We all want to come home to a healthy and happy home and leave our place in the morning with a good mindset too. But often, little things we barely notice in our day-to-day routine can alter our mood when we walk through the door. Piles of unopened mail, a lock that gets stuck easily or pairs of shoes that can easily be tripped over can affect our psyche even if we don’t realize it. Additionally, things that are virtually impossible to notice can also negatively impact our day-to-day: the placement of a mirror or the type of plants you own, for example.
So how do you make your entryway a happy and healthy space that brings you good energy instead of weighing you down? We spoke to Heather Askinosie, holistic healer, feng shui and crystal expert, and co-founder of Energy Muse, about ways to make your entryway more feng shui-friendly.
“When arranging the entryway to your home, you want to create an aesthetic that’s receptive and clean,” she explains. “An open area is seen as welcoming to chi, as it can move around unobstructed. Removing clutter and establishing a visually and functionally pleasant setting will go a long way to increasing the chi within your home.” Ready to give your space major positive vibes? This is the feng shui entryway layout you need.
ELIMINATE CLUTTER
“The entryway to your house is what sets the atmosphere for the whole home,” says Askinosie. “If you come home to a cluttered house, your mind immediately takes on that energy. But, if after a busy day, you come home to a home that’s clean and organized, your environment will provide a peaceful space to unwind in. A more minimal vibe will help you maintain peace of mind.”
Pro tip: Make sure you have solid organizational systems in mind to keep clutter to a minimum and choose thoughtful furniture and accessories that will keep paths clear.
BRING THE OUTDOORS IN
“I’d recommend tossing dead plants,” says the feng shui expert. Dead plants represent death and weaken the energy in your house. She also warns to pay attention to the types of plants you invite into your space. “Replace plants with pointy leaves with ones that have round leaves,” she says, “as pointy leaves are thought to be uninviting to energy.”
Pro tip: Depending on the amount of space and sunlight you have in your space, consider a Jade plant, Chinese money plant, rubber plant, or fiddle leaf fig tree. They are all round-leafed plants that are relatively low-maintenance.
PAY ATTENTION TO LIGHTING
“You’ll want your space to be well-lit, as open as possible, and spruced up with welcoming artwork,” says Askinosie. Make sure you have sufficient lighting sources inside and out, but also make use of natural light: “When you can, open your windows and let the sunlight shine in. It will regularly cleanse your room’s energy.”
Pro tip: When planning your lighting, try to have light sources at a variety of heights: a ceiling pendant and a lamp or a pair of sconces, for example. To let natural light in while maintaining privacy, consider sheer roller blinds.
WATCH OUT FOR MIRROR PLACEMENT
“One mistake I see often is when people hang a mirror in front of their entryway,” says the feng shui expert. “You don’t want to have a mirror facing the door, because when the chi enters your home, it bounces off the mirror, and goes back outside. The same reasoning applies to those who have a stairway directly in front of their entryway. It’s thought that this creates an obstruction for the chi, which can’t easily flow into the rest of your home.”
Pro tip: Instead, place a mirror on a wall perpendicular to your door, under a console for example. This will also provide a station to drop off your keys and mail while allowing you to give yourself a quick check before heading out the door.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR FRONT DOOR
“If you have a front door that sticks, or isn’t easy to open and close, it’s important to get that fixed,” recommends Askinosie. “On an energetic level, issues with the door are believed to make bringing in new opportunities more difficult. So make sure that your door is in pristine condition without cracks, scratches, or chips.”
Pro tip: Give your door a quick check: Does it close and open easily? Is the lock tricky? Does it need a paint job? This is an easy project to tackle in a weekend that can completely alter your mood when you walk in and out the door.
ADD A FEW CRYSTALS
“I would recommend placing a large piece of black tourmaline outside the front of your entryway to protect the energy of your space as people come in and out of your space,” says the crystal expert. “I also love placing an amethyst crystal in the room to act as an ‘energy purifier.’ Amethysts neutralize any negativity and radiate positive energy.”
Pro tip: Read up on the meaning of crystals and incorporate them into your home. Not only are they pretty to look at, they can also alter the energy of your space. While we don’t have definitive proof that this actually works, we think of it like taking vitamins: It can only do good.
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