I will start with the general principles of applying feng shui in the home, then move on to a brief explanation of the bagua map. As a general rule when looking at feng shui in the home, is that the flow of energy through the house should be gentle and tranquil. There should never be any discomfort to the house's inhabitants and if there is - something needs to be rearranged. Whilst the home's exterior is beyond the scope of this lens, the exterior of your home is often the greatest source of negative energy (e.g., electricity lines), which can be offset by the use of bagua mirrors and plants.

When we look at feng shui in the home, we should start with the most important room in the home - the bedroom. In Chinese tradition, the most important room has always been the bedroom, and is regarded as the 'seat of power' of sorts for the household. As general guideline, the bedroom should really just contain a bed and a few other items of furniture. The bed itself should have a wooden frame and a solid backing. It should also be placed against a wall, and not be pointed out the door (the dreaded 'coffin position'). The bedroom should feel peaceful and relaxing, and be used solely for sleeping and sexual activity. Try to avoid putting office equipment, electronics (including the TV), exercise equipment, books or other items in your bedroom - they interrupt the cycle of energy in the bedroom and can have drastic effects on your quality of sleep. Most feng shui practitioners are pretty dogmatic about what should and shouldn't go in the bedroom because of its importance in organizing feng shui in the home.

When considering feng shui in the home, an overview or plan can be of great value. Consider your kitchen, which represents the elements of water (sink) and fire (stove). The two should not be next to each other, and the kitchen should generally not face north. Also consider the general décor of your home - what colors generally dominate each room? Each color and set of color tones has a different meaning in feng shui: yellow represents authority, white represents purity, green represents longevity, blue represents blessings, and red represents happiness. Layout and color are but two of the general principles of applying feng shui in the home.

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As technology and lifestyles have changed, so too has the practice of feng shui in the home. The home office is a recent addition to the traditional home, and as such the rules of feng shui have been updated to allow for this. Like the bedroom, this room should generally contain only objects associated with productivity and creativity - computer equipment, books, paper, and stationary. It is of critical importance that when seated, the user of the home office be able to see the entrance door (they should never have their back facing the door). If this is not possible, be sure to use a mirror as a feng shui in the home cure to correct the problem.

Most laypeople and novice feng shui practitioners often immediately associate the bagua map with feng shui in the home. The important thing about the bagua is that it should be treated carefully, as improper alignment can wreak havoc on the flow of chi in your home. The main issue with the bagua is how it should be oriented, and there are two schools of thoughts in this regard, both which (unfortunately) can result in opposite readings. Because of the different geographic locations around the world, the generally recommended use of the bagua is to face the career aspect of the bagua towards yourself as you stand in the front door of your home facing inwards, in order to get an accurate layout of feng shui in the home.

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As you have seen, applying feng shui in the home is not a mystical and shrouded process - it is the combination of sound design principles, the intelligent placement of furniture and the creation of a pleasant aesthetic. Be sure to check back later for more on using feng shui in the home!