Many people in the UK consider creating a well-balanced home particularly important, and Feng Shui can offer ancient advice about how to do just that. With the main focus for many people often on furniture arrangement and color choices, the role of rugs in Feng Shui can sometimes be overlooked. Rugs have an important role in the energy flow (Chi) in your home.
Knowing their influence and picking the appropriate rugs can improve the harmony and balance of your home.
The Basics of Feng Shui and Rugs
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that, among other things, is concerned with arranging spaces to promote optimum energy flows, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of the inhabitants.
Rugs, like most home accessories, are a key component in this. In addition to their decorative purpose, rugs are very important in feng shui because they serve as foundation stones for energy, delineate spaces and help guide Chi throughout your home.
Enhancing Energy Flow
Rugs help control and direct Chi energy. For instance, putting a rug in a hallway slows down fast-moving Chi, preventing it from rushing through your home. This creates a more settled atmosphere for your home and makes spaces seem more balanced.
Choosing the Right Shape
If your rug is the wrong shape, it can upset the energetic balance of the room. A round or oval rug will soften the sharp edges of your furniture and create a feeling of inclusivity and togetherness. On the other hand, a square or rectangular rug will create a sense of stability and structure, perfect for a room that needs more grounding.
Colour Considerations
Colors are very important—each one has different meanings and energy. Earth tones, such as beige, brown, and green, are very grounding and safe. Red and orange stimulate energy and are good colors for a living room or dining area. Blue and black are calming and are good for the bedroom or for meditation.
Material Matters
Natural materials such as wool, cotton, jute, and the like are good, as the fibers bring the energy of Earth into your space and ground your chi. Synthetic fibers might be more design-flexible, but they do not possess the natural energy-enhancing qualities of organic fibers.
Placement Tips
The placement of rugs is the most important element in Feng Shui—either it works or it doesn’t.
Living Room
Lay a large, central rug under the main seating area and center it to anchor the energy and bring the space together. Ensure all furniture legs are either fully on or off the rug to keep things balanced.
Bedroom
In the bedroom, lay down rugs on either side of the bed to create a sense of security and protection. A couple of smaller rugs on the two bedside tables can also help even out the energy of the room.
Entryway
The first place Chi enters your home is your entryway, so use a colorful and welcoming rug to greet the positive energy and set a tone for the rest of your house.
The Final Word
No home is complete without rugs. But rugs are not just for show—they are one of the foremost tools of Feng Shui. Choose a rug that is long and thin or short and wide. Decide on a beige rug, a grey rug, or a yellow rug. Put it in the living room, the study or the bedroom. Need some help with how to do all that? Why not contact a Feng Shui consultant to help you apply these principles?
