The general interest in Feng Shui is not accidental. The meaning of the teaching, which originated several thousand years ago in Ancient China, is extremely simple - to help a person achieve harmony with the world around him. We are talking not only about the harmony of spirit, but also about a person’s immediate environment, especially his home. It is especially important to implement Feng Shui ideas in the kitchen, a place where the whole family gathers, and some of its members spend at least a couple of hours a day.
Comfort and peace Source i.pinimg.com
Location
No less important than the presence of all five elements is the correct location of the room itself. If you are just planning construction, or are looking for housing, be sure to pay attention to how the forge is located. The room will comply with the rules of Feng Shui if the following requirements are met:
- For a kitchen dominated by the element of Fire, placement in the southern or southeastern part of the house would be optimal. The north side is definitely the least favorable option. The North is ruled by Water, and the conflict between the two elements will certainly result in family discord.
- The kitchen is filled with specific energy, so it is advisable to isolate it as much as possible from the living rooms.
- The option in which the entrance to the kitchen is located close to the front door or the bathroom is considered unsuccessful; an energy draft will inevitably suck good luck out of the house.
- A fashionable solution is a kitchen-studio, when the kitchen also functions as a dining room (and sometimes a living room). Such an arrangement leads to improper distribution and loss of energy, and is therefore unacceptable from the point of view of Feng Shui.
White and olive palette Source www.homestratosphere.com
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Everything for the convenience of the cook
The main person in the kitchen is the cook. All measures for equipping the kitchen premises are aimed at ensuring comfortable and convenient work for the person preparing food. It is not for nothing that it is believed that the most delicious food is obtained if it is prepared in a good mood. When equipping a kitchen, it is important not to allow the entrance door to be behind the cook, so that the cook at work does not accidentally get scared by the person entering. If this is not possible, you can hang a mirror above the work table or stove - this way the cook will see the door and possible guests.
If the kitchen is located incorrectly
This situation is typical for most houses and apartments, and most often it is impossible to eliminate it by arranging redevelopment. To smooth out contradictions, you can make the following adjustments:
- If the kitchen faces north, the element of Wood will come to the rescue. Living plants and green tones of decoration and decoration will help harmonize the flow of energies.
- If you can see into the kitchen from another room or directly from the entrance, the easiest way is to keep the door closed, but not everyone likes this solution. An alternative could be a decorative curtain for the entrance made of beads or beads; It’s especially good if the beads are made of wood. You can divert attention from the kitchen opening by hanging a picture or panel depicting flowers in the hallway.
In retro style Source st.hzcdn.com
- If the kitchen and bathroom are adjacent, the Feng Shui talisman “Wind Music” will help. It should be placed close to the kitchen opening to prevent wealth from leaking out.
- Choose the right colors for decoration that support the harmony of qi energy. Finish the walls, ceiling and floor with natural materials, carefully use metal and glass, and, if possible, avoid combining metal and wood.
- If a kitchen-studio is your old dream, you shouldn’t give it up. It is important to correctly zone the space, for which finishing materials with different colors and textures are suitable. Decorative partitions and pieces of furniture are suitable for the same purpose.
Zoning a studio kitchen with a bright accent Source cdn.shopify.com
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Placement of functional areas
The room must have a balance of all 5 elements, and the deficiency of any of them can be compensated for by the appropriate color, image, material or shape.
Basically, the kitchen is dominated by fire (microwave, stove, oven) and water (sink, refrigeration units, washing machine and dishwasher). Accordingly, all this needs to be diluted with other elements.
It is not recommended to place three “fire” or “water” objects in a row - they should be separated, for example, by a tree.
It is believed that this particular element is present in the kitchen in the smallest quantity, so a houseplant, a painting depicting a beautiful or fertile tree, or something with “woody” flowers will never hurt.
It is best that the stove, sink and refrigerator are not on the same straight line, but form a triangle. The distance between them should be from 1.5 to 2 meters.
The stove should not be placed on the north side, or near a window or opposite the entrance to the room. If you cannot change its location, then you can dilute the situation with a mirror in which you can see those entering the room. This will also help make your kitchen look bigger.
In Feng Shui, a mirror is generally a universal tool for balancing.
It is better to place the refrigerator in the southeast, north or east, as well as the washing machine and washing area.
Feng Shui arrangement rules
Anyone who wants to contribute to the prosperity and health of their family can try arranging their kitchen according to Feng Shui; The rules are not complicated and are based on the following ideas:
- The design is based on harmonious color combinations with the indispensable inclusion of white and green.
- The kitchen should be free of unnecessary things, faulty household appliances and broken (cracked) dishes.
- According to Feng Shui, a mirror is considered an ambiguous object: if work surfaces are reflected in it, the owners will always have unnecessary troubles. If you want to attract wealth into your home, the food on the dining table should be reflected.
- It is worth abandoning mirror tiles when decorating walls: they crush the reflection and disrupt the correct flow of qi energy, which is generally best avoided.
Nothing extra on the table Source images.squarespace-cdn.com
- The more sharp corners there are in the kitchen, the more sharp moments there will be in your life. In order not to aggravate your existence, choose furniture (including a table) with rounded edges. In general, if possible, it is better to purchase a round or oval table - this shape harmonizes the space. It is worth abandoning open shelves; Store forks and knives in a drawer rather than in plain sight.
- You can’t skimp on lighting—twilight is appropriate in the bedroom, but not in the kitchen. A multi-level lighting arrangement is encouraged, including not only a central lamp, but also peripheral lighting and built-in point light sources.
Sharp corners - to a minimum Source st.hzcdn.com
Kitchen arrangement is based on the rule of the triangle. The stove (fire element), sink (water) and refrigerator (metal) should form a triangle (this does not happen only if they are placed along the same line); The more symmetrical the figure is, the better.
