The Feng Shui of Door

When we review the Feng Shui of door area, we will first look at the external lighting. External lighting around the front door should be uplifting.

Instead of no lighting at all, or hanging lamps downwards, you can look at positioning spotlights in the shrubbery near the front door at ground level to light up the porch. If this is impractical, you many consider a form of lighting close to the front door or in the porch that has an uplifting effect. If there is no outside light at all and the area is dark and unwelcoming, install one as soon as possible and keep it on until you are ready to sleep.

If you live in a block of flats, you need to consider the door to your apartment. You also need to pay some attention to the main communal door to the property as this is where chi enters the building initially.

If you have two doors to your home, pay particular attention to the one you use most. In some approaches to Feng Shui of door, it is the door the architect designed that you would need to consider. However, chi is going to enter through the door that is used most often.

Obviously, the most protective form of door is a solid one so that you do not feel vulnerable as you recharge and recreate your chi during sleep and rest. If you plan to use glass within the door, it is better to have it in the higher sections only, rather than throughout the entire door. It is fine to have two doors adjacent to each other, provided they are of the same design - different styles, panelling or glass, creates a confusion of chi as it enters the home. Make sure that the whole area around the front door is clean and free of cobwebs, dead leaves and old newspapers. Check that the door is functioning properly - that it doesn't squeak or groan when you open it, that it is not stiff and awkward to open, or needs to be slammed to close it. Any malfunctions like this have a negative effect on you and they also give a sense of unease to your guests as they struggle to open the door.

Locating Your House

Finally, provide a good quality doormat for your guests. Throughout the world, different cultures encourage you to leave your shoes outside or in the hallway, ranging from Japanese homes, to Asian mosques and temples. The principle is simple. As you enter the more peaceful yin environment of the home, you leave outside the stagnant chi that you have picked up on your travels. Just as we would always consider washing our own towels frequently, as they pick up dirt and germs, be sure to replace your front doormat regularly, as it will not only absorb mud and debris but also plenty of dead chi.

The Hallway

Therefore, keep the area adjacent to the door and any hallway passage or corridor clear of obstructions and diversions. Notice how you feel when you enter a space that is warmly lit, welcoming and where you can see clearly where you are going.

Compare this with being greeted by a dimly lit hallway that is cluttered with bicycles, boxes, suitcases and stacks of hiking boots!

You can improve the quality of your own chi, and that of your guests when they enter your home, by placing some form of imagery on the wall adjacent to the door that catches your eye as you enter. Think of a piece of art that gives you a sense of calm, or is welcoming or inspiring.

Not only does it uplift your spirit when you enter but it is also the last image you will take with you as you leave the home.