Feng Shui entered western pop culture decades ago and many people have become so familiar with it that they also recognize the more stereotypical representations of a feng shui adjustment. Some of the more exotic and esoteric remedies are hard to miss, such as when a front door is flanked with protective lions or dragon statues.

Other Chinese-themed décor items have become synonymous with feng shui, such as the koi pond, pagoda-style lanterns, bamboo, and wind chimes. I could go on and on with examples, including red tassel strands of Chinese coins, octagonal shaped mirrors and the ubiquitous contemplative images of the Buddha.

And yet, there are some very ordinary and unexpected items which can be really good feng shui remedies. As a first example, a swimming pool placed in the right location can be a great feng shui remedy. It’s rare that anyone would build a pool just for feng shui benefits; rather, they are built for the enjoyment of using a pool and sometimes they hit the mark as being in the perfect location. No one visits a house, sees the pool, and asks, “Is that a feng shui remedy?”

Another non-obvious earth remedy is a well-placed fireplace.  Contrary to popular misconceptions about a fireplace “representing fire,” the fireplace is only “fire” when its in use.  The other days of the year the usual stone or brick façade is a good example of the earth element.

A patio cover can be a wonderful addition to a house, providing shade from the sun, allowing for more outdoor living and relaxation. No one walks outside and says, “Oh, is this patio cover a feng shui remedy?”  And yet the patio cover often fills in a missing directional zone.  Just short of structurally enclosing a missing sector in the floor plan, the patio cover helps fill in a missing area, which could improve the health of occupants.  For example, a missing northwest sector can undermine the head and lungs.  Filling that missing northwest sector in with a covering and furnishings can be an affordable 50% remedy for that location.

The 6-rod metal wind chime is one of the most well-known Feng Shui remedies, but many people just hang them outside because they like them, with no thought or awareness in how that chime might be influencing the house and occupants. As a “moving metal” remedy, the wind chime can deflect certain construction site threats, helping prevent accidents.  A moving metal remedy which can be positioned indoors, as an alternative to a chime, is a grandfather clock. Grandfather clocks may look old-fashioned, but that swinging brass can be effective in any home.

We’ve had pianos as we know them today since the 1700’s. Lo and behold, when played, they work also as a moving metal remedy because the sound of the metal strings are like a ringing chime.

On the subject of metal, we have quite a few modern items which can conveniently qualify as metal remedies when an area needs it.  Many people enter their home from their garage much more often than the front door. The garage has been elevated into being a very important part of the house because of that. When a garage needs metal, a parked car is more than enough for the space being considered. Kitchen and laundry appliances are also hundreds of pounds and if those areas happen to need metal, there is more than enough, conveniently.

In contrast, not every modern appliance or device can qualify as a feng shui remedy, with one of the biggest blunders having been promoted by the BTB School of Feng Shui. Those folks like to say that a television and other electronics can “stimulate or liven up the Qi in a room.”  Maybe the people spreading this notion honestly didn’t know back in the 1990’s, but now it is well established that being around the EMF’s from electronic devices, particularly wi-fi, can have a very debilitating effect on our bodies, causing both short term and long term damage to our health. This is the very definition of bad feng shui.

There are many more examples, one such being the “traffic circle,” where the placement of plants, shrubs or trees at the end of a cul-de-sac can protect the house at the end of the street, re-directing the Qi flow.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Feng Shui remedies should be elegant or inconspicuous (and healthy!) I’ve been to many homes and businesses where clients unknowingly had certain remedies in place via their equipment, décor or furnishings.  I know they work because these same clients don’t experience the predictable problems associated with those same kinds of spaces without such remedies naturally in place.

Author: Kartar Diamond

Company: Feng Shui Solutions ®

From the Frequent Client Questions Blog Series