Feng Shui Tips for Your Kitchen

Feng Shui (say "fung shway") associates the kitchen with both health and prosperity. Couple this perspective with the role of the kitchen as "the heart of the home," and you can see that any feng shui problems in this room can have a significant impact on your family. Here are some quick tips for improving the feng shui of this important area of the home.

• Good housekeeping is good feng shui! Keep your kitchen shiny and clean for the best possible energy. A cluttered, dirty kitchen will have stagnant, dirty energy, which interferes with your ability to cook and enjoy healthy, nourishing food. When you are poorly nourished, your ability to work hard and earn a good income will suffer.

• Hidden clutter counts. An excess of stored food in the pantry or freezer can become clutter if it far exceeds a reasonable amount for your family. Old, stale food has old, stale energy, even if the expiration date is still months (or even years) away. Clean out your food cupboards and refrigerator regularly.

• Good nutrition is also good feng shui, so try to add more healthy, organic foods to your diet, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Start thinking of junk food as clutter that you are putting into your body, and maybe you'll be able to resist that next cookie or donut.

• A stove that is not in good working order implies a problem with financial resources. If any part of the stove (burners, oven light, fan, etc.) does not work, get it fixed as soon as possible.

• An unused stove implies untapped resources or ignored opportunities. Even if all you do is boil water for tea, rotate which burner you set the kettle on so that all of them get regular use! And use the oven, too, from time to time, instead of always relying on the microwave.

• If you stand facing the wall while you cook, this leaves your back exposed, a position that is considered weak in feng shui. Hang a mirror on the wall over the stove so that you can see what's going on behind you while you cook.

• Hanging a mirror so it reflects the stove burners visually doubles the number of burners. This symbolizes doubling of your income; more good food = better health and strength = ability to earn a good income.

• Fire and water fight each other, so the placement of the stove and sink is important. If they are directly opposite each other, this can lead to arguments and conflict within the family. Fix this by placing something green between them, such as a green rug on the floor or a living plant on a table in the center of the room. (A sink and stove that are side by side also weaken the energy of the kitchen. Again, place something green between them.)

• The stove is symbolic of wealth, so it is important to keep its fire energy strong. Wood feeds fire, so plants or plant imagery (or again, the color green) are all good to have around and near the stove.

• Fresh flowers bring beautiful uplifting energy to the kitchen. Place a bowl of fruit, a vase of flowers, or a living plant on your kitchen table, windowsill, or wherever the layout of your kitchen allows. (In feng shui, dried flowers have no life energy in them, so they are not recommended. If real plants are impossible, you can use very lifelike fake ones, but the effect will not be as strong.)

• Since nine is a feng shui power number, and oranges symbolize good luck, you can bring good luck energy into the kitchen by placing nine of the biggest, roundest, most perfectly orange oranges you can find in a bowl in the center of the room, on top of the stove (yes, you can move them while you are cooking!), or in the far left corner of the room. Always keep some oranges on hand, so each time you take one from the bowl you can add another to keep the total number at nine. Be sure to use the older oranges first, so none of them rot or dry out; if it's not good to eat, it's not good feng shui!

When your kitchen is clean, bright, and welcoming, the heart of your home is filled with good feng shui. The care and attention you give to enhancing this important area of the home creates a powerful, positive energy that supports the health and prosperity of your family.

Copyright (c) 2003 Stephanie Roberts

About The Author

GOT CLUTTER?!? Clearing out clutter is the most important and powerful way to dramatically improve the feng shui of your home. Stephanie Roberts' "CLUTTER-FREE FOREVER!" Home Coaching Program provides all the insight, motivation, and step-by-step guidance you need in an in-depth ebook and 6 weekly lessons. Plus, you can join our Affiliate Program and earn a commission on every referral sale. Find out more at http://www.clutter-free-forever.com

stephanie@clutterfreeforever.com

---

Summertime Simplicity in Your Home Decorating

Here in the Northeast, summer is almost here. With hot humid weather approaching-it's already here in the southern part of the country-we can learn a few tricks... Read More

Not All Glass is Created Equal

Pressed glass, Depression glass and crystal - this month we'll review the basics of these different types of glass and some tips on telling the difference.HistoryGlass was... Read More

Bollywood Boudoir... On A Budget

"Bollywood" is the next really big thing in interior decor. You can transform your bedroom really easily into a Bollywood boudoir with some very simple touches:First you... Read More

