14 Essential Feng Shui Tips for Building a House

When constructing a bedroom, it should ideally be square or rectangular, with a square shape being the most favorable. This promotes harmony between spouses and a happy family life. Avoid irregular shapes like L-shapes, diagonal angles, or triangular forms, as these can severely disrupt the room's energy flow. Refrain from placing items such as mirrors, dressing tables, or round beds in the bedroom. Circular shapes represent movement, while a bedroom should embody tranquility. Ensure the bedroom door does not face the bathroom door. If the bedroom has multiple windows, they should be of equal size. Mirrors, TV screens, or any reflective surfaces should not face the bed. Additionally, avoid placing altars in the bedroom area, as this can negatively impact spiritual energy.

Avoid installing escalators in the living room. Opt for a complete sofa or salon set rather than mismatched chairs of different colors, styles, or worn-out pieces.

If the house has two living rooms, ensure proper area division—the front living room should be larger, and the rear one smaller, never the opposite. Minimize placing mirrors or reflective objects directly opposite the main entrance; instead, position them slightly off-center.

As mentioned, a kitchen facing the main entrance can significantly impact the homeowner's fortune. If there is ample space, consider creating a small living room to separate the kitchen and dining area. The dining area and kitchen should not be too far apart. Avoid arranging the kitchen in a semicircular or circular shape.

The kitchen should be placed against a wall, not in the middle of the room, and there should be no empty space behind it. The kitchen floor should be flat, avoiding uneven surfaces or steps. Avoid installing two faucets facing opposite directions, and the gas stove should not be placed opposite the water pipe.

The bathroom should be built at the end of the house and should avoid facing the main entrance, as it can bring illness to the homeowner. In terms of color, the bathroom has a water element, so it is advisable to choose white or light blue tones, which create a sense of elegance and cleanliness.

In feng shui, if there is an unfavorable direction in the house, place the bathroom in that direction to suppress negative energy and bad luck. Install ventilation fans and regularly clean the bathroom to maintain cleanliness and freshness, preventing foul air from affecting the family's wealth.

In garden feng shui, the walls surrounding the house should be higher than the roof. This acts as a protective shield, safeguarding the home from external disturbances and uncertainties. Avoid building homes too close to the sea or large rivers, as this can lead to fatigue for the residents. The moisture under sunlight can produce heavy odors, suppressing the household's fortune and health. Building near lakes or rivers can also deplete financial resources and weaken prosperity.

Rugs should be neatly placed in the yard, avoiding a half-in, half-out arrangement with the living room. The yard should always be level with or lower than the house's foundation. If the main road is elevated above the house, the entire house must be raised to match the road level, ensuring the yard or road surface is not higher than the house's foundation.

If your home frequently uses carpets, it's advisable to choose rugs with matching or similar color schemes. When repairing damaged wallpaper, opt for square patches rather than following the tear's irregular shape. For rooms already furnished with bamboo chairs or beds, avoid adding more furniture made from the same material. Additionally, decorative items should steer clear of triangular shapes, sharp objects, or motifs like owls, black cats, and animal skins, as these are often associated with bad luck.

When selecting ornamental plants, homeowners should consider several key principles: Avoid plants with long, pointed leaves or those that are tall and fragile. Species from the Quyết and Cát Đằng families should be limited as they are not beneficial for the household. Opt for plants with large, broad leaves and robust vitality, as they bring prosperity and abundant health to the residents. Avoid placing tall, large plants along the entrance path, as they can create a sense of oppression and heaviness.

Place the altar in the cung sấu position to ward off misfortune, ensuring the altar faces a favorable direction. Avoid placing the altar beneath or above a bathroom, and do not position it with its back against a window or an empty space. Ensure the altar is not too close to windows on either side (avoiding gaps) and do not place it under a bed or near a water tank.

Place the stairs according to the location, ideally in a favorable position. The final step should face a good direction, and the total number of steps per floor and for the entire house should be divisible by 4 with a remainder of 1 or 2, aligning with the Sinh and Lão cung. The last step should not directly face a door, bathroom, altar, or kitchen. The standard step height ranges from 160mm to 180mm, with a tread width of 250mm to 300mm, and the stair width should be between 0.8m to 1.2m.

Doors and balconies are key areas for attracting wealth into a home. Therefore, when designing a house, it's crucial to position doors and balconies appropriately to prevent conflicting energy flows. Avoid placing the main entrance directly opposite a balcony or the back door. Similarly, windows should be staggered to avoid alignment, as this can lead to financial loss and diminished positive energy within the home.

In feng shui, the shape of rooms significantly impacts the psychological and physical well-being of household members. Rooms with balanced, symmetrical shapes like squares or rectangles promote a sense of peace, health, and stability. Avoid designing rooms with irregular shapes, such as those with three corners or excessive angles, as they can cause discomfort and irritability.

Modern homes often use gypsum false ceilings with borders, but rectangular or square patterns should be avoided as they disrupt feng shui harmony and hinder the homeowner's energy flow. Avoid using images or paintings on the ceiling, as they can create illusions, cause dizziness, and negatively affect the household. The ceiling represents the home's 'head,' so opt for rounded edges and soft patterns to enhance family energy. Similarly, ceiling colors should be lighter than the walls to create an open, airy feel. Dark ceilings make the space feel cramped and oppressive, exerting psychological pressure. Choose shades one or two levels lighter than the wall color, avoiding stark white ceilings with colored walls.

To save on construction costs or create artistic steps, many families build kitchens higher than living rooms or vice versa. This practice is not recommended in Feng Shui.

The floor is considered the dwelling place of the homeowner; uneven floors can lead to unpleasant incidents, hinder smooth business operations, cause ups and downs, and create discord among family members. The bathroom and toilet floors should never be higher than the bedroom floor, as this can cause illusions, spread foul energy, and affect the homeowner's career and success.

In feng shui, for spaces under 100 square meters, it is strongly advised to avoid using arched doors, whether for decorative or architectural purposes. Ideally, a room should have only one door. If double doors are used, they should open in the same direction or only one side should be opened. Additionally, it is considered unfavorable to have the kitchen or bathroom directly visible upon entering the main gate, as this can negatively impact the homeowner's financial fortune. For smaller spaces, using partitions or curtains can help mitigate these issues.