7 Expert Ways to Use Year of the Horse Feng Shui at Home to Boost Energy, Luck, and Momentum in February and Beyond

Out with the old and in with the new

A bright and airy living room with patterned cream and blue wallpaper, two striped blue and white upholstered chairs, a pale green fluted cabinet with flowers on top, and a striped ottoman with a stack of books in the foreground.
(Image credit: Future / Pearson Lyle Management Ltd)

With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, there's no better time to harness the energetic and optimistic Feng Shui energy that the Year of the Horse is set to bring on 17 February.

This year, it's all about balance, according to Feng Shui experts and practitioners, who recommend shedding unwanted possessions, balancing earth and water elements, or limiting bright colors to create good Feng Shui in your home.

What Does the Year of the Horse Signify?

If you familiarized yourself with Feng Shui in the Year of the Wood Snake last year, now is the time to shift and change your outlook for the Lunar New Year.

To find out more about what to expect, I spoke to Suzanne Roynon, Feng Shui consultant, interiors therapist, and frequent Homes & Gardens contributor. 'The Year of the Fire Horse is all about forward momentum, progress, and expansion,' she explains, 'but it does come with a little effort in terms of seeking out opportunities rather than expecting them to fall into your lap.

'We can expect some turbulence and upheaval, but from the chaos comes collaboration, creativity, and community. Meditation, learning, and reflection are mindful habits to refine the intensity of a Fire year. Those who remain calm and 'ride the horse' will get the best out of the year.'

Suzanne Butler, a Feng Shui practitioner from Harmonising Energies Feng Shui, echoes Suzanne Roynon's advice, urging that the Year of the Horse is never subtle.

'It arrives with movement, momentum, and a collective urge to break free from what feels too tight, too slow, or too small,' she adds. 'In 2026, that energy is amplified by Fire, making this not just a Horse year, but a Fire Horse year, one of the most dynamic combinations in Chinese metaphysics, and 2026 is the first time in 60 years that it has been seen.

'Horse energy is about speed, independence, and forward motion. It doesn't wait for perfect conditions. It moves when something no longer fits.'

So, what does that mean in terms of using Feng Shui in your home this year? 'This is a year that rewards clarity and courage,' continues Suzanne B, 'and it punishes stagnation. You can't coast in a Fire Horse year. You either move with the energy, or you feel like you're being dragged by it.'

Here are seven easy ways our experts recommend channelling that energy for good in your home:

1. Bring In Earth Elements

A blue sofa with assorted blue patterned cushions with a blue wall behind and a blue artwork in a black frame above

Pops of blue counter the fire energy of the Year of the Horse.

(Image credit: Future / SIMON BEVAN LTD)

As Beverly Biehl, Feng Shui master and founder of The Intuitive Interior, warns, though the fact that the 2026 Yang Fire Horse year is a Double Fire year means it's destined to be filled with enthusiasm, rapid growth, and optimism, it may also leave you prone to self-destructive behaviors from being self-centered, too trusting, and too timid to go for what you truly desire. 'Its youthful and playful energy needs to have downtime and solo pursuits to avoid burnout,' she says.

For this, Beverly recommends bringing in Earth elements, such as cozy blankets, deep cushioned sofas, and thick pile rugs to create a sanctuary vibe. You may also choose to decorate with blue.

'Adding Teal accents in the Center of the home threads the needle between the Water element that will cool the Fire, and the Wood element that will feed the Fire,' she explains. The BEDELITE Fleece Throw Teal Blanket, available at Amazon, is an ideal, affordable pick.

'Reflective surfaces and high gloss finishes also add to the Water energy that would nourish the Center,' adds Beverly. Just be mindful of Feng Shui furniture placement.

2. Shed Unwanted Possessions

A room with blue and white statement wallpaper, a yellow ceramic lamp with pink lampshade, framed artwork in silver frame and blue bedside table with a gold vase filled with pink flowers and a book.

Let go of what no longer serves you and start the new lunar year afresh.

(Image credit: Future / Future Publishing Ltd)

Next, says Suzanne Roynon, it will be easier to enjoy life in 2026 without the encumbrances of clutter, as overstuffed homes will become a burden as the months pass. For that reason, it's important to declutter for good Feng Shui.

