Poison arrows are the ultimate Feng Shui red flags – here's how to avoid them in your home

As I delve deeper into the world of Feng Shui, I learn more about the energy we bring into our interiors. On the one hand, we've got sheng chi: positive energy that brings prosperity. On the other, we've got shar chi: negative energy that depletes us.

Poison arrows are Feng Shui design mistakes that bring shar chi into our most sacred spaces. A poison arrow could look like anything from a narrow entryway to a sharp angle. Poison arrows are amongst the Feng Shui house features to avoid if you want to promote positive energy throughout your home.

I asked a panel of Feng Shui practitioners to explain the negative effects of poison arrows on the look and feel of your home. If you spot any poison arrows in your interiors, don't panic: I can show you how to create good Feng Shui in your home with a range of energy-positive furniture and decor.

What are poison arrows in Feng Shui?

Before we begin, it always helps to define our terms. I asked professional Feng Shui consultant Karen Rauch Carter to explain what poison arrows are and what they look and feel like in the home.

Karen says: 'A poison arrow is a weakened energetic condition brought on by a sharp corner. The presence of poison arrows is one of the most obvious ways to tell if a home has bad Feng Shui: the problem might be a wall or a piece of furniture or even an overhead beam or sloping ceiling. If you spend a lot of time in the path of a poison arrow, it weakens your energy.'

Karen explains that poison arrows direct negative energy towards you and your environment. According to Feng Shui principles, this is believed to contribute to challenges in your personal life, including poor health and a pervasive feeling of stress and unease in your space.

What are some examples of poison arrows in the home?

'In Feng Shui, the term "poison arrow" typically refers to a strong corner that may be pointing directly towards you,' explains architect and Feng Shui practitioner Anjie Cho. 'Just like the head of an arrow, a poison arrow might look like a strong corner or pointy structure: the edge of your desk, for example, an exposed ceiling beam or the angle of your roof.'

Feng Shui Master Lisa Morton is a big believer in poison arrows. 'A sharp corner sends a subconscious signal to your body that something is "off". You might notice that it feels harder to relax or focus. Other examples of poison arrows could be decorative items, such as the corner of a square coffee table or a bookend with a sharp point directed at you. Feng Shui living room mistakes such as these could make you feel uneasy in the very space you expect to unwind in.

Poison arrows aren't limited to the indoor environment either. 'Plants can easily introduce poison arrows in garden Feng Shui,' Lisa continues. 'The sharp points of cacti don't exactly inspire rest and relaxation. Always opt for plants with soft, rounded leaves, such as jade plants and ferns.'

Poison arrows aren't always the result of our design decisions. Sometimes, they're built into the actual structure of our homes. 'A classic example of a poison arrow is a house at the end of a T-junction,' says Cliff Tan, architect and space optimisation expert at Dear Modern. 'The road with all its energy rushing towards you brings shar chi. A more domestic example of a poison arrow is a long entryway with your room right at the end of it. This is one of the most common Feng Shui entryway mistakes I see. Again, the energy is funneled towards you, making you feel constantly on edge.'

How can we avoid poison arrows in our interiors?

I asked Cliff to suggest narrow entryway ideas to open up the space and he didn't disappoint: 'A classic Feng Shui cure is to hang a little crystal at the end of the long pathway, as the facets of the crystal are said to disperse energy and light.' You could start your search for Feng Shui crystals on Etsy: I love the look of this Feng Shui Crystal Ball Suncatcher.

'When dealing with the kind of poison arrows that come from sharp corners, you can simply choose things that are more rounded,' Cliff continues. 'Consider a circular table or try to curve the edges of your shelves.'

'An easier solution is to simply avoid looking at these harsh things, so good Feng Shui furniture placement can help to dispel the power of poison arrows,' says Cliff.

'Remember: Feng Shui is all about creating the nicest possible environment for yourself, so when in doubt, just observe your surroundings and see if anything in particular bothers you,' says Cliff. 'It might be a large shelf looming above your head or the sharp corner of your drawers hitting your knees. If it bothers you enough, then it's time to make some changes. For a start, make sure your Feng Shui bed placement avoids the poison arrow position.'

Smooth decor − shop our Feng Shui-friendly edit

You might not be able to change the structure of your house, but you can always use furniture and decor to soften angles that could sharpen into poison arrows. Remember, you're looking for pieces with soft curves instead of sharp angles.

Meet our experts

Karen Rauch Carter

Karen is the best-selling author of Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life and Make A Shift, Change Your Life. She is a professional member of the International Feng Shui Guild.

Anjie Cho

Anjie is a licensed practicing architect as well as a feng shui & dharma arts teacher. She is the author of Mindful Homes, Holistic Spaces and co-author of Mindful Living.

Lisa Morton

Lisa has 20 years of experience as an interior designer. She is a Master Teacher of Interior Alignment Feng Shui.

Cliff Tan

In 2016, Cliff founded Dear Modern, an architectural practice rooted in spatial flow and economy, informed by Feng Shui.

If you're keen to minimize shar chi and enhance the flow of sheng chi throughout your home, then you might like to learn about Feng Shui energy mapping.