In the Feng Shui tradition, these energies are considered to be opposing each other, which is why symmetry (the arrangement of objects, if possible, at equidistant points) is so important. In this case, the stove cannot be placed in a corner or near a window, and according to the canon, in the space between the refrigerator and the stove there should be a wooden or stone object (if not a table, then at least a picture in a wooden frame or a plant in a ceramic pot).
Triangle rule Source i0.wp.com
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Where to put the stove?
The stove is rightfully considered the main item in the kitchen, and the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui pays special attention to it.
The stove should not be placed near the window - along with the aromas of food, all the well-being of the family can evaporate from the house.
It is strongly recommended to keep the stove perfectly clean (as is the kitchen area in general). A dirty stove could very well become a source of trouble in your home.
It is best, according to Feng Shui, to place the stove on the south side of the room. It’s good if it is directed towards the center of the house. The direction of the slab towards the front door, stairs or bedroom is considered unfavorable.
In China, preference is given to gas stoves or open fire stoves. An electric stove or microwave oven is not welcome in the kitchen.
Design elements
For a positive effect, a Feng Shui painting for a kitchen should bring peace. Paintings depicting water in any form, from the sea to a jug, have a particularly good effect on the atmosphere of the kitchen. Any positive landscapes and still lifes are also suitable. A clock on the wall will help establish a favorable flow of energy, not to mention help with cooking.
Water and fish are one of the feng shui symbols of abundance, so it is good if there is a place for an aquarium in the kitchen. The shape of the aquarium can be any, but the number of fish must be odd.
Feng Shui ideas have many similarities with the ideas of minimalism. Free space also plays an important role here, so the less cluttered the room, the better. The rule applies to both work surfaces and the table: dishes, containers with bulk products and kitchen small items should be stored in cabinets, pencil cases and cabinets.
Light as a decorative element Source dizainvfoto.ru
Place for hob
The location of the hob is away from the window, so the proximity of the stove to the window indicates the loss of home warmth, comfort and wealth.
You cannot position the stove so that you stand with your back to the door while cooking. Otherwise, you need to attach a mirror so that there is a view from behind.
The ideal location for the stove is an island in the middle of the room with a hood.
What to remember when choosing a color palette
Official science has established that colors evoke different emotions and affect well-being; ancient canons suggest influencing more subtle matters. If the owners want to attract health and prosperity to the house, they cannot do without choosing the color of the kitchen according to Feng Shui; How the color of the kitchen affects a person largely depends on the location of the room relative to the center of the home.
When choosing the color of the kitchen, you must remember that in this place the elements are represented unequally. The elements of fire (stove) and water (sink) predominate here. The use of colors corresponding to these elements in decoration will enhance the latter. The elements of wood, earth and metal will be suppressed, and the chi energy will be unbalanced. That is why, according to Feng Shui, in the interior of a kitchen there should be no red (fiery) shades, as well as black and blue (water), only accents are allowed.
Beautiful, but not according to Feng Shui Source st.hzcdn.com
Excursion into the history of the issue
In ancient times, the Chinese believed that the place where food was prepared was incredibly important to keeping the occupants of the house safe and healthy. Due to the importance of this room, special rules for arranging the kitchen according to Feng Shui were established.
Don't forget that the ancient Chinese cooked over an open fire. This meant that fire pits inside the cooking area had to be clean and safe, and starting and putting out fires required special techniques to maintain the health of the surrounding area. Some of the kitchen-related feng shui principles relate to these processes.
Modern kitchens do not have a fire pit, and therefore some of the feng shui rules associated with lighting a fire are no longer relevant. In fact, if we tried to apply all the rules of Feng Shui to our kitchens today, it would seem pointless and somewhat superstitious. However, some feng shui principles have stood the test of time and can (should!) be integrated into modern kitchen spaces to enhance the health and wealth of home owners.
Favorable colors
In a place where there is a constant struggle between the elements of fire and water, a harmoniously selected color of the kitchen according to Feng Shui can establish a balance of energy; the rules suggest the following shades, favorable in any case:
- White (metal) and shades of beige (ivory, bleached linen, coffee with milk). Light colors symbolize purity, freshness of plans and success in their implementation. They are chosen to decorate a kitchen in the style of minimalism, classic or Provence. Not only the decoration of walls, floors and ceilings can be light, but also kitchen furniture, upholstery, and curtains. It is easy to select household appliances for a bright interior, and maintaining cleanliness, thanks to a variety of detergents, is not difficult at all.
White and cream Source charles-constantine.com
- Yellow (earth) and its shades. Color fills the space with positive energy, while protecting against negative emotions and events. The color yellow is associated with the sun, so it evokes a feeling of comfort and also awakens the appetite. It can be made main or accent, combined with white and beige; yellow decorative elements are good for any kitchen decorated according to Feng Shui.
With a yellow accent Source img.benimmulku.com
- Green (tree). This color symbolizes nature, and therefore is considered optimal for decorating a kitchen space. It has a positive effect on the psyche, improves physical condition, relaxes and soothes the eyes. The combination of green and white carries especially a lot of vital energy qi; in such a kitchen the mood is lifted, an atmosphere of kindness and comfort is formed.
Combination of white and green Source s3.amazonaws.com
Furniture
Qi loves not only light, but also space, so there should not be too much furniture, and furniture without sharp corners and with rounded shapes is preferable to avoid the appearance of Sha.
It is best to choose a table made of wood. The preferred shapes are circle or oval, but can also be rectangle or square. It is better to cover a glass table with a light tablecloth.
It is important that pieces of furniture do not interfere with free movement. All shelves should be closed with doors, and if this is not possible, fill them with rounded objects.
Wall cabinets and shelves should not be hung above the heads of people sitting at the table - this creates discomfort.