'Take the opportunity in the run-up to Chinese New Year on 17 February to tune into the remaining snake vibe by shedding unwanted possessions, and start spring cleaning early,' she advises, using decluttering methods that work for you and your space. 'You’ll be releasing pent-up stagnant energy, so your home is sparkling for the super-charged Fire Horse when it gallops in.'

You want to create a space that supports momentum, rather than blocking it.

Suzanne Butler explains, 'The Horse does not move well through clutter. It trips in narrow corridors, piles, and bottlenecks. If your home feels congested, your life often does too.'

So, focus on fixing your home's traffic flow, beginning with walkways, entry points, and high-traffic areas.

'If you have to step around things, squeeze past furniture, or navigate piles, your home is mirroring resistance in your life,' adds Suzanne Butler. 'Let go of what belongs to an old version of you. Clothes you no longer wear. Objects tied to guilt, obligation, or just in case.

'The west of your home signifies new beginnings; if this is full of old memories that you need to whittle through, you may find yourself stuck in the past. Make it a priority to clear out.'

Collecting items in a storage basket, available at Walmart will help you decide whether to donate or sell these decluttered items later.

Similarly, another important area to think about is your front door, which represents opportunity and direction.

'Your front door is where life meets you,' Suzanne Butler continues. 'In a Fire Horse year, it should feel like an invitation, not an apology. Make sure it opens fully, feels welcoming, and isn't blocked or forgotten,' to ensure good entryway Feng Shui.

'The Horse is about evolution. Keeping what no longer fits slows you. Feng Shui isn’t about controlling the year. It’s about removing friction so you can move with it.'

3. Plan for Power Outages

White pillar candles in vases filled with flowers, on a windowsill. There are yellow shutters behind, and a large window to the right.

Preparation is key with the escalating weather and climate changes.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside LTD)

This one might seem a little more left-field, but Feng Shui consultant Suzanne Roynon highlights that predictions suggest this may be a year of infrastructure and power supply challenges, representing the imbalance between light and dark.

'It won't hurt to have a backup plan, with batteries, candles, and portable chargers for phones, along with books to distract for occasional WiFi outages,' she says, to prepare your home for a power cut. It's also a good idea to have a home battery backup and emergency heating on hand for these emergencies – the DREO Space Heater, available at Amazon, is a bestseller.

You can also learn how to hook up a generator to your house. Their costs are higher upfront, but they're cheaper to run and excellent for maintaining the running of your home in an outage.

'These periods are messages to slow down and take a break from the constant noise and distraction of modern life,' adds Suzanne Roynon.

4. Keep the South of Your Home Quiet

A grey upholstered bench with wooden legs against a blue and white tiled floor and decorative, patterned wall tiles. There's a yellow throw, cream and blue cushion on the bench, a wicker storage basket beneath, and a wall-mounted yellow lampshade above.

Decorate the South of your home with metals and pale, earthy colors.

(Image credit: Future / ONE REPRESENTS LTD (JAKE CURTIS))

'Each year, there is one direction in the compass that hosts the unstable 5 Yellow energy,' says Beverly, which is typically linked to obstacles, instability, and misfortune. 'This year it's the South, associated with Fame and Reputation. To avoid negative self-talk, gossip, and muddled communication, keep that area quiet and add more Metal items. This essentially creates a structured "fire pit" to keep the energy burning bright, but safely!'

Suzanne Roynon adds that, alongside decorating with mixed metals, it's also advisable to embrace grey, white, and light earthy colors in this area to support your Feng Shui.

She says, 'Feng Shui professionals recommend removing piquant tones from this area and keeping the space as calm as possible for the duration of 2026.

If you're not looking to fully redecorate this year, adding just a touch of metal, with the Tarbes Boho Abstract Metal Wall Decor, designed by Kelly Clarkson and available at Wayfair, will look stylish and tap into the positive energy of the Year of the Horse at the same time.

5. Limit Bright Colors

Bright bedroom with blue wall, green bed, brightly patterned bedding and cushions in assorted colors, round bedside table with teal lamp and white lampshade, and red, brown, and white striped rug.

