source: www.timbercraft.ie
For the overall feng shui feeling of the home, the kitchen is probably the most vital room. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it is best if it is placed in the east or south part of your home, as both areas are under the influence of the fire element. But don’t worry, other areas work as well. When it comes to decorating a feng shui kitchen, whether from the scratch or renovating, we have the tips and tricks for you.
Location and placement
In feng shui, location and placement of elements are key principles that guide your decoration. For a feng shui kitchen, it is important to always place fire versus water and cold opposite of hot. After you meet that standard, it is easier from there.
For placement of appliances, the range the oven must face the South, Southwest or the Northeast area of the home. Avoid placing ovens and ranges close to the sink, refrigerator and dishwasher. They are fire parts, so they must be as far as possible from the water elements in the kitchen.
Regarding placement of the kitchen in the home, be sure that your kitchen is not facing the bedroom. The kitchen is part of the yang energy, while the bedroom is yin. They are in conflict, and if you trigger it, the result will be family members constantly being sick.
Another room you want to avoid facing the kitchen is the bathroom. Your kitchen should not be facing the bathroom in any case. Or, if the house is on two floors, never place the bathroom above or beyond the kitchen.
The shape of the kitchen is also important. Try to keep the layout in a rectangle form. Avoid round shaped kitchens.
Herbs
Creating a herb garden within your kitchen is beneficial from both healthy and spiritually point of view. On one side, you know you are getting fresh herbs every time you need them, and on the other side, fresh herbs bring energy into the kitchen.
When it comes to creating a feng shui kitchen, adding the herbs you need goes a long way of creating a comfortable environment. The areas you need to consider are the East, Southeast and the South area of the kitchen. However, always be vary of the natural light.
As for herbs, there are few great choices. Mint is always a good choice, but be wary, it multiplies very fast. Mint is tasty, and it can be used in almost every dish. Next on the list is sage, a plant that requires lot of pinching and cutting in order to keep it normal. If not, the plant becomes woody. You need to replant your sage every 3 years. The plant can be used both fresh and dried.
Aside from mint and sage, other options include rosemary, for a little Mediterranean touch, basil for Italian cuisine, and thyme, one of the most undervalued herbs.
Colours
When it comes to colours for your feng shui kitchen, it is all about the location of the kitchen. Depending of the location, colors vary. Therefore, a kitchen in the Southwest area is the best option, as the fire element breathes life into it. Consider red, orange, yellow and their shades. If the kitchen is in the South area, same rules apply, with the addition of green and brown.
A west area kitchen requires a lot of care. You need to avoid fire element colors, and focus on earthy and white and gray combinations. If the kitchen is in the Northwest, the same rules apply as the West kitchen. They share the same element which is metal, and its colors.
For your kitchen in the North area of the apartment, balancing is the key. You need water elements, but keep the fire element happy in the same time. Focus on colors such as blue, black, gray and white, and add fire elements.
The kitchen in the East area allows for some interesting color combinations. The area is under the influence of the wood element. Therefore, green and brown shades that emphasize the nature are the best options.