Jessica Alba’s Living Room Is Perfectly Arranged for Positive Feng Shui – The Serene Design Promotes an Inviting Tranquility

Thanks to an 'analog' seating arrangement and a masterful blend of materials, Jessica Alba's living room feels harmonious and inviting

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Jessica Alba and neutral living room
(Image credit: Ernesto Ruscio via Getty Images / Future Owns)

Take a peek into Jessica Alba's living room and it's clear that the space is serene, but experts say that the feeling doesn't just come down to plush seating and soothing colors.

The crucial (but often overlooked) element? Feng shui. I'll admit that I haven't always understood exactly how to master the principles of this ancient Chinese practice in my own home, but it really can be transformative – and Jessica's breezy, conversational space is all the inspiration I need.

Recreate Jessica Alba's Harmonious Living Room

At its heart, feng shui hinges upon a sense of balance and harmony. Many feng shui principles are still relied upon by modern interior designers – and this often means rearranging furniture to balance the energy, or 'qi', within a space.

In Jessica Alba's home, a rectangular seating arrangement helps to define the living room as a relaxed, sociable area. Not only does this allow conversation to flow, but it also allows for an unobstructed 'flow' of energy around the room.

'Jessica's living room is arranged in a way that encourages connection and communication,' explains Emilia Guasconi, Certified Feng Shui Consultant and Founder of Your Abundant Space. 'Positioning the sofa and chairs in a circular or conversational layout supports harmony and natural energy flow.'

In many contemporary living rooms, seats are arranged around a central point – most often, a television. Yet by creating a cluster of seats that face each other (rather than a TV or even a fireplace or feature wall), you can ensure that your space is deliberately intimate and sociable.

Replicating this layout will help to balance the energy in your own space – but experts note that other details are at play in Jessica's space.

In fact, while the perfect living room layout will always help a room to feel harmonious, it's also crucial to consider the five elements of feng shui: wood, fire, water, earth, and metal. Balancing each of these elements is key to a calm and grounded room – and Jessica's is a brilliant example.

'There is a really nice representation of all five elements here,' says Katherine Troyer, Feng Shui Expert & Home Energetics Practitioner at My Home Energetics. 'The wood element shows up through the greenery and natural textures, while the stone fireplace, neutral tones, and softer shapes bring in a grounding earth and metal presence. '

Interestingly, lighting plays a huge role in feng shui; it doesn't just create a welcoming, cozy feel, but it also ties into the fire element, which is what brings energy into a room.

'Natural light enhances the fire element during the day, and with the fireplace and layered lighting, this space likely maintains that warmth in the evening as well,' comments Katherine. 'Overall, no single element feels overly dominant, and this is what makes the room feel instantly comfortable.'

Neutral living room with white seating and a black oval coffee table

According to feng shui experts, sociable seating arrangements allow energy to flow through a room, encouraging a sense of harmony and connection

(Image credit: Future)

The final piece of the puzzle? Texture. Carefully-chosen materials are crucial to mastering the art of feng shui and preserving that all-important sense of peace.

'From a feng shui perspective, Jessica's bouclé chairs are stable, grounding, and nurturing,' says Emilia. 'The texture lends itself to something we talk about in as "gentle qi" versus "sharp qi." Hard, smooth surfaces create faster-moving energy, while soft materials slow energy down. When you sink into that plush bouclé fabric, your nervous system relaxes.'

Naturally, Jessica's curved blue sofas create a focal point, which helps to anchor the space. However, the blend of cream and white hues in the armchairs and accessories ensures that the room still feels soothing and restorative.

'In feng shui, cream creates what we call "receptive energy",' adds Emilia. 'The space receives you without demanding anything from you. Your mind can rest here; there's no visual overstimulation competing for your attention.'

To me, Jessica's living room is a masterclass in wellbeing-focused design. Guided by the principles of feng shui, it's a blissfully uncluttered 'analog space' that's clearly conceived with connection in mind.

I might not have known how to incorporate feng shui into my own home, but Jessica proves that it's surprisingly simple. With a sociable layout, plenty of organic textures, and a calming color scheme, a room can effortlessly promote relaxation.

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Martha Davies
Martha Davies
Content Editor

Martha is a Content Editor on the Living team at Homes & Gardens. Her love for lifestyle journalism began when she interned at Time Out Dubai when she was 15 years old; she went on to study English and German at Oxford, before covering property and interior design at Country & Town House magazine. To Martha, living beautifully is all about good food and lots of colorful home decor.