Bright colors can lead to anger, irritation, and burnout.

(Image credit: Future / Sarah Kaye Representation)

On that same vein, as Suzanne Roynon stresses, with the Year of the Horse being a fire year, you may be tempted to activate the fire energy in the home by decorating with red, decorating with orange, or decorating with a pink room.

But, she says, it's best to use these colors wisely, and limit them to soft furnishings and rugs, such as the Brandt Abstract Indoor Rug available at Wayfair, rather than wallcoverings or large furniture.

'An overpowering amount of fire can be exhausting, leading to anger, irritation, and burnout,' she explains, 'so if you start to feel these things, rein in the hot colors.'

6. Clear Your Desk

A bright and airy basement with wooden flooring, a wooden and glass desk with a wooden chair with a fluffy throw, and a piano in the background adjoining room with a black patterned rug and wooden staircase upstairs. In the background are glass doors out to a garden staircase, with a leafy green plant to the right.

Your workspace matters more than ever this year.

(Image credit: Future / JONATHAN GOOCH)

In the Year of the Horse, your workspace matters more than ever, stresses Suzanne Butler, as the Fire Horse year rewards clarity, strategy, and decisive action.

'A cluttered desk creates mental static,' she warns. 'Clear outdated paperwork, broken tech, and old notes. Then add one item that represents where you are going, not where you’ve been. Your environment should reflect momentum, not memory.'

To perfect your desk Feng Shui, this addition might be plants, candles, or crystals, available at Etsy. You can also make easy Feng Shui tweaks for your home office to boost focus.

7. 'Roll In the Gold'

A rattan fruit bowl filled with fruit on a black circular table, with a dark blue sofa seen in the foreground with a silver metal tray, plate, three plums, and light brown napkin.

Oranges signify abundance, wealth, and good fortune in Feng Shui.

(Image credit: Future / Time Inc (UK) Ltd)

Finally, explains Beverly, 'I also like the tradition of rolling in the Gold where you take nine oranges and roll them into the house as you walk in your front door on the first day of the Lunar New Year. It's fun, a bit silly, and sends the message to the Universe that you are ready for your abundance!'

For the next Lunar New Year, why not grow your own orange tree with our citrus tree care growing guide?

'Above all, this is not the year to be wishy-washy about where you are headed,' adds Beverly. 'The Horse loves to have a place to run towards, and if you have a "home base" in mind, it will take you there very quickly. Now it's time to hold on tight!'

What to Shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

Suzanne Roynon
Suzanne Roynon

Suzanne works nationally and internationally as an interiors therapist, Feng Shui consultant, and public speaker, and is also the best-selling author of Welcome Home, How Stuff Makes or Breaks your Relationship.

A headshot of Suzanne Butler wearing a blue shirt and large brown glasses.
Suzanne Butler

Suzanne embraced Feng Shui in 2017, after seeing a short video online. Since, she has focused on aligning her space with supportive energy, and helping others do the same.

A headshot of Beverly Biehl
Beverly Biehl

Beverly has been a Feng Shui Master and transformation guide for 23 years, helping people move from chaos to clarity. Blending ancient wisdom with modern intuition, she aligns both spaces and inner lives to create harmony, abundance, and joy.


'In a Fire Horse year, life accelerates whether you are ready or not,' says Suzanne Butler. 'Your home can either become an anchor that steadies you, or another weight you carry. Clear the runway. When the gate opens, you don’t want to be sorting boxes. You want to be ready to run.'

Wondering about the Feng Shui house features to avoid? Our experts break down everything you need to know.

Ottilie Blackhall
Sleep Editor

Ottilie joined Homes & Gardens in 2024 as the News Writer on Solved, after finishing a Master's in Magazine Journalism at City, University of London. Now, as the Sleep Editor, she spends her days hunting deals and producing content on all things sleep – from mattresses and sheets to protectors and pillows, all of which she tests in her own home. She also has particular expertise in home fragrance, covering everything from candles to reed diffusers.

Previously, she has written for Livingetc and Motorsport Magazine, and also has a Master's degree in English Literature and History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, where she developed a love for inspiring interiors and architecture.