Our Feng Shui expert reveals 7 secrets to improve your home – and life – this summer

I’m hoping, wherever you are, the sun is filling these long summer days with its warmth and providing those delicious endless days we remember from childhood.

Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of harmonizing and bringing success and balance to our home environment, offers some insightful suggestions to embrace this season.

By implementing some simple solutions to align living spaces with the principles of Feng Shui, we can enhance the flow of positive energy, (also known as chi or lifeforce energy), to make the most of the summer months.

Summer Feng Shui Secrets

Consider these options to invigorate your home and life with Feng Shui this summer.

1. Embrace the Fire Element within the home

Summer is dominated by the fire element in Feng Shui and it symbolizes passion, energy, and warmth. It’s an element I particularly love to work with because it’s just so easy to use, and as we moved into a new energetic cycle back in February, many more homes will benefit from a little more well-positioned fire energy than we’ve been used to in the last 20 years:

• Colors: Decorate with shades of red, orange, deep pink, hot yellow, and pink-based purple in your home through cushions, throws, rugs, or artwork. Just as a word of caution, however, don’t rush to paint walls in these powerful shades, as it may result in feeling stressed and lead to burnout.
• Lighting: Ensure your home is well-lit. Make the most of the abundance of natural light as much as possible during the day, and in the evening, opt for soft, warm white and mellow shades of lighting to maintain a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
• Candles: When candles are lit they support the fire element. I’d always encourage using candles which don’t leave a sooty residue and if you choose from the glorious array of scented candles, opt for those with natural rather than synthetic fragrance to add a layer of sensory delight.

2. Declutter and Refresh

One of the reasons some people struggle to see the benefits of Feng Shui if they are trying to work out the process on their own is that they haven’t regained control of their home by ejecting anything they don’t use, need or love. Decluttering your home is essential to allow chi to flow freely, and warmer days are an ideal opportunity to declutter and refresh your spaces.

• Spring Summer Cleaning: Although you took advantage of the vibrancy of spring to zhuzh away the winter blues, a couple of months on you might be seeing evidence of dust and pollen on surfaces.  At any time of year, a thorough cleaning will refresh the energy in your home, and this is the perfect time to get to all those nooks and crannies, and clean windows inside and out to let in maximum light and oxygen.
• Organize your home: Review belongings, including clothes, furniture, kitchenware, and appliances, and remove items that no longer serve a purpose. This process is incredibly liberating and allows positive energy to filter into every newly available space.

3. Celebrate with Plants and Flowers

Plants are a powerful way to bring life chi into your home, but don’t overdo it or they can absorb valuable oxygen during the night which might cause snoring, a dry mouth, or headaches. For this reason, we don’t encourage plants in the bedroom and in 2024, for much deeper Feng Shui reasons than we have space for in this article, please relocate plants away from the West part of your home.

• Indoor Plants: Jade plants (aka Money plant), peace lilies, and bamboo are believed to bring good fortune. Feng Shui practitioners will avoid cactus, snake plant, devils’ ivy and other plants which are spikey or have thorns or swordlike leaves as these cut into the energy in a home and can cause arguments and irritability.  We love smooth, round-leaved plants provided they are healthy and well maintained as this really adds to the positive vibe.
• Fresh Flowers: The beauty and fragrance of fresh flowers are guaranteed to uplift the mood and boost the Feng Shui energy around them.  Always keep the water fresh and remove any limp blooms immediately.

4. Optimizing Outdoor Spaces

Summer is when the outdoor areas of our homes add a new dimension to what can be a somewhat contained lifestyle, especially in apartments. Take advantage of the extension of your living spaces to make the most of natural light, air, and a new perspective.

