7 Feng Shui rules for a harmonious dining room
The Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui is all about bringing balance and harmony into your surroundings, and there's no better place to start than your dining room. Even if it's an open-plan space, there are some simple things you can do to make your eating area a warm and welcoming haven, perfect for family mealtimes or entertaining guests.
'In Feng Shui, the dining room represents the heart of the family home,' says Feng Shui consultant and master practitioner, Glynis Dinsdale. If you’re looking to create a more welcoming space, follow these expert tips to help.
1. Avoid sharp corners
When it comes to dining tables, avoid sharp corners. According to Sam Deeble, furniture and home interiors expert at Woods Furniture, 'this can obstruct the energy flow, preventing the space from achieving optimal Feng Shui.'
Instead, opt for a round or oval design – soft edges bring about balance and harmony. 'This shape allows the energy to flow around the table, which in turn allows the conversations between the people to become unified, whereas a rectangular table is believed to cause tension,' says Feng Shui expert Janine Lowe.
2. Decorate with mirrors
Adding mirrors in your dining room (again, opt for a round-shaped mirror to maintain the flow of energy) can help to create the illusion of a bigger space, which can be particularly helpful in more compact dining spaces. But a mirror should face the dining table to reflect the food you are eating, says Janine. 'Food in Feng Shui brings an abundance of good fortune, so by reflecting the table it enhances the abundance in the home by two fold,' she explains.
3. Use calming colours
A room's colour scheme can significantly impact the look and feel of a room and the experts agree that green and blue hues work best, thanks to their ‘healing and vitality and creating opportunities for growth and restoration', says Sam. If you don't want to experiment with paint, use accents through soft furnishings and accessories.
4. Add natural elements
Another great way to achieve Feng Shui is by incorporating natural elements into your space, which is said to have a grounding effect, creating harmony and promoting health, happiness and good fortune, explains Sam. Follow this principle by adding a wooden dining table, linens, rattan chairs and houseplants, and making the most of natural lighting.
5. Consider your lighting
Speaking of lighting, striking the right balance between bright and softer lighting is key to perfecting yin and yang energy. Simone Wilson, colour and trend expert at Voyage Maison, explains: 'In dining rooms, lighting is often overlooked, with many relying solely on an overhead "big" light, which can disrupt the Feng Shui created by other elements. Instead, I recommend adding smaller table lamps on side tables or shelves to enhance the ambience. The lampshades create a soft, warm atmosphere that overhead lighting fails to do.'
6. Think about placement
Where you place certain pieces of furniture is also important. 'One way to bring balance is to make sure the chairs and cabinets are in proportion to each other, and balanced with wall pictures and the table,' says Glynis.
Also, try to place the table in the middle of the room, that way, everyone can get to their seat without having to struggle or squeeze in or out.
7. Keep your space clutter-free
A tidy, organised space opens up your dining area and creates that harmonious feeling. If you aim to keep on top of any clutter – we know how easy it is for our dining tables to become a dumping ground for unused half-opened condiments – it will go a long way to restoring balance in your space and your home more generally.
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