What exactly is Feng Shui, and how do you use it?

Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway)  is the Chinese art of placement. The term literally means wind and water.  The subject of feng shui came to mind because I was just reading an article on Oscar Nominee homes on aol.com  and saw a picture of Sandra Bullock's old "love nest".  It's a fun article- Here's the link But the moment I saw the picture of her bedroom, I immediately said to myself,"Bad Feng Shui". There were overhead beams on the ceiling effectively cutting the bed (and relationship) in half. That's a feng shui no-no.

Everyone has their own opinion- some think its superstitious, some swear by its principles, and some could care less. It's a personal preference, and if you want to have some  fun with it, I've included some information about colors and feng shui. It can be quite complex,  and there are numerous websites on the internet with various interpretations. I have three books on the subject and they all have a slightly different spin, so it's not exactly cut and dry. There are a few Feng Shui Masters in the Fairfield County area,  so if you wanted an assessment of your home, its location,  and what you could do to rectify any feng shui faux pas, there are experts in the area available.

One of the very basic principles? Declutter! That sounds familiar, doesn't it? Whether you are selling your home now or not, a clean home just feels more vibrant and healthy, and its good for your spiritual well being. By the way, de-cluttering includes closet space, drawers, cabinets,  and basements.  That's good Chi.  Colors have meanings, too:

Black-  power, sophistication, elegance,and mysterious
White-  cleanliness, clarity, innocence, spirituality, purity, creativity
Red - powerful, stimulating, passionate, exciting; passion and romance
Orange-stimulating, active, cheerful
Yellow- happy, stimulating, warm,
Green- relaxing, tranquil,  healing, calming
Blue -calming, clarity, soothing, trustworthy, renewal, and nobility
Purple- regal,  nobility, abundance, and dignity.
Pink- sedating calming, ove and romance.
Grey- calm, quiet, boring, conservative and draining
Brown-  reliable, stable, comfortable

Wherever your thoughts are on Feng Shui, remember that a buyer or seller may very well have a completely different take on it, so while I wouldn't suggest you  go hog wild maximizing the chi  in your home for a buyer, take note of some of the principles of placement- there's  a lot of common sense to it.