Kitchen Feng Shui
An ancient method originating in China, Feng Shui is meant to bring happiness, abundance and harmony into the home. The placement of your kitchen, as well as the colors and materials used throughout, play an equal role in optimizing the flow of “Qi” — or the natural energy present in a space. There are plenty of do’s and don’ts involved with Feng Shui (like where to place your kitchen sink and which plants to avoid). For more design tips about Feng Shui please read below.
Follow the Kitchen Triangle Rule.
A great kitchen design is based on a traditional triangle model — with the refrigerator, sink and range making up each point of the triangle.
A nice, balanced amount of space between the refrigerator, the sink and the stove creates a comfortable and productive space.
Balance Is Key.
When designing your kitchen ask yourself, “How do I work in my kitchen?”. Base your design around how you move around.
- Accommodate space for a window by the sink, in order to create a flow from the inside out
- Provide a space that is designated as a landing place for groceries, so the kitchen feels easy to navigate
- Embrace natural light
5 Elements
The five elements are the very foundation of Feng Shui. The key to creating harmony in the kitchen is how you arrange the elements. For example, water and fire don’t mix — so, avoid placing the sink next to the stove. Also try to have living plants or an herb garden, since ‘living wood’ is stronger.
Represent the elements in a kitchen as so:
- Water: the sink
- Fire: the stove
- Wood: cabinetry, butcher-block counters or a wood table
- Metal: appliances, hardware or metal bar stools
- Earth: marble or granite counters, tile backsplash and flooring
- Place the kitchen at the back of the house.
We can’t always decide where each room in a house or apartment will be in relation to the others, but if you’re working with new construction or doing extensive renovations, ideally the kitchen will be in the back of the house. A kitchen shouldn’t be at your home’s entry point.
Having the kitchen at the entry point means that guests may come over to eat and then leave immediately. When the kitchen is placed at the back of the house — as it is in this kitchen designed by Jill Croka — it encourages guests to walk through your house and prompts them to stay longer.
Stove Placement
A stove is best located where you can see people as you cook. However, if your stove forces you to have your back to the room (which is often the case), consider hanging a mirror above the stove so you can see behind you.
If your range is facing a wall, you can hang something reflective such as a mirror on the backsplash area. The number of burners on your stove also represents wealth. Put a mirrored backsplash behind your stove burner to symbolically ‘double your wealth.'”
Create a balance of Yin and Yang.
Light is Yang energy in Feng Shui and darkness is Yin energy. Yang energy in the kitchen keeps the cook motivated, helps them see all their ingredients and read recipes. Try to have task lighting near work areas, as well as overhead lighting and just plain ‘gorgeous’ lighting.
Stay organized and clutter-free
To keep the Feng shui vibe stay clear of clutter. While a tidy kitchen on the surface is fantastic to see, a fully organized kitchen — pantry, refrigerator, drawers, cabinets — is unmatched in its vibrant, resonant energy. The kitchen is considered to be a room of prosperity
How to avoid bad energy in the kitchen.
A list of common pitfalls:
- Never decorate with dried flowers. “Dried flowers are dead chi.”
- Avoid cacti in the kitchen.
- Be careful of overhead fans. “Fans have cutting blades, which are not good to have overhead. Opt for a rattan paddle fan or a large upright fan.”
- Ensure proper ventilation to keep food smells in the kitchen, instead of the entire house.
We update our blog weekly, please visit our website.
Information from Good House Keeping