Placing a stove on the balcony to save space can be a common practice for many families. However, the balcony is meant to be a breathing space for the house, allowing natural light and air to flow through.
Doing so may lead to accidents due to wind blowing out the flame or frozen pipes bursting. Moreover, the smoke from cooking can carry away positive energy and luck, leading to financial losses.
It is advisable to locate the stove in a secluded area within the house, providing a stable shield to preserve warmth and sustain prosperity.
2. Damp Bathrooms Breed Illness
Bathrooms are repositories of negative energy, and if they remain damp, mold and bacteria can thrive, directly impacting one’s health. High humidity also weakens positive energy, potentially leading to long-term health issues.
To counter this, ensure bathrooms are well-ventilated, clean, and dry. Placing a copper gourd or small metal object at the drain can help balance the energy. Dedicate time daily to wipe down walls and floors to maintain a healthy and pure living space.
3. Overdoing It With Greenery
While plants bring positive energy into the home, too much of a good thing can be counterproductive. Ideally, limit yourself to three potted plants; any more than five can stifle the flow of energy, creating a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
Opt for broad-leaved varieties such as the money tree, golden pothos, or Chinese evergreen. Place them in the southeast corner to boost luck in academics and careers. Avoid spiny plants like cacti, which can introduce negative energy and impact the well-being of family members.
4. Keeping Windows Shut While Cooking
While a range hood may seem sufficient, it’s important to open windows while cooking to prevent stale air and negative energy from building up. The fire from the stove emits fiery energy, and cooking oils produce metallic energy; without proper ventilation, these can combine to create murky energy, affecting the home’s overall energy.
A simple solution is to open windows facing north while cooking to balance the energy flow. The northern direction is associated with water energy, which can temper the heat and metallic energy of the kitchen. If there are no north-facing windows, hang a bagua mirror to regulate energy and maintain a harmonious and pure kitchen space.
5. Ineffective Color Schemes
Choosing the right colors for different spaces isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s also a way to regulate feng shui, promoting mental tranquility and physical well-being. For dining rooms, opt for light orange hues to stimulate appetites and improve digestion, as fire generates earth in the productive cycle.
Avoid pure red, which can ‘burn the earth,’ leading to irritability and oppression. For sickrooms or the rooms of those recovering from illness, dark blue or navy hues are ideal for soothing the atmosphere, reducing heat energy, and calming the mind. For bedrooms, light purple evokes warmth and gentleness, promoting deeper sleep.
Additionally, light purple symbolizes the harmonious concept of ‘fire generates earth, earth generates gold.’ However, avoid using dark purple, which can suggest ‘earth burying gold’ and create a sense of heaviness, impacting long-term mental and physical health.
6. Clutter Blocking Positive Energy
A cluttered home is an invitation for negative energy to accumulate, impacting both wealth and health. Seemingly harmless items can have unforeseen consequences. For instance, broken electronic devices like TVs, computers, speakers, and headphones still emit unstable electromagnetic waves, influencing energy fields and health.
Purchased items that are left unused and forgotten contribute to a cramped and stifling environment, fostering negative energy. Moldy and rotten items also directly harm health due to the rapid growth of mold and bacteria.
When tidying up, pay attention to entrances, balconies, and under-bed spaces. Entrances are where positive energy enters, and clutter here can obstruct wealth. Balconies are crucial for air circulation, especially in apartments, and clutter can lead to negative energy accumulation, affecting the overall energy of the home.
Under-bed spaces should be kept clear, especially of old metal objects or discarded clothing. Beds require good airflow to ensure restful sleep and maintain health. Built-in storage beds, while convenient, are not recommended from a feng shui perspective.
7. Hanging Knives in the Kitchen
Hanging knives on kitchen walls is a common but risky practice. From a feng shui perspective, this can generate negative energy and bring bad luck. It’s also hazardous, as knives can fall and cause accidents. Instead, store knives in a designated knife block or keep them safely tucked away in a drawer to maintain a tidy and harmonious kitchen.
8. Misplaced Shoe Cabinets
Shoe cabinets should be of moderate height, ideally occupying no more than one-third of the wall space. Excessively tall cabinets or those that span the entire wall can affect the respiratory health of household members, leading to fatigue and ailments like coughing, colds, and pneumonia.
Additionally, shoes carry bacteria and dirt from outdoors. Placing them on higher shelves can cause bacteria to spread through the air and directly enter the respiratory tract. It’s best to keep shoes on lower shelves, reserving the upper shelves for clean or infrequently used items.
9. Front Door Facing Staircase
In houses or apartments, it’s common for the front door to directly face the staircase. If the staircase leads downward, it can cause wealth to slip away, resulting in financial challenges for the household. To counter this, hang a convex mirror at the door to attract positive energy back into the home.
On the other hand, if the staircase ascends directly opposite the front door, it can impact the health and mental well-being of the residents. Place a threshold or use a screen or partition near the door to block the direct flow of energy into the house, restoring balance to the living space.
(*) The information in this article is for reference only and is not intended as professional advice!