Carlton Ware: A Colourful Collectible

These vibrant collectibles are as charming today as they were when they were first introduced.OriginThe company Carlton Ware was formed in 1890 due to a partnership between... Read More

Decorating Tips: The Meaning of Colors

Colors have many different meanings. Have you ever been in a blue room, feeling calm and relaxed, and then walked into a red room and you began... Read More

The Benefits of Hanging Wine Racks

Hanging wine racks help to neatly store wine in tight spaces. You can find wall-mounted wine racks that hold six bottles with slots to hang your stemware.... Read More

Vintage Hearth Accessories Heat Up Your Fireplace

Curling up near a cozy fire is a wonderful winter pastime but you'll need the right tools to tend your fire. Vintage fireplace accessories can add just... Read More

A Look at Wooden Bunk Beds

Wooden bunk beds are a very popular type of bunk bed and have many advantages over metal bunk beds. Specifically, wooden bunk beds are often safer since... Read More

The Benefits of Laminate Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo, a grass once conjuring up images of Pandas and rickety boats, is now being used to make quality wood floors in many North American homes. Bamboo... Read More

Looking for a Butcher Block Table?

Butcher Block Table - A Working Piece Of FurnitureA butcher block table combines the light and versatile design of a work table with the traditional look and... Read More

Common Waterbed Sheet Materials

Several materials are used to make waterbed sheets. Waterbed owners can choose between many different fabric options when buying sheets. Each fabric has its own advantages. The... Read More

How to Choose a Sofa for a Family with Kids

If you have children in your home, what sort of sofa should you choose?With kids in the house, you probably need more seats. A 1 seated sofa... Read More

Have You Considered These Space-Saving Bed Designs To Maximize Your Interior Decorating Space?

Vertical and functional space planning are two of the most overlooked areas in most households interior design layout. In this article we'll discuss how to double the... Read More

Goose Down Comforters ? Warm, Cozy, and Lightweight

Who wouldn't want a goose down comforter and a pretty duvet cover to keep warm at night? There is nothing that holds your body heat in and... Read More

Which Air Purifier is Best For You?

Perhaps the best air purifiers are those from the IQAir line. These units are widely used in hospitals to eliminate mold, viruses, and bacteria. In fact, the... Read More

A Guide to Interior Shutters

We've all heard of exterior shutters. We see them on houses in every town in the country. Their warmth and beauty welcome us home after a long,... Read More

Latex Mattresses ? Comfortable, Renewable, and Biodegradable

A latex mattress is not exactly the same thing as a memory foam bed. Latex is a naturally biodegradable sap from the rubber trees of Indonesia and... Read More

?Too Much Stuff? Syndrome or How Decorating and Organizing Can Help Your Sanity

This area of home life is different from others in that it involves all the senses and to that degree it is successful, engendering varying emotions. Decorating... Read More

Tabriz Persian Rugs

Tabriz are one of the most popular Persian rugs. Tabriz is the dominant city of Northwest Iran and is the second largest city in Iran. It has... Read More

Kitchen Island Design Ideas - The Look, Size, And Features

Kitchen island design ideas not only include choosing the right look for your kitchen but choosing the correct size for your floor plan and the correct features... Read More

Liven Up Your Walls With Decorative Plates

Decorative plates are often overlooked when decorating a home. Yet, it's the details that really make the elements of a room come together-and decorative plates are a... Read More

Types of Wine Cabinets

Many people enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or for entertaining while other people are serious wine collectors or connoisseurs. Regardless, whether keeping one or two... Read More

Dining Chair Slipcovers ? A Great Way to Impress Your Dinner Guests!

Planning a dinner party but worried what your guests will think about your tired looking furniture? Stop worrying, because dining chair slipcovers offer a simple and effective... Read More

Vinyl Mini Blinds

Vinyl blinds are the perfect choice for high-humidity locations such as kitchens, bathrooms, or waterfront homes. Horizontal vinyl blinds with standard braided cord blinds and non-textured gloss... Read More

Beautifying Your Home

"Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want." --Jim RohnAs a frequent traveler, I'm often amazed at how dramatically... Read More

A Look at Fruit Gift Baskets

The original, the granddaddy of all of today's items bought and sold as fruit baskets, was in fact a basket full of assorted fruits. While there is... Read More