• Gardening: Neglected gardens suggest a lack of care and enthusiasm for the home itself, so show them some love with attractive planting or as a minimum, tidy paths and mow the lawn so the Feng Shui energy can find its way to your door.  If your fingers are not the desired shade of green, consider a ‘garden share’ with a keen neighbor or friend.  And if watering really isn’t your thing, it’s very straightforward to set up an automatic watering system that does the chore for you and is significantly more efficient on water usage than the traditional watering can.
• Water Features: Incorporate water elements like fountains or birdbaths to invite calm and prosperity. The sound of flowing water is soothing and encourages a peaceful environment.  Feng Shui uses water in a variety of ways to support homes, so if you are considering adding a large pond, swimming pool, or feature of over 50 gallons/200litres, it would be worth getting a Feng Shui assessment prepared to ensure it is located in the most auspicious area for your home.
• Seating Areas: How glorious to be able to relax outside in comfortable seating with space for stretching out and socialising with friends. Use outdoor furniture which is both functional and visually rewarding, and before buying, consider how you will store cushions and more delicate furniture options during the winter months.

5. Enhance the flow of positive energy

Ensure the flow of chi in your home is smooth and uninterrupted. When you walk around your home, if you have piles of stuff or obstacles which get in your way, those items are blocking the effectiveness of your Feng Shui too.

• Welcome Home: Keep the entrance to your home clean, bright and and inviting.  Trim over-enthusiastic foliage and place plants overflowing with healthy flowers to welcome positive energy. Upgrade your doormat to show your front door at it’s best.
• Air Flow: Feng Shui is all about flow, and the joy of summer is the opportunity to have windows open throughout the property.  Good ventilation is absolutely essential to maintain a healthy and vibrant home environment, so get into the fresh air habit and continue to benefit through into autumn.

6. Balance the Elements

Traditional Feng Shui uses five natural elements to bring balance and harmony into a home. While we do need a lot more fire energy in homes, it’s well worth understanding how the other elements work and how you might use them:

Earth

Earth is a wonderful, stabilizing element and can be used in the form of earthy colors and ceramics to ground your space. If you’ve decorated a bathroom in blues or sea greens and find it difficult for you or other members of the family to stay grounded or focused, or perhaps your money is draining away, place a clay pot filled with stones or some of your crystal collection in the bathroom to increase the earth energy and help you feel more secure and protected in the space.

Wood

Wood encourages growth and upward motion and we activate this element in the form of indoor plants and trees. Wood furniture doesn’t count as it’s essentially dormant.

Metal

Back in Cycle 8 which ended in February of this year, every home needed a lot of metal energy. You may recall the fashion for grey décor and furniture which was so prevalent from 2004-2023 and was inspired by the energetic requirements. There is not such a significant need for metal now, although you will benefit from it in certain spaces. In particular in 2024, the West is a good location to position metal furniture and gym weights. Move these into the Northeast in 2025.

Water

Water is represented by blue and black tones and bubbling water itself, and Feng Shui practitioners will always advise caution in its use within a home. Water can extinguish the fire energy we depend on now and in the coming years. More significantly, it can also generate a Feng Shui energy known as ‘peach blossom’ which invites in the energy of a new romantic partner. Now, summer romance is great if you are single and open to love. However, in homes with a happy, loving relationship, adding water in the ‘wrong’ place can have a catastrophic effect, so please take Feng Shui advice from an accredited practitioner before you do so.

7. Getting Mindful

What I love about Feng Shui is its energetic connection to both common sense and the power of the mind. There are so many ways to inspire and enrich your possibilities when you tap into the wealth of subconscious thought available to you.

• Experiment with Meditation: The Northeast of your home is the perfect spot to meditate or simply curl up and relax. Use squishy cushions, gentle lighting, and a sense of calm to raise the ambiance in your space. 
• Upgrade your Habits: Being outdoors is energy medicine in itself, and walking, running, outdoor classes in yoga or pilates are all splendid ways to boost the summer vibe.  But for me, a picnic in a spot with a beautiful view, whether that’s my balcony or in a prime, sunset location, is the best way to end the day.

They say a Feng Shui home is a happy home, and I’m the first to agree. By integrating the principles of Feng Shui into your home and lifestyle, you open the way to enjoy a magnificent and memorable summer to the max. If you’d like to know more about the Feng Shui of your own home, book an Inspiration call with Suzanne Roynon here.