Feng Shui: How your living room affects the harmony in your home

A bright, airy and uncluttered living room is ideal as it invites members of the household to gather. Photo: Unsplash

Our living room is the one place in the house that is literally on “display”. It captures the essence of who you are, and what you want the world to see of you. In Feng Shui, the condition of the living room governs the harmony in family relationships.

Allow me to explain. This is the central gathering space of the house, where the Qi or energy of the house converges. The living room is where everyone gathers, converses, relaxes, spends time together, and forms bonds that connect.

From this logic alone, it is reasonable to assume that an open, well-ventilated and inviting living room space that literally invites use, is preferable to a crowded and cramped living area.

Here is some common knowledge about living rooms in Feng Shui and the logic behind them.

Living Room Logic #1: Exposed beams above the living room are bad for Feng Shui.

Yes, but... as you have probably guessed, exposed beams are a big no-no in Feng Shui. Granted, exposed beams or ceiling joists can have their own unique charm and architectural appeal.

But at its core, Feng Shui is about ensuring a smooth flow of energy or Qi in the home. Exposed beams disrupt the flow of energy, potentially affecting health. This is the reason for Feng Shui’s aversion to exposed beams.

However, the primary concern is not the furniture. It’s fine to have a sofa under a beam as long as the beam is not directly above the person sitting on the sofa.

If you find that the placement of your sofa places you directly beneath an exposed beam, simply rearrange the sofa by a few inches.

Living Room Logic #2: Cracks, holes and peeling paint in the living room cause skin diseases and psychological problems.

Untrue, but the condition of your living room wall does not per se cause skin diseases and psychological problems. However, much like the logic behind the decaying doors (in the previous column), cracks, holes and peeling paint in the living room reflect stagnant Qi or energy. They are not the problem themselves.

So an unsightly wall in your living room is literally a message from the house to you. It’s time to do something about the stagnant Qi. At the very least, consider opening the windows to ventilate the home.

Living Room Logic #3: The presence of decorative knives, swords and other aggressive objects has no Feng Shui impact.

Untrue. Knives, swords and other aggressive objects that can cause bodily harm are closely associated with conflict and aggression. In Feng Shui, their presence is generally not recommended for the living room. After all, the living room governs harmony in the house. Aggressive objects associated with conflicts contradict the basic function of the living room.

If you want to display decorative knives or swords in your home, it is best to place them in a more private area that is not so closely related to the harmony of the home.

Living Room Logic #4: An abundance of figurines and toys has no Feng Shui influence. After all, they are merely decorative items.

The living room reflects our external persona. For most people, it is a showcase for what we want the world to see of us. And some of us like to collect figurines, toys and stuffed animals.

One or two toys alone certainly will not have any effect on Feng Shui. But if your living room is flooded with these tiny figurines, they can literally represent the presence of petty people and competition in your life.

In this case, however, the solution or remedy is extremely simple.

Designate a room in your house as a showroom for your collection. Here, you can spend many pleasant hours with your hobby.

In the next edition of H&G, let’s look at the all-important home office!

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(The opinions expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.)

Paulynne Cheng is a Communications professional turned Bazi and Feng Shui practitioner. She can be reached at

[e-mail].