Table of Contents
I came across Kimberley while browsing my podcast app for new shows to listen to. I enjoyed the episode so much and landed up shifting around a few things in my home, then started following on Instagram and finally reached out and asked for an interview.
So here it is, and I love the answers. There’s so much to learn here and please click on the links at the end to follow along on Kimberleys’ journey.
How would you describe the core principles of Feng Shui to someone who is new to the concept, and why do you think it has become increasingly popular in interior design?
Feng Shui has been practised for over 4000 years, and its primary purpose is to increase wealth, abundance and prosperity. Translated literally, Feng Shui means ‘the way of wind and water’. Therefore, if you have positive Feng Shui, you will have a good harvest leading to wealth, abundance and prosperity.
Over the years, Feng Shui has become more mainstream, with many corporate offices, banks and stately homes being balanced energetically to allow wealth, abundance and prosperity to grow.
However, the practice can be conflicting and confusing as there are many different schools of Feng Shui. In addition, some information can be rigid and may not consider modern-day living.
I like to describe Feng Shui as acupuncture for the home, and I work with homes to release energy blocks, remove negative energy and welcome good energy. The result is a home that feels calm, peaceful and supportive.
While Feng Shui and interior design are distinct disciplines, they can be closely linked and often integrated to create spaces that are not only visually appealing but also conducive to positive energy flow.
Placing furniture and objects in different spaces is believed to affect energy flow. Therefore, it is increasingly popular for interior designers to apply the principles of Feng Shui to determine the optimal placement of furniture, décor and other elements in a room, considering the natural flow of movement and energy, with clear pathways and unobstructed areas.
This can help create a harmonious and functional environment that supports the well-being of those living in the home.
Can you share a few simple yet effective Feng Shui tips that our readers can easily incorporate into their homes to improve their overall well-being?
It’s important to remember that Feng Shui is a highly individualised practice, so trust your instincts and create spaces that resonate with you and your unique energy. As Feng Shui was first practised over 4000 years ago, it’s important to take the ancient principles and adapt these to the way we live today:
Issue: The first and most important task is to reduce clutter because clutter can create stagnant energy; it disrupts the flow of energy in a space and can create an imbalance. I cannot emphasise the importance of decluttering enough!
Keeping your space tidy and organised can help improve the overall energy in your home or office. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep living areas tidy and organised.
Suggestion: I encourage my clients to regularly declutter their homes as this helps to create a sense of calm, spaciousness and clarity.
I have one rule that I stick to when it comes to decluttering, and that is:
‘Would you take it with you if you moved home?’
If the answer is no, then I’m afraid it’s time to find it a new home!
Issue: Try incorporating nature into the living space, as this helps to create a sense of balance and harmony and brings life into your home.
Suggestion: Add indoor plants, natural materials like wood and stone, and natural colours to your home décor.
However, when it comes to plants, be quite strict with the type you introduce into the home. Avoiding artificial plants and cacti is important as this can bring edgy energy into your home. Ideally, you should choose plants with lovely soft leaves that grow upwards like a money plant, for example, as this represents strength, growth and life.
Issue: Be mindful of the amount of technology you surround yourself with. Technology can drastically disrupt the energy flow in a space, so it’s essential to use it mindfully.
Suggestion: Avoid cluttering your living spaces with too many electronic devices and create designated areas for technology use. If you are open to using crystals, you could place black tourmaline and selenite crystals around the home to soak up any negative energy emitted from devices.
Issue: Pay attention to the areas of the home. In Feng Shui, we divide the home into nine different areas, called a Bagua Map. Each one represents an area of our life.
For example, the South East represents wealth, prosperity and abundance, the centre of the home represents the health of those living there, and the South-West represents love, relationships and marriage.
Suggestion: By understanding where these areas are in your home, you can enhance the energy in each area using Feng Shui remedies, such as colours, symbols, and objects. I also recommend using visual affirmations as much as possible, so pictures that represent ‘wealth’ can be placed in the South East, for example.
Think about the position of your bed and desk, as the placement can impact your well-being. In Feng Shui, it’s recommended to position your bed and desk in the “commanding position,” which means having a clear view of the door while being farthest from it, as it is said to provide a sense of security and empowerment.
Finally, create a Sacred Space for everyone in the home. A designated sacred space, such as a meditation corner or a peaceful reading area, can help promote relaxation, mindfulness, and well-being. Personalise it with items that hold special meaning to you, such as artwork or objects that bring joy. This is especially important for children to have a space that is ‘theirs’.
Many people live in smaller spaces, such as apartments and tiny homes. How can they adapt Feng Shui principles to suit their unique living environments and still achieve positive results?
In Feng Shui, we believe that good energy enters the home through the front door and the bad and negative energy leaves via the back doors. In an apartment, the rear windows work just as effectively. Therefore, make sure you open the windows or doors at the back of your home every day. Then, once you feel the energy has cleared, open the front door to promote good energy flow. It’s so simple, but it’s incredible what a difference this makes.
Unfortunately, we can’t control what is happening outside our homes, whether that is construction, flight paths or noisy neighbours. If you feel that this is causing negativity to you or your home, I recommend placing a wind chime, chandelier or even crystals at the entrance of your home to prevent the negativity from entering your home.
