Maybe you’ve heard the term before, but what exactly is Feng Shui? Pronounced Fung Shway, it is the ancient Chinese holistic philosophy of creating balance and a harmonious energy in a space – home or office – through layout, placements, colour and shapes of home décor and furniture. Literally, “Feng” means wind and ‘shui’ means water, two basic elements on which a good and healthy life (‘Chi’) is dependent, adapted into home decorating.

Whether you feel Feng Shui truly has some control in aspects of your life from love to good fortune or not, many of its basic principles make for great home interior design and you can apply them, too. Here are 5 applications to start with to create the best environment:

1. De-clutter your space: Seems basic enough, right? Unnecessary items laying around in heaps and clumps make your home or office unkempt. Take the time to sort through your stuff every so often and do away with items to keep the place clean and clear to let the good energy move around freely.
2. Fix the broken: Your space reflects your life. If you hang on to torn, broken and old things, it will seem like nothing also works well in your life. Call a professional or take some DIY time this weekend and put back together everything that has fallen into shambles.

3. Create openness in communal areas: Your living room is where you spend time with family and friends and express your love and support to each other.  Make sure that when entering the back of the sofa is not blocking free movement and that other sitting furniture are not widely spaced. The arrangement should be intimate and there should be surfaces for people to place drinks and food on.

4. Air and Light: Feng Shui is all about energy and these two elements are the strongest manifestation. Fresh air and natural lighting are the best and make space feel light and refreshing. This positivity will bounce back into your life, so open up your windows often to let both in.

5. Paint and colours: It’s undeniable – colour does so much for a space from creating a vibrant feel in the case of bright colours like orange and yellow to a calming, serene aura like blues and whites do.

Want to create and attract a particular energy? Look at these various paint colours.

YELLOW → The colour of sunlight, it invites uplifting spirits and happiness and is perfect for kitchens and children’s rooms. It says cozy and increases one’s self-esteem and health.

RED → No surprises here, red – the colour of fire – attract romance and reflects confidence. It’s very intense, so no need to over incorporate as this could have an inverse effect and be too loud and repel.

GREEN → If you seek growth and renewal in your life and surroundings, this is a colour to pull into your space.  You can paint or incorporate elements in your décor to attract good health and nature’s freshness.

ORANGE → This is a colour that creates the best social energy, encouraging good conversation and optimism.

WHITE → If you feel like you need a new beginning and want to have an air of freshness, white is a perfect colour.  Crisp and clean, it’s a good tint for your entry porch and bathrooms.