A guide to Feng Shui: the five elements and how to implement them into your home decor.
There are several parts to Feng Shui, but perhaps the most popular are the five elements. These elements consist of: wood, fire, water, earth, and metal. With this in mind, in order to maintain the fluidity of Feng Shui in your home, all five elements would need to be used within the same room to complete the circle of the elements. Otherwise, you are not practicing the art of Feng Shui, but merely implementing a couple of items to use in your home.
Let's use the living room as an example for using the five elements of Feng Shui in the home. Here are a few ideas of what to use for each of the five elements. These are to get your decorating ideas started, but it's always great to experiment and use new things, as long as they fit into the category of the elements. Another important thing to remember is to clear the room of all clutter, making a new, blank pallet for your elements to shine.
WOOD: Purchase a bonsai tree and place it on a balsam or cedar shelf. The wood from the shelf and the trunk of the tree are perfect to showcase the element of wood.
FIRE: The most obvious choice for this element would be a candle. To liven things up, and make the fire element appear more lifelike, choose a candle "garden" and place several candles of different heights on a large dish, and place natural rocks along the base. Another option would be to choose a bright red paper lamp so when lit, it represents the fire element.
EARTH: Clay or terra cotta are both natural sculpting materials extracted from the earth. A large clay pot or terra cotta pot would make a great accent when placed in the corner or on a shelf or table. Fill the pot with a plant, and it makes the element more vivacious.
METAL: Perhaps one of the easiest of the elements to use, metal is a material that offers many different options. Find a sterling silver sculpture, or a bronze wall hanging to add the touch of metal to the room. A silver or gold pair of candlesticks are also a terrific option.
WATER: Although it may sound like a difficult element to implement, water can be one of the most beautiful and exciting of the elements. A small table fountain is a great addition to your room. A different idea would be a fishtank or small frog pond. If you have a room with outside access, an outdoor fishpond is another terrific option.
With these starter ideas, it's easy to decorate your home in the Feng Shui tradition using the five elements. Get creative and look for different items to use, and bring life to your home. Don't forget, it will also add to your positive chi!
