The kitchen and dining room are pivotal zones within the household, their feng shui intricately intertwined with familial harmony and fortune. Thus, it behooves us to pay particular heed to the taboos surrounding the feng shui of these spaces. So, what are the taboos of kitchen and dining room feng shui according to the principles of geomancy? Below is a curated discourse on the matter, inviting us to delve into this realm. Let us embark on this exploration together!
Taboos of Kitchen and Dining Room Feng Shui:
Exploring the Feng Shui and Taboos of Kitchen and Dining Room Decor:
1. Embrace Multilayered Illumination Design:
Under-cabinet lighting, illumination within cabinets and drawers, ceiling fixtures, and task lighting above cooking areas are indispensable. These investments are not to be begrudged, for their absence can yield considerable inconvenience. Ceiling lighting, if inadequately positioned, may cast shadows in specific areas, impeding culinary endeavors. In areas designated for chopping, such shadows pose significant hazards. Adjustable lighting beneath cabinets, catering to varying heights and sightlines of culinary artisans, is optimal. Furthermore, coupling cabinet interior lights with door operation enhances usability.
2. Cultivate a Central Workstation:
Traditionally hailed as the golden rule of kitchen design, the triangular workspace comprising the sink, stove, and refrigerator is being reevaluated. The proliferation of kitchen appliances such as ovens and microwaves renders adherence to the triangular workflow impractical. Additionally, the advent of open-concept kitchens poses challenges to the triangular paradigm. Whether it be children, intimate friends, or seasoned chefs, the joy of culinary endeavors is best shared. A central workstation, aggregating storage, meal preparation, and cooking areas, fosters communal engagement amid culinary pursuits, fostering an ambiance of natural warmth and conviviality. The allure of corner cabinets becomes evident when encountering corner spaces; the internal realm poses a challenge for additional storage. Only by installing rotating shelves or extendable baskets can one fully exploit such space.
Make the most of every inch: above hanging cabinets, at the lowest tier of base cabinets, above the range hood, beneath the sink. Through effective tools, all crevices can be utilized. Utilize storage baskets to place infrequently used kitchenware on top of hanging cabinets or simply arrange a few decorative trays, yielding a pleasing effect. A ladder can be concealed beneath the base cabinet, along with bowls and plates for pets. Above the range hood, one can display spice bottles and readily consumable vegetables and fruits. The storage of trash bins and cleaning agents beneath the sink should not be overlooked.
Pay attention to the transitional zone in open kitchens: an increasing number of households are tearing down partition walls, merging kitchens and living rooms into a cohesive whole. The transitional zone between the open kitchen and living room becomes a focal point in design. Whether placing a dining table directly, installing large storage cabinets, incorporating shelving that serves both display and storage functions, or creating cabinets usable from both sides as partitions, these considerations extend beyond functionality. Surface materials and color tones should also seamlessly connect the decorative elements of the kitchen and living room.
Allocate some space for children: When parents are cooking, invite the children into the kitchen. Provide them with a table for homework or involve them in cooking activities, fostering an understanding of grains and basic household chores. Safety is paramount when children enter the kitchen; necessary equipment includes isolation panels for stove tops, safety bumpers for cabinet corners, drawer locks for storing sharp utensils, and power outlet protection. Kitchen and Dining Room Feng Shui Taboos: Firstly, in terms of layout, it is advisable to position the dining room and kitchen in close proximity to each other, avoiding excessive distance that may prolong meal preparation time. The dining area should not be situated within the kitchen, as the presence of grease and humid heat therein makes dining discomforting. Furthermore, the kitchen floor should be level and preferably not elevated higher than the other rooms within the household.
Simultaneously, it’s essential to avoid placing the dining table directly facing the main entrance. If unavoidable, a screen could be employed to mitigate excessive visibility, ensuring a more balanced ambiance. Moreover, it’s recommended that the dining room ceiling refrain from having exposed beams or pillars. In cases where structural modifications are unfeasible, hanging decorations such as gourds beneath these structural elements could prevent them from imposing directly over the dining table.
