Oriental Furniture - 4 Living's Definitive Guide to Feng Shui

Oriental Furniture

Contemporary oriental furniture represents a refreshing way of adapting traditional design principles, and making them work in a modern environment. China is famous for its strong sense of identity and pride in its heritage; this is perfectly exemplified in its many centuries of furniture design. Oriental design prides itself on detail and precision, which is perfectly in keeping with traditional Feng Shui principles. Oriental furniture has truly original character, and is certainly a far cry from the same high street designs that we see day-in-day-out.

Contemporary, minimalistic designs are actually not that far removed from traditional oriental designs. The attention to detail of simple minimalistic furniture designs is perfectly in keeping with the clean, clutter free requirements of traditional Feng Shui. Contemporary oriental furniture design takes this stylish foundation and injects it with the character, elegance and warmth, born from centuries of tradition.

Feng Shui

Oriental furniture, and oriental design as a whole, has always been centred around the ancient art of Feng Shui. The first written evidence of Feng Shui was around 3000 BC, but it's likely that it originated long before that. Feng Shui revolves around the relationship between space, life and positive energy (Qi). Traditional Chinese Feng Shui is dependent on the compass, with different directions having different meanings and effects.

More modern interpretations of Feng Shui can be applied to interior design, and can create a positive flow of Qi energy throughout the home. The literal translation of Feng Shui is actually “wind water”, which refers to the two flowing elements. Modern oriental furniture is the perfect example of how the principles of Feng Shui can be effective, even in the 21^st century. Different spaces require different treatments, and Feng Shui concentrates on filling space with a balance of its five key elements:

Wood – Ease and Abundance – The Feng Shui element of wood symbolises the constant growth, evolution and vitality of nature. The colours that represent wood in the interior are green and brown, so wooden furniture and indoor plants are a fantastic way of providing your home with this Feng Shui element.

Earth – Nourishment and Stability – The element of earth is supposed to bring a sense of consistent calm to the home. The earth element is represented by light yellow, beige, sand and other light, earthy colours.

Water – Ease and Abundance – As you might expect, water is the most tranquil and relaxing of all the elements. The presence of any blue or black in the room will always be a calming influence. Black lacquer oriental furniture is a great example of how the water element can be combined with oriental design.

Fire – Passion and High Energy – The fire element is the furnace of the home. Warm colours such as red, orange, purple, pink and yellow symbolise life and energy.

Metal – Clarity and Precision – Metal is a helpful element in contemporary design because it represents organisation and encourages a clutter free environment. Represented by grey and white, metal is an extremely common element in organised kitchens or offices.

Feng Shui in the Living Room

The use of Feng Shui principles and oriental furniture can help you to create an elegant, stylish and healthy atmosphere in your living room. Ancient Chinese Feng Shui uses something called a 'Bagua' which is a map of energy in the home, designed to create balance. These old methods aren't particularly practical in the modern western home, so it's simply a case of finding the balance that feels right to you.

Every room needs a focal point, and a black lacquer coffee table is the perfect piece of furniture around which to design your living room. The smooth black lacquer of an oriental coffee table is representative of the water element, turning the centre of your room into a calming pool of tranquility. Exposing the wood through distressing is a subtle way to balance the water energy with some earth energy.

The living room should be a balanced and healthy environment; it should be a room full of life and energy, as well as a place to unwind and reflect. A clutter free environment is key to a relaxing environment. A compact cream lacquer sideboard will provide you with functional storage, a taste of the orient and a colour with connotations of relaxation and calm. If you have children it is especially important to have plenty of storage, and if you have specific places for things to be kept, the Feng Shui in the room will be enhanced.

Of course, you also want your living room to be full of laughter, love and joy so it's important that the Feng Shui of the room represents this. The fire element is the driving force behind the energy of the room, so couple your relaxing earthy tones with rich, warm red tones. It's usually best to avoid painting the walls of the living room red, as it can be slightly overwhelming. As well as your choice of furniture, home accessories can help to provide energy to the room: a bold contemporary wall clock will provide the room with a sense of activity and progression. Make sure not to have any broken clocks in your home as it will have a negative effect on the Feng Shui.

Turning your home into an ancient Chinese palace is a lot to ask, but the use of oriental furniture and Feng Shui principles are certain to improve your home.