I’m a Feng Shui Expert, and This Living Room Anchoring Rule Instantly Boosts Hosting Energy – I Dare You to Try It

The primary intention of Feng Shui is to activate a flow of uplifting, supportive, positive energy into the home all year-round. A home blessed with good Feng Shui gains a head start on the fresh energy of the New Year, and festive guests will notice the feel-good sensation the moment they walk through your door.

When it comes to entertaining, the hosting secret my VIP clients practise is to establish an intentional anchor point, situated in alignment with the main entrance to the room. This tempts guests and positive energy into the space and into every part of the room.

Want to replicate their success? Here's how to avoid common living room feng shui mistakes and create a sociable living space perfect for holiday hosting.

Why Your Hosting Space Needs Anchor Points

An anchor point, put simply, is the commanding position in a room. It is a focal point that grounds energy and draws guests in.

Chi lifeforce energy routinely circulates within a room, but there can be ‘stagnant areas’, often found in corners or overly cluttered spaces. Here, guests clump awkwardly, and hosts fear to tread. To be candid, the energy is as flat as a pancake, making deluttering methods a must before hosting.

Anchor points are a useful entertaining tip for any time of year, and at Christmas, we’re blessed with an obvious decorative choice, the Christmas tree. The combination of light, height, and beauty is an enticement to all. During other seasons, a tall, elegant lamp, a vibrant feng shui plant on a pedestal, or a piece of enticing art will have the same effect.

In homes with large, open-plan areas, a classic layout encompasses the natural circulation of people and energy. You’re almost spoilt for choice when it comes to hospitality options. Situate your anchor point in the furthest third of the great room so people gravitate towards it.

Traditional homes and those with more bijou entertaining spaces work just as well by focusing the guest experience on the sitting room. Aim for the far end of the room, maintaining a clear view of the door.

While you’re planning your event, use the guest scanning method to look at the space with fresh eyes and identify anything blocking the flow of people within the room and your anchor point. If there’s a single entrance, is it possible to do a circuit of the room, or does furniture placed against a wall mean there’s only one viable route?

In more intimate spaces, look for ways to create volume. This might mean rearranging furniture before hosting a crowd, repositioning a sofa, relocating very large coffee tables, or generally repurposing the room specifically for your event.

How to Try It Yourself

By activating your living room's secret anchor point, you draw your guests effortlessly into a warm, relaxed, and beautifully seasonal space. Spending time with family, friends, and neighbors should never be a chore.

To really tap into this method, I suggest the following:

• Welcome Chi, and guests will follow: As with good entryway feng shui, remove items that block the door from opening to its fullest extent. This is a simple rule and very effective. Declutter anything that doesn’t belong, and the room will instantly feel lighter.
• Furniture and flow: Take the focal point away from the TV, follow good feng shui furniture placement, and position seating for interaction. Where possible, allow circulation space behind furniture to encourage socializing. It’s much easier to engage with shy guests when they don’t feel trapped in one spot. If you anticipate saying a few words, have a popular raconteur on the guest list, or need visibility for charades, use your anchor point for the purpose.
• Let there be light: Harsh lighting is a no-no. Instead, add twinkling light in warm tones, and if space allows, make use of lamps pooling their illumination at a variety of heights to uplift energy and add depth.
• Beat bottlenecks: Locate drinks and nibbles in opposite parts of the room to prevent the ‘queuing for the buffet vibe’ and keep people moving. It’s a great way to keep energy fizzing.
• Tap into the Feng Shui: If you have already activated the specific feng shui remedy the room needs, there’s no need to add more. However, for those new to the practice, balance is everything. Add in aspects of the five elements for the evening. You likely already have them in the home. Wood is represented by living plants; Earth by crystals or ceramics; Metal by metallic objects and finishes; Fire by reds, and hot colours; finally, Water in a vase will do the job for one night only. One thing to remember, if something doesn’t feel comfortable, go with your gut instinct and remove it. When the feng shui is right, it takes the room to a new level.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t position a chair too close to your anchor point: Legs are both a distraction and a trip hazard when you’re holding the room.
• Secure decorations and garlands: This will stop a passing elbow from bringing the whole show crashing down. Sharp holly is best displayed above head height to avoid scratches and peril to party outfits. These reusable zip ties from Walmart are ideal for this purpose.
• Protect candles: The warm glow of candles is deliciously opulent. Protect from mishap by putting them out of range of flammable apparel and extravagant gesticulations. If in doubt, use artificial candles, such as these LED pillar candles from Amazon.
• Set boundaries: A great party can overflow into every available space. If rooms need to remain out of bounds for privacy, close doors and place a console or chair in front of the door to deter prying eyes.
• Create a stain station: Spills are inevitable in a crowded space. Have a cleanup kit easily to hand and resolve the mess quietly, reassuring your embarrassed guest that everything is fine. Tide To Go Pens, from Walmart, are ideal for this. If you’re anxiously monitoring every glass of red poured by that tipsy uncle, it’s probably best to offer only white and rosé wine options.

What to Shop

Stressed hosts and miscommunication can be a real damper on an evening. Share the load by splitting decorating duties with family, and split chores with a partner to ensure you all enjoy this special time of year. After all, it’s your night in the spotlight, and you deserve to shine.