One of the most important practices you can follow when selling your home is to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. If you are staging your home for sale you may not have thought to make it feng shui-friendly. However, for many Chinese and Chinese-Americans – who comprise the fastest growing segment of homebuyers in the U.S. today—the principles of feng shui are considered to be the second most important factor in choosing a home after neighborhood safety.
Feng shui is the spatial arrangement and building design that produces a harmonious qi flow—the word “qi” translates to energy. Feng shui homes allow the energy of the five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal and water—to flow freely through the home and encourage balance and calmness. If you want to appeal to feng shui buyers, follow these staging tips to help your home stand out in the market.
1. Clean the Clutter
Feng shui depends on the free flow of the elements through your home. Clutter on kitchen countertops is an especially big red flag for any feng shui-minded buyer.
- It’s ideal for cabinets to reach the ceiling (as seen here). If they don’t, try placing living plants or items of personal value above them. Stagnant energy is a no-no, but so is filling that space with the wrong energy.
- Countertops and tables should remain free of clutter and appliances. Tuck things like blenders, toasters and spice racks away before you welcome potential buyers for a viewing.
2. Knowing Where to put Mirrors
Mirrors can be friend or foe in feng shui styling—know where to put them in all rooms.
- Balance is key and achieved through the five elements. This wood and metal mirror exhibits two elements well balanced.
- The mirror’s placement and proximity to a red, fiery blanket, helps with elemental balance. While mirrors should not be directly opposite the bed, above the bed is okay.
- In the bathroom where water is the pervasive element, mirrors help bring reflection and space enhancement. Plant-life next to the mirrors encourages a better qi flow from water to earth to metal to wood.
3. Buy a Color Wheel
Complementary colors are an important part of feng shui design. If you don’t know how to tell what is complementary, consult a color wheel.
- Painting your front door green is said to bring growth; red can bring wealth; blue, relaxation; and brown, stability.
- The kitchen is a great place to introduce the elements since fire (stove) and water (sink) will already be there. Try to place them opposite each other and balance with metal and wood.
4. Free the Bed
Feng shui principles dictate that your bed should be accessible from all angles. If it’s not, move it to the center of the wall.
- Headboards, especially solid ones made from wood, provide additional strength and supportive energy.
- Banish the TV! If you insist on having one at the foot of your bed, enclose it inside a cabinet and shut the doors for your viewings.
- If you don’t have a dedicated room for your home office or study, use a screen to divide it from the bedroom to contain the work energy.
5. Embrace Your Green Thumb
Buyers who practice feng shui will look for the presence of live plants, particularly in balance with other elements.
- Because bathrooms are full of water energy, placing earthy elements throughout can help create a balance.
- Plants placed in corners are said to prevent energy from stagnating there.
- Look for plants with soft, rounded, not spiked leaves. Large plants like lily, bamboo and jade varieties are best for good energy.
Simple enough, isn’t it? Get ready to bring harmony to your home and set the stage for the feng shui buyers in your market!