8 Feng Shui tips about stairs at home and how it impacts your wealth

Internal staircases that don’t lead directly to the front door are ideal. Photos: Unsplash

Unless you live in a single-storey home, stairs or staircases are an inevitable part of our homes, both inside and outside. In my earlier columns, I discussed how different areas of our homes govern specific aspects of our lives.

The front door governs wealth, the living room governs harmony, the kitchen governs family health, the home office governs career, and the bedroom governs personal health and intimate relationships.

However, staircases do not govern a specific aspect of our lives. But they are an integral part of the landform within our homes and have a significant impact on the flow of Qi, or energy, within the home.

Staircase Logic #1: Staircases immediately outside the main door can cause a loss of wealth

This is true. Some houses have doors that open directly to a flight of descending stairs. Whether it’s a design feature or a statutory requirement due to the area’s susceptibility to floods, having more than three steps in this case can be considered a potential risk for wealth loss.

This landform is known as a “Pulling Nose”. A Pulling Nose formation pulls the Qi or energy out of the house, resulting in an outflow of wealth. At best, it affects the occupants’ ability to accumulate wealth, and at worst, it can lead to an irresponsible mindset towards financial management and other issues.

Remedying a Pulling Nose without extensive renovations can be challenging, so it is easier to avoid such a design.

Staircase Logic #2: Apartment dwellers do not have Pulling Nose issue

One possible manifestation of the Pulling Nose formation.This statement is untrue. Fire escape stairs are an integral part of any condominium, apartment building or flat.

In some units, the fire escape stairs are located directly in front of or at the side of the unit’s front door, which qualifies as a Pulling Nose.

However, in the case of apartments, this problem is relatively easier to remedy. If the emergency stairs are rarely used by the building occupants, keeping the fire escape door closed can help mitigate some of the issues caused by the Pulling Nose.

Another option is to use plants to block off some of the effect. Regardless of whether it is a landed home or an apartment building, being aware of this potential issue can help you avoid some of the problems associated with the Pulling Nose.

It is essential to be vigilant about financial management and discipline.

Staircase Logic #3: Internal staircases leading directly to the front door can cause a wealth leak

This statement is true. In some double-storey houses, the staircase is immediately visible the moment you open the front door.

According to Feng Shui practice, this allows energy and wealth to leak directly from the house through the front door. In such cases, it is best to divert the path of the stairs away from the front door.

Staircase Logic #4: Stairs immediately outside the bedroom have no Feng Shui impact

This statement is untrue. In some homes, there are bedrooms on the upper floors with stairs leading directly into the room or stairs going downward directly from the room. Both of these scenarios are discouraged by Feng Shui practitioners.

In the case of stairs leading into the bedroom, the influx of energy is too strong, inadvertently creating disharmony for the occupants of that particular room.

In the case of stairs leading from the bedroom, energy is being pulled out of the room, resulting in a loss of opportunities for the occupant of that room.

Staircase Logic #5: Stairs must not be located in the centre of the house

This statement is absolutely true. The centre of any house is the core, governing stability and security for all occupants. Ideally, the centre of the house should be as stable as possible, which is why stairs right in the centre of the home are not encouraged.

Staircase Logic #6: Using the space under the stairs has no impact on Feng Shui

This statement is partially true. To maximise the use of space in the home, it is common to utilise the area under the stairs for various purposes.

From a Feng Shui perspective, this space is ideal for storage. However, placing a working desk under the stairs and actively using this space for study or work is less ideal.

The stairs above your head can have a suppressing effect, causing unnecessary stress and pressure for anyone using this area in the long run.

Staircase Logic #7: Broken stairs must be immediately repaired to avoid Feng Shui issues

This statement is partially true, but not primarily for Feng Shui reasons.

While Qi flows from high to low areas, and it’s unlikely for Qi or energy to trip over broken stairs, it is important to fix them as a safety issue rather than a Feng Shui concern. After all, we’re the ones with the legs, not the Qi.

Staircase Logic #8: The location of the stairs doesn’t matter because they are a negative space

This statement is not entirely accurate. Stairs may be considered negative space since their primary function is to facilitate movement up and down.

However, Feng Shui practitioners consider the importance of internal landforms for the stairs, and if possible, they take into account the location of the 8 Mansions.

For me, when given the luxury of choice, the stairs should be located in the negative sector of the home, freeing up more positive sectors for active use.

In the next issue of H&G, we will explore a special one-off feature on apartments.

Paulynne Cheng is a Communications professional turned Bazi and Feng Shui practitioner. She can be reached at [e-mail]. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.