KITCHEN EASY FENG SHUI TIPS
in Relentless Magazine Issue 10
Many times, it’s been said – the kitchen is the heart of the home.
This is true for a large amount. For designers and architects, creating this area as the centre of attention has never been easy. It must, of course, be functional in the first place. When designing your kitchen, consider future uses for it in addition to its primary functions.
As the primary "public" area of a house, it should also be conducive to gatherings. Modern homes with open-plan design typically use this space as an extended family gathering place, particularly when hosting guests or children.
Third, there are numerous essential small touches in the kitchen that contribute to its overall appeal. You've got the cooker, a lot of cupboards or open shelves, countertops, washbasin design, fridge and everything down to the smallest details like handles, condiment placements, fruit bowls, crockery on show and so on. Finally, cohesion is still important in any design - it must integrate well with the adjoining dining space and the overall style of the house.
However, beneath all of this is one factor that many homeowners consider - kitchen feng shui.
1. Position your kitchen at the back of the house
A kitchen, as a focal point, can foster home harmony and prosperity. If you're starting from scratch or performing extensive repairs, situate your kitchen in the back, towards the south or east of the house, according to the bagua map. The south is known as 'Li,' and it is associated with fire and fame and notoriety. Because the kitchen contains a lot of fire energy, the space can better stimulate that specific power of 'chi' when placed in this region.
East of the bagua refers to earth or wood. The kitchen can be put here since the fire element supports the earth element. The southeastern portion of the home indicates money, success, and abundance, which corresponds to the great fire energy that kitchens bring.
As a result, a kitchen should never be located in the centre of the house. The centre has an impact on the other areas of the house, sending energy throughout. And, with its powerful yang energy, the dynamic and volatile strength of fire must be held in the rear, deep and guarded, where this riches of 'chi' will be protected.
2. Thoughtfully and respectfully place your stove
It is good feng shui to place your cooker in a prominent position in your kitchen. In feng shui, the kitchen stove indicates success, money, and opportunity.
When operating your cooker, you should have a view of the kitchen door or entrance, but not be right in front of the doorway. This demonstrates that you have command of your life and the opportunities it provides. If the layout causes you to face the wall while cooking, you can replace it with a mirrored or reflected backsplash.
Next, because the stove is a fire element, similar to ovens and microwaves, these should not be placed directly opposite or adjacent to water elements like the sink or refrigerators. This is where the kitchen work triangle arrangement comes in: arranging the sink, cooker and refrigerator in a triangle not only encourages harmony in their feng shui elements, but also facilitates functional mobility between the kitchen's frequently used appliances.
3. Stove burners also play a part in kitchen feng shui
The first step is to properly position your cooker. The second step is to ensure that your cooker has more than one burner.
According to feng shui, the amount of burners you have signifies prosperity; a three-burner stove is recommended if your space allows it. However, if space is truly limited, the mirrored or reflecting backsplash mentioned in the preceding step will do you some good 'chi' by doubling the number of burners you now have; thus, 'doubling your wealth' as well.
Furthermore, as a symbol of affluence make sure you're using your stove. This ensures that wealth is always fostered and flows in your life and house. The stillness of stoves in kitchens indicates that money is not being 'ignited,' that you are not embracing or making the most of life's prospects.
Similarly, choosing stovetops with numerous burners encourages you to alternate their use, allowing more opportunities to enter your life subconsciously.
4. Kitchen feng shui promotes cleaning and organization
If you've been practicing feng shui in other areas of your life, you'll know that clutter is a no-no. You don't want any extra stuff in this place because it represents success and abundance. As a result, decluttering and organizing will result in a vibrant kitchen with strong, resonant energy.
The countertops are the easiest to deal with because they are the first thing you see when you go into your kitchen. Keep them clear of clutter and appropriately arrange the items that are supposed to be there.
Next, go to your kitchen cabinets and make sure that those storage places are solely used for kitchen items. The same is true for your pantry. Not only will having specific locations make it easier to seek for and store items, but it will also help you keep track of your home kitchen's inventory. Furthermore, doing so allows you to follow one extremely practical feng shui suggestion: knowing how much of each thing you and your family truly require. One handy tip for those who live in a small house.
5. Choose wood and earth elements
The earth element is supported by fire energy. Because kitchens inherently include more fire, water, and metal elements, you may balance the space by employing designs that emphasize wood and earth energies. This is when your tiny decor comes into play.
You might begin with earthy colours such as greens, khaki, and terracotta. Then add ceramic cookware and bowls, earthenware plates and cups, or clay pots to complete the look. Many of these have been around for a long time, and styles are plentiful nowadays; you can have your pick of style.
Another easy step is to have lush, indoor plants that promote wealth and your connection to nature. If you’re into some practice of sustainability, grow edible plants, have a mini herb corner or make space for microgreens and sprouts. These will definitely breathe more life into your kitchen space, literally and metaphorically.
If you’ve got more space, you can make a tiny library of cookbooks. Books give a great dose of the wood element while being aesthetically pleasing and functional.
6. A finishing touch: fruits and plants for color and life
Each room's unique energy helps identify its associated feng shui energy, which in turn dictates a colour palette. When we add such contrasts and pops of colour, feng shui experts advise us to make sure they are appropriate for the room and area.
For example, use copper pots, put metallic handles on cabinet doors, or experiment with subtle gold on your light fixtures to give brightness to your kitchen while being loyal to its spirit. Complement those flourishing plants with wooden plates and mixing bowls, and use raw wood for a portion of your countertop or to construct a pedestal or bookends for your tiny cookbook collection.
This way, your kitchen will seem coherent and magnificent while also supporting the space's wealth energy.
A fruit bowl is an easy and wonderful feng shui go-to decor for any countertop if you're searching for another method to add that burst of colour in your kitchen. It appears active, and fruit represents abundance in riches and health, giving you with the nutrients you require. But keep in mind that phoney fruits and dried flowers are lifeless 'chi'.
