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If you really think about it, the dining room is the center of the home. It is where family and friends gather and where most memories are made. However, for most people, the dining room is also a dumping ground for all the stuff in your house you need but don’t necessarily know where to place (kid’s toys, cabinets, old mail, luggage….sound familiar?). This can inhibit the flow of qi (positive energy) throughout the house.
We have already discussed the value of aligning rooms in your home with the basic principles of Feng Shui (read our previous post regarding kitchen remodeling here). Since the dining room is an important part of the home for positive energy flow, we thought it would be important to dive into some simple ways to bring more health, prosperity, and happiness into the main place of gathering for your family and friends.
You’ve probably heard this term thrown around quite a bit. The reality is, feng shui is more than just moving your furniture around. It is very much about using well-thought-out arrangements of spaces and objects to produce a flow of natural energy that feels right. In traditional Chinese belief, it was seen as one of the five aspects of a good life- destiny, luck, feng shui, virtue, and knowledge. Feng shui is simply the way you interact with your physical and spiritual environment in order to manifest a successful, happy, and fulfilling life. By enabling you to better understand your surroundings and their energetic impact, feng shui is a method you can use to change your life for the better, while creating a more warm and inviting dining room. If that sounds appealing to you, then keep on reading!
(source: Nourish)
For starters, your dining table should be large but has to fit comfortably in your room so your guests have enough room to sit. A round shape is best, but if your table is rectangular you can balance it out with rounded elements, such as rugs, throughout the room. The table must be placed in the center, but at a slight angle in relation to the walls- this gives the qi the ability to flow in a gentle, curving path around the room. If the table is placed straight and parallel to the walls, qi could be channeled through a straight line through the room and get trapped in the corners.
For the table itself, avoid glass top dining tables as they’ll bring in nervous energy. It’s also recommended to avoid dining tables that have cushions on top; opt for hard top dining tables, as they represent a solid foundation.
(source: Feng Shui Pundit)
In general, plain colors and simple patterns create a calming effect and are best suited for your tablescape. Patterns should not be very loud and should only consist of two colors maximum. Vertical stripes are great because they symbolize uplifting energy. My Drap offers an extensive selection of serviettes and placemats in calming colors and uplifting patterns- shop your next, feng shui-approved tablescape here!
When it comes to your dishes, in order to ensure positive energy, make sure you get rid of any glasses, plates, or bowls that are chipped or damaged.
(source: Nourish)
It’s important to have a “guest of honor” seat allocated towards the oldest at the table. Ensure this seat is furthest from the door, against solid walls, and offers a good view of the door and windows. The ideal arrangement is to place the seats in a way where nobody has their backs to the door or windows. Having their back to the window may make a person feel weak or vulnerable.
(source: Nourish)
As a rule of thumb, the more food you display in your dining room, the more abundance or “richness of life” you will attract. Fruits are significant symbols of feng shui; you could choose apples to boost friendship, pears for energy, peaches for health and oranges for prosperity. A round bowl full of round fruit (nine fruits is the magic number) is therefore ideal for feng shui. Flowers are great too, as they represent abundance; however, avoid dried flowers as they represent stagnation and decay.
Hanging paintings of food in your dining room (and kitchen) stimulates appetite and invites abundance into the room. Avoid negative paintings depicting violence, sadness, or death. Electronics should be kept out of the dining room. In addition, remove clocks, as they are unwelcome reminders of the passing of time. A dining room should be “eternal”.
(source: Nourish)
Lighting should be soft and calming. Installing lighting fixtures with dimmer switches allows you to play around with lighting to create a desired mood or setting that suits any occasion. A mirror also softens the light- a large mirror reflecting the dining table and mirroring food will double abundance and “life richness”. However, a mirror must never reflect the kitchen or bathroom, as this could double the bad energy emanating from these areas.
Water is one of the five elements of feng shui- it symbolizes luck, energy, health and “richness of life”. Having one or two water symbols, such as an aquarium, sea shells, or a wash basin is ideal; however, don’t use water items in the northeast, south or southwest, as they clash with the qi of these sectors.
For an aquarium, goldfish signify luck and are ideal; three to nine goldfish is an auspicious number. Include one black fish to symbolize protection. If you like tropical fish, have golden platys and a black mollie.
(source: Nourish)
