It’s that time of year when we resolve to make beneficial changes to boost our health and happiness. Integrating a few feng shui principles into your kitchen designs can help your clients meet their goals.
Dictionary.com defines feng shui as “the Chinese art or practice of creating harmonious surroundings that enhance the balance of yin and yang, as in arranging furniture or determining the siting of a house.” Under the philosophy, creating that harmony and balance improves the flow of energy in a home and enhances the lives of its inhabitants. By nature of it being the hub of a home, the kitchen in particular can always benefit from positive energy. Whether you embrace feng shui wholeheartedly or not, use these key takeaways to create calm, nurturing kitchen spaces.
Remove Any Obstacles
To encourage the flow of energy, also known as qi or chi, avoid logjams. Configure the space for ease of movement, and clear obstacles from the traffic pattern. Reduce visual clutter, too, by ensuring that every item has a proper place.
Balance the Lighting
Bathing a kitchen in natural light goes a long way towards fostering good feng shui and generally making the space more functional and inviting. Still, the practice encourages a yin-and-yang approach. The goal is to balance yin (dim, restful) and yang (bright, stimulating) energy or light.
Place the Stove in the Commanding Position
A main principle of feng shui, the commanding position is the spot in a room that is furthest from and diagonally opposite of the door. In a kitchen, the stove should hold this spot, and the cook should be able to see the kitchen’s entrance while at work. Hanging a mirror achieves the same objective.
Maximize the Number of Burners
The stove is associated with resources in feng shui. More burners equate to more opportunities. Go big with the number of burners when selecting a stove.
Incorporate Nature with the Five Elements
Feng shui strives to balance the five elements—earth, fire, metal, water, and wood—in a room. For example, brown wood cabinets (earth), stainless-steel appliances (metal), and live plants (wood) can offset the kitchen’s fire and water elements, represented by the stove and sink, respectively.
Applying these feng shui principles can create harmonious kitchens that will nurture your clients. Selecting the right appliances can also have a positive impact. Let Friedman’s specialists point the way.