, well the good news is that it is!
What Is Feng Shui?
Feng Sui is an ancient Chinese principle that seeks to find the balance and harmony between the elements. One of easiest ways to practice feng shui is by interior design, as the tools used in feng shui can be easily applied in a home. The purpose of feng shui is to position different elements in a room, house or building, allowing energy; also known as ‘Chi’ to flow through the space. It is believed this energy can create good fortune in, health, wisdom, family, love and in your career. The phrase is combined of two words, the first is ‘feng’ meaning wind and ‘shui’ meaning water. These are two of the elements that are represented in feng shui, the others are wood, metal, earth and fire.
Wood signifies strength and growth, adding wooden furniture and plants to a space encourages personal growth. Metal symbolizes knowledge and logic, including antique silverware such as metal frames and sculptures to your space supports intelligence and mental sharpness. Earth signifies sustainability and balance, brining earth items inside your space such as, rocks, crystals and landscape imagery helps to ground and stabilize you. Water symbolizes wisdom and tranquillity, adding mirrors, reflective surfaces and water features to your space helps with clarity and relaxation. And finally, fire signifies energy and passion, including candles and the colour red to your space enhances transformation and volatility.
Antiques and Feng Shui
It is possible to combine both antique objects and the feng shui philosophy. You can use many different antiques to create the calming and positive energy that feng shui design brings to your home. Although antiques tend to carry a lot of energy from their previous owners there are some tips and tricks to ensure your antiques do not posses any negative energy.
Trust your instincts, if your gut tells you your antique’s history is not a positive one do not include it. The story that comes with an antique can sometimes compromise good feng shui. Try to imagine how the item would feel in your space and gauge the type of energy it oozes to see if it is suitable to include in your space.
To remove any negative energy, it is important to energetically cleanse your antiques. You can purify energy by burning incense and essential oils, whipping down hard surfaces with warm water and a dash of vinegar will help in the cleansing process. To help eliminate lingering negative energy its best to leave your antiques to rest in an unrelated area to prepare it for its new space.
To generate a positive and calming feng shui, your items must have purpose. Ensure you are really drawn to the item before it is included in your space. Make sure you make good use of the item as clutter can have a negative impact on good feng shui.
Light and space are very important factors to incorporate in to good feng shui, as light creates positive energy which flows around the space created. Mirrors are one of the best and easiest ways to produce good feng shui and create an illusion of space and light.
It is important to keep in mind that certain materials absorb and hold on to negative energy more than others, such as: wood or thick fabrics. This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be included in your feng shui but they might require deeper cleaning rituals. Reflective surfaces such as pewter, glass or silver absorb much less, which will help you create a more successful feng shui.
