Applying the Feng Shui Five Elements to Your Home

By Erica Sofrina- Author of Small Changes, Dynamic Results! Feng Shui for the Western World.

Bringing nature into our homes is a key component of the teachings of Feng Shui. The goal is to have all of the five elements of fire, earth, metal, water and wood balanced in every room of of our living space. By studying the Feng Shui Five Elements theory we can gain valuable insights as to why our lives are out of balance by looking at the elemental imbalances in our homes.

I have worked with many clients to improve their young children’s sleeping habits (see my article- Is Your Child Sleeping) along with teens who were suddenly out of control. The culprit is often found in the elemental imbalances in their bedrooms. By bringing these into balance the child or teen comes back into balance as well. Clients think I have worked magic but I am merely applying these ancient, tried and true principles (also used in Chinese medicine) to physical environments. (See my article on Teen’s Rooms)

The five elements can also be used in a powerful way to heal health issues (see my article – the Power of Color), and to assist in personal growth. If we find we are staying ‘too small’ in our lives, our environment will often reflect too little of the wood element. We would want to both wear and bring into our living space objects and colors that reflect this element as shown in the chart below.

Please see the list on the next page of what the elements mean and what we experience when we have too much or too little of them in our lives and take advantage of my free offer to send you information about working with the elements at the end of this article.

If you are feeling over expanded and overwhelmed, you are experiencing too much of the wood element. In this instance you would benefit by bringing into your living space objects and colors that represent the element that cuts wood, which is metal. An example of too much of the wood element might be found in an all-green bedroom with floral prints and wooden furniture. What you thought would be soothing actually feels overwhelming.

The metal element is represented by white and cream colors, pastels, circular shapes, rocks and stones and metal. By changing the floral bedspread to a pastel or cream color and accessorizing with whites and pastels, you will begin to bring the room back into elemental balance.

Below is a Five Elements Map that will show you how they work together to balance each other.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Jenna B.

6:25AM PST on Mar 5, 2013

Thanks for sharing this!

March 5
send a green star

katarzyna p.

5:19AM PST on Jan 21, 2013

another interesting article. one thing though is you can't help what you like, but everything in moderation, right?

January 21
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Yulan L.

2:35PM PST on Nov 9, 2012

Thanks for sharing.

November 9
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g d c.

10:15AM PDT on Sep 16, 2012

guess it is all about balance...

September 16
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Shelly P.

11:03AM PDT on Sep 2, 2012

Thankyou, Erica!!

September 2
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Mercedes P.

11:27AM PDT on May 24, 2012

I will try to use all the 5 elements in my home. Right now it is overly metal and water. Thank you!

May 24
send a green star

Jennifer C.

12:14AM PDT on Apr 8, 2012

Great tips. Thanks.

April 8
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Amy H.

3:16AM PDT on Sep 17, 2011

Once again, fabulous information. I have been all over web articles and read more books about this wonderful art form than I can count! I do know there are different schools of thought in the approach to this way of enhancing the way we live, and find this one the easiest to incorporate in my own home. Thank you!