6Mar
Outdoor Patio Design Tips Using the Principles of Feng Shui
Those who have a knack for interior design have probably come across the principles of Feng Shui. But did you know that you can – and should – apply the same ancient Chinese principles to your outdoor patio as well?
Paying attention to the Feng Shui of the exterior of your home is just as important as the interior since negative energy in your outdoor living spaces can cancel out the positive energy within your home.
To better understand what Feng Shui is and how to apply its principles when designing an outdoor patio area, read on.
WHAT IS “FENG SHUI”?
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice to promote harmony and success in all areas of one’s life. It emphasizes the free flow of energy by eliminating clutter. And it appeases the five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—to bring good energy and prosperity your way.
For the outdoors, it’s especially important to focus on water, earth, and wood.
HOW TO APPLY FUNG SHUI PRINCIPLES TO YOUR PATIO
Using the principles of Feng Shui in your patio design will make your space and life clutter-free. You can turn your patio into an outdoor sanctuary by following these Feng Shui principles:
Eliminate Clutter
Look around your patio and assess what doesn’t belong. And remove all clutter from the outdoor space. This clutter may include dead leaves, loose garbage, garden hoses, and tools.
Clean your patio, yard, clean, windows, and patio doors, and put away any garden tools.
Get Rid of Dying Plants
Maintain all plant life in a healthy state, and remove dead or dying plants. If you have trouble keeping plants alive, consider using bamboo or silk plants instead.
Also, make sure no plants are hanging near or over people’s heads as this will make guests worry about something falling on them and interrupt the relaxation and harmony that are integral to Feng Shui.
Follow Principles of Direction
The principles of direction can be applied to your landscaping and patio design.
The location of your patio in regards to your house will determine what Feng Shui principles to use to enhance the space.
For example, if your patio is located:
- On the right corner of your home—this area symbolizes love or romance. So have pairs of everything—two chairs, two side tables, two plants, two lanterns, etc. You can also have your grill in this space and use white, pink, and red colours, along with water and wood elements.
- On the left corner of your home—this area symbolizes money. So use metals and colours that promote wealth and financial harmony, like red, purple, and gold. Do not keep your grill or trash cans in this area as they symbolize burning money and throwing away prosperity, respectfully.
- In the centre (or full width) of your home—this location symbolizes reputation. Use wood furniture and reds, greens, and oranges.
Use a Bagua
You can print out or create your own Bagua to help map out your patio and garden and activate the chi energy in specific areas. A Bagua is an energy map based on the compass directions, and it has eight trigrams.
Using a Bagua to map out your outdoor space can help you strengthen relationships, improve your career, earn more money, or gain fame and recognition, according to Feng Shui.
To energize an area, specific areas of a home need specific attention. To understand the Bagua of your outdoor space, you need to understand the Bagua of your home—since the exterior is an extension of the interior.
For each section of your outdoor area, use furniture or décor to represent the element or energy present in that segment of the Bagua.
Unobstructed Walkways
Your outdoor patio and living space should have free-flowing paths throughout. So place your patio furniture in an arrangement that creates clear walkways throughout your outdoor space.
For example, you might want to divide your patio into different spaces, such as the dining area and lounging area. So make sure the pathways between these areas are unobstructed.
Wind Chimes
In Feng Shui, wind chimes produce healing energy, especially if placed in an energy zone that matches their material. For example, metal chimes should only be placed in the west, northwest, and north, according to the Bagua.
Bamboo chimes reduce stress. And a chime with five tubes can neutralize negativity in an area, while eight tubes symbolize prosperity.
Natural Boundaries
Natural boundaries keep negative energy, noise, and pollution away from your home. These include rows of shrubs or trees, wood fences, and rock garden walls.
Landscaping with flowers and greenery, along with natural wood fencing, appeases the wood element, while rock garden walls appease the earth element.
Don’t place a boundary across the front of your home, though, as it will limit the flow of energy into your home.
Have a Harmonious Colour Scheme
The colours of your home and patio should blend harmoniously with the surrounding elements, both natural and manufactured, such as flowers, trees, plants, water, wood, earth, metal, and fire.
The outdoor colours should also try to harmonize with the colours of your neighbours’ homes and elements, while still ensuring that your home and space stand out enough to attract positive energy.
Avoid Oversized, Mismatched Patio Furniture
Your patio furniture should be in harmony with your outdoor space, not overwhelming or in your way. So avoid using clunky furniture that is too large for the space and doesn’t match the energy or décor.
Add a Water Feature
With Feng Shui, water is a symbol of wealth. So a garden should include a water feature, such as a pond, waterfall, or swimming pool. A waterfall signifies the continual replenishment of wealth, and a pond in the front yard invites wealth into the household.
Following the principles of Feng Shui outdoors is just as important as it is indoors, if not more so. So if you are interested in using Feng Shui to design your outdoor space, consider these tips and look for a Bagua to print out. Your Bagua can guide you when designing the positive energy-filled spaces in your outdoor sanctuary.