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The Lunar New Year on February 10 marked the transition from the year of the rabbit to the year of the dragon. According to Chinese traditions, the dragon is a symbol of good luck, wisdom, hope, and strength. It is an auspicious figure that promises a period of prosperity and good fortune, steady growth, and general stability. But did you know that there are things you can do in your home to more readily welcome this abundant and fortunate year?
By using feng shui principles, our personal spaces can become beacons for positive energy. Also known as kanyu, or “geomancy” in English (kan means the way of heaven, while yu means the way of earth), feng shui teaches us to consider both astronomy and geography to better understand the flow of energy around us.
I’ve been interested in the philosophy since I was a child and have had a successful career as a feng shui consultant and author. Below, I share the best practices for four key areas of the home—the entrance, living room, kitchen, and bedroom—to help you optimize your decor and layout so your home can help you thrive in the year of the dragon.
The entrance
According to feng shui, energy enters the home the same way people do: through the front door. So it’s important to take careful consideration of this area when using the Chinese philosophy to plan the layout and design of a home.
In China, there is a common understanding that “wealth does not enter the dirty door.” For this reason, a home’s entrance should be kept clean and filled with light to assure that no debris accumulates here. It’s also advised to place auspicious decorations in the foyer, such as gold ingots or crystal trees, which are said to attract wealth and bring good fortune into a home.
In an ideal situation, the front entrance wouldn’t directly face another passageway such as a window or door, as the positive energy that comes in will escape before it has the chance to circulate around the house. However, if you do have a window or other opening in front of the door, you can use screens, cabinets, or curtains to block the space. Just know that a solid material will be more effective in slowing the flow of energy than something woven, transparent, or visibly porous.
The living room
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