Regarding the orientation of the dining room, it is optimal for it to face south. This orientation ensures ample sunlight exposure, which augurs prosperity for the household. However, if a refrigerator is to be placed in the dining area, it is best positioned towards the north, avoiding a southern orientation.
In terms of the kitchen’s orientation, it is ill-advised for it to face south. In practical terms, food is more prone to spoilage during the summer months with a southern orientation. Additionally, when the southern winds blow, cooking fumes tend to pervade the entire space, thus, it’s preferable to avoid prestigious positions facing southward.
When considering the renovation of kitchen and dining spaces, attention to these Feng Shui taboos in layout and orientation is paramount. In the realm of culinary aesthetics and spatial orientation, the ideal positioning for a dining establishment is in the southern direction. Under the ample embrace of sunlight, familial prosperity is destined to flourish. Should the culinary haven include a refrigeration apparatus, it is paramount that its orientation aligns with the northern axis, eschewing any inclination towards the south.
Furthermore, meticulous attention must be devoted to the arrangement of dining tables within the gastronomic sanctuary. It is imperative that they do not directly face the grand entrance. In instances where circumvention is an insurmountable challenge, the strategic intervention of a folding screen is advocated, mitigating the risk of visual transparency. The celestial crown above the dining space should remain unadorned by beams and columns. In cases where the structural integrity of the edifice precludes modification, the suspension of ornaments such as gourds beneath the structural impediments becomes a sagacious recourse, forestalling any direct imposition upon the dining tableau.
Turning our discerning gaze to the culinary epicenter, the kitchen, the cardinal direction of south is ill-advised. Practical wisdom dictates that southward orientation during the summertime invites the unwelcome specter of food perishability. Moreover, when the southern winds gust, the effluence of culinary vapors permeates the entire room, rendering an orientation facing south most inauspicious. It is thus advisable to abstain from establishing the kitchen in the southward-facing trajectory.
As we navigate the nuances of furnishing the dining space, a salient point emerges—tables and chairs must not bear the burden of right angles, lest they become inadvertent agents of harm. The elevation of dining furniture should reside within the realm of judicious moderation, for excessive height or diminution thereof risks perturbing the emotional tenor during repasts.
In the tapestry of Feng Shui that envelops the dining arena, an array of prescriptions and proscriptions beckon attention. Circular, square, and elliptical forms earn the imprimatur of auspiciousness for dining tables, with a categorical proscription against the deployment of tables bearing acute angles. The aromatic effulgence of potent flora and the presence of thorny vegetation are unwelcome emissaries within this sacred space. A stern rebuke is directed towards any proximity to the abode’s lavatory, as it casts a shadow upon culinary delights, dampening the appetite.
Moreover, the dining tableau must eschew direct alignment with the grand entrance, adhering to the principles of Feng Shui, where circularity is favored over direct confrontation. The luminous flow of energy favors circuitous routes, while a direct onslaught undermines the elemental vitality, resulting in inauspicious domestic fortune.
In the sanctum of gastronomy, the shrine of culinary artistry, a resolute prohibition is issued against the installation of sacred seats. The divergent paths of yin and yang demarcate a boundary, distinguishing the ancestral realm from the terrestrial abode.
Pivoting to the heart of gastronomic alchemy, the kitchen, the propitious orientation is found in the southern expanse, with secondary endorsements for the eastern or southeastern orientations. The north, west, and northwest are unequivocally condemned as kitchen domiciles, deemed inimical to the gastronomic sanctum’s well-being. The kitchen corresponds to the element of fire, while the bathroom belongs to water. As fire and water are incompatible, they should not be adjacent. In general, the kitchen should adhere to the principle of “fire first, water second, with fire above and water below.” It is advised to avoid placing the stove directly opposite the sink, and to stagger them if possible. The stove should not directly face the refrigerator or the kitchen door. It is considered inauspicious to have beams pressing down on the stove, sink, or countertop – such a setup is deemed unfavorable. Additionally, it is best to avoid having the kitchen directly connected to the dining area, and having the kitchen facing the main entrance of the house is considered unfavorable for the well-being of the household members. For further insights, I recommend reading: Feng Shui Principles for Kitchen Renovation in Home Design.