It goes without saying that keeping a small living space tidy and organised is essential as it can make the area feel even more cramped. Keep only what you need and use regularly and try to find creative storage solutions to keep your belongings organised and out of sight.
Mirrors are powerful tools in Feng Shui for creating the illusion of space and reflecting light. For example, hang mirrors on walls or position them to reflect natural light or beautiful views, making a small space feel larger and brighter.
However, it’s essential to avoid having mirrors directly opposite windows as this will reflect the good energy straight back out of the home.
The most important thing is that the principles of Feng Shui are flexible and adaptable. Experiment with different arrangements and configurations until you find what works best for you and creates a harmonious and balanced environment.
How can homeowners use Feng Shui to create a more sustainable, eco-friendly living environment, and what are the benefits of doing so?
Feng Shui emphasises the connection between humans and nature and promotes life and energy in the home.
The principle is built upon the five-element theory: the connection between metal, wood, earth, water and fire. By incorporating these into the space, people can cultivate a deeper emotional connection with their homes. This reduces the ecological footprint of the home and promotes sustainability. It also encourages the flow of good energy around the home.
Where possible, use natural light as it promotes energy flow and vitality in an area. It is possible to maximise natural light by using large windows, skylights, and light-coloured curtains or blinds to allow sunlight to penetrate the space, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day and saving energy.
I have found that with many clients, the by-product of decluttering is living a more sustainable life because it makes people more mindful when purchasing new items for the home.
It’s a fine balance between too little and too much, but once you have found the middle ground and the sense of calm that comes with that, it’s not worth the negative impact the extra items bring to the home.
With open-plan living spaces becoming increasingly popular, how can Feng Shui principles be applied to create distinct zones within these multi-functional areas while maintaining a sense of cohesion and harmony?
Firstly, consider the Bagua Map and get to know where these areas are in your home, representing different areas of life, such as career, health, relationships, and wealth. You can then use this to create distinct zones within a multi-functional space.
For example, if you want to create a work or study area, I would advise that this is created in the North area as this is associated with your career, or your office in the South East area as this represents wealth, prosperity and abundance. So by doing this, you can enhance the energy and intention in each zone according to the corresponding Bagua area, as shown in the image.
Also, trust your intuition, as Feng Shui is something you can feel but can’t see. Listen to your instincts and preferences to create a space that feels harmonious and balanced to you.
Feng Shui is a highly individualised practice, and what works for one person may not work for another. So, experiment, adjust, and fine-tune until you find a configuration that resonates with you and your specific needs.
Finally, can you share a personal story or example where Feng Shui has significantly transformed someone’s living space and positively impacted their life?
Without a doubt, Feng Shui has transformed my life.
In February 2020, I started a product-based business where I constantly hit barriers. It was hard work and, quite frankly, wasn’t enjoyable.
Therefore, in late 2021, I had my home analysed for the first time. And my transformative journey into Feng Shui began. My intentions for the home analysis were simple; I wanted to:
- Create a calm and peaceful home that supported my family.
- Run a business I loved, where I could be financially secure, and it would allow me to work entirely remotely from anywhere in the world.
- I also wanted to work with wonderful people and, most importantly, help others.
Within one month of the analysis, I thought of helping other businesses with their social media, seeing as I had to do this for my own business. So, the first shop I called into instantly became my first client.
The following week I had an email from the lady who analysed my home to say she was running her final certification programme. It was a year-long course and a lot of money, but I knew I had to do it.
I borrowed the money from my husband, who was very understanding but baffled at my new career choice and promised to pay him back. The next day I put an advert out on the local Facebook page, and by the end of the day, I had ten new clients.
I began the Feng Shui course, and throughout the journey, I couldn’t understand why more people didn’t know about it. The only reasons I could think of were that it was quite complicated, but mostly that it didn’t apply to modern-day living.
And at that moment, I knew I had to spread the word about this magical practice somehow. But I had to do it in a way everyone could understand and implement in their homes, a modern-day twist on an ancient practice.
I launched my business on my birthday in November 2022 and have worked with over 50 clients so far. I started a successful podcast that I love creating and producing, and within three months, I made my first appearance on This Morning as their Feng Shui Expert.
Since then, I have been asked back twice, written numerous blogs and articles and was recently approached by a book agent to write ‘A Modern Day Guide to Feng Shui’.
The thing with Feng Shui is that it doesn’t do the doing for you, but it clears the path, noise, and negativity surrounding you and those living in your home to enable you to live a calmer life.If you would like more information on Feng Shui, please visit my website, www.thefengshuiflow.com or contact me at [email protected]. In addition, you can find me on Instagram @thefengshuiflow and Apple and Spotify’s ‘The Feng Shui Flow’ podcast.
The thing with Feng Shui is that it doesn’t do the doing for you, but it clears the path, noise, and negativity surrounding you and those living in your home to enable you to live a calmer life.
If you would like more information on Feng Shui, please visit my website, www.thefengshuiflow.com or contact me at [email protected].
In addition, you can find me on Instagram @thefengshuiflow and Apple and Spotify’s ‘The Feng Shui Flow’ podcast.