Color and Feng Shui
by DeAnna Radaj, Allied ASID, Bante Design, LLC

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement. It is said to have started over 5000 years ago by the ancients who looked at land formations and used their knowledge of nature to pick out the most auspicious gravesites. The better the gravesite, the better the fortunes and hierarchy in the tribe of their surviving family members.

Feng shui literally translated means "wind and water". It is about the ebb and flow of energy or "chi" in any given area. When looking at or designing a space you want the energy/chi to flow smoothly and uninterrupted throughout the space. No banging into furniture as you turn a corner or running straight through a home from the front to the back door. There are "cures" available for this, if this is an issue, however, for this articles purpose we will be discussing color and how it relates to feng shui and how it can improve the chi of a space or any of the life areas.

There are 3 schools of feng shui:

Form School: this school studies land formations and distinguishing geographic characteristics of surrounding buildings. Think of mountains, skyscrapers, neighboring houses (!), rivers....

Compass School: this school studies compass directions based on magnetic N on the compass and how the different directions bring about a different energy to buildings/people if they face a particular direction. Every person has auspicious and inauspicious directions. This school teaches you how to make the most of your best directions and how to downplay your worst. This is the school most people think of when the term feng shui is brought up- an ancient Chinese man with a compass moving furniture. This school is a precise science that utilizes a geomancer's compass to place items-including front doors of houses- to a minute degree.

Black Hat Sect: this school uses the bagua board (an octagon shaped board divided into 9 life areas). The bagua is used in space planning and for activating areas of interest or concern or to correct problematic areas. It is this school we shall focus on in regards to color.

9 Areas of the Bagua:

The bagua is divided into 9 life areas. These areas can then be looked at in regards to clutter and space planning and how to affect a change. Color and one of the 5 elements are assigned to each of these areas.

The line of Knowledge, Career and Helpful People is always lined up with the entry way wall. It is from here that you can then lay-out the bagua and see where each of the areas falls in your home/office/garden. From here, you can then apply the applicable color to activate the area you'd like to work on! It should be noted that in the relationship area there are 3 colors listed. Each color is for a different type of relationship. RED is for a committed partnership (marriage/strong legal business partnership), PINK is for single and wanting a committed relationship. CORAL is for "playing the field" and not ready to commit yet people. Use wisely!

Color and How it Relates to the Bagua:

Each of the above life areas corresponds with a certain color family (i.e. if it states RED you can use any tone, tint or shade of RED). Color is easier to use in feng shui as a "cure" than the elements as more people can relate to and understand color. Everyone knows GREEN, not everyone can visualize earth! It's universal.

Therefore, if you wanted to work on your store's Helpful People area (vendors, customers, employees...) you would make sure this area, besides being clutter-free and well-maintained, had accents of the color GRAY. This can be with paint, fabric, bows/ribbons...Be creative and think outside of the box. My mother placed purple ribbons under all of the furniture that was located in the Wealth area of each room of her home to activate this area. Cures can be seen or hidden. As long as there is a positive intent placed there when implementing the "cure". If you'd like to activate your Wealth/Abundance area, it's the far left corner from the entryway. Think PURPLE.

Now, utilizing color in feng shui does not mean you have to paint each wall/corner a different color (although I do know someone who did this). It simply means bringing the identified dolor into the applicable area. This can be through artwork matting/framing, vases or fresh flowers. In feng shui, it's the symbolism and intent of the action that is really important. And color plays a huge role in achieving positive results!

Ms Radaj is a Milwaukee based interior designer who specializes in feng shui and sustainable design. She has owned her own business for 5 years-which have included her own specialty retail stores. She offers numerous workshops on feng shui, design, color and merchandising. She can be reached at 414-403-8174 or deanna@bantedesign.com.