Because the South belongs to the Li trigram and is associated with the Fire element, while bathrooms belong to the Water element, placing a bathroom in the South, which is dominated by Fire, is considered inauspicious. Water and Fire are both ruthless elements, and their clash is devoid of any sentiment. This arrangement is akin to a clash in a person’s Ba Zi. Additionally, if your residence has a long corridor, it’s important to note the relationship between the corridor and the bathroom. The bathroom should only be located beside the corridor, not at the end of it, as this arrangement is considered an ominous sign of indoor “Lu Chong Sha,” which is extremely harmful to the health of family members.
Furthermore, the floor level of the bathroom should not be higher than that of the main bedroom, especially the position of the bathtub, which should not give a sense of superiority. Water flows downward, so having the bathroom positioned higher than the main bedroom could lead to the occupants living in a room affected by water infiltration, potentially triggering endocrine system diseases. Ideally, the bathroom should not be higher than any other room, as bathrooms symbolize inferiority, turbidity, and yin energy. Placing such elements higher than those representing yang, respect, and nobility is considered unfavorable. If you desire an embedded bathtub, it’s advisable to place it in another bathroom that is farther away from the bedroom.
Lastly, some people have fully enclosed bathrooms in their residences, with no windows and only an exhaust fan, which is not ideal. According to feng shui principles, bathrooms should have windows for sunlight and proper ventilation. The rationale is simple: having a window in the bathroom allows for the proper and orderly discharge of the stale air within, thereby ensuring a perpetually fresh indoor environment. Complete enclosure, without adequate ventilation, surely jeopardizes the health of family members.
As for the four major taboos in the feng shui layout of the living room:
1. Positioning taboo: The living room should not be invisible upon entry. Impact: In the context of new home decoration, an erroneous placement of the living room at the rear can lead to a decline in financial fortune, creating a layout that repels wealth. Feng shui emphasizes “favoring circulation, avoiding direct impact.” A lack of foyer or low cabinet between the main door and the living room allows external Qi to directly impact the living room, dispersing its positive energy and inviting detrimental influences on family wealth. Decoration recommendation: Upon entering the main door, the living room should be visible first, while bedrooms, kitchens, and other spaces should be situated towards the rear. Setting up a foyer or low cabinet between the main door and the living room provides a buffer zone, allowing the internal Qi to circulate and accumulate in the living room, while also providing concealment within the residence, making it less susceptible to prying eyes. The deeply concealed interior of the residence symbolizes continuous blessings.
2. Lighting taboo: Dim lighting and excessively dark curtains in the living room. Impact: We often say “bright living room, dark rooms,” emphasizing that the living room should be relatively brighter and better lit compared to other rooms. A bright living room fosters prosperous family fortune and smooth sailing; conversely, dim lighting may lead to interruptions in financial fortune. The dimensions of the room should be moderate, neither excessively spacious nor overly cramped. Generally, the bedroom should not exceed the size of the living room. The size of the master bedroom is determined by the space in front of the bed, not exceeding the length of one bed.
In terms of feng shui taboos for home decoration and renovation, firstly, the placement of the ceiling is crucial. The ceiling should be high rather than low: if the ceiling above the entrance is too low, it can evoke a sense of oppression, which is considered inauspicious in feng shui. It symbolizes family members being oppressed and restricted, facing difficulties in making progress. A higher ceiling, however, facilitates better air circulation in the entrance area and is beneficial for the overall energy flow of the residence. Additionally, the color tone of the ceiling should be light rather than dark: if the color of the ceiling is darker than that of the floor, it creates an imbalance where the top feels heavier than the bottom, disrupting the harmony within the family. Conversely, if the ceiling color is lighter, with the top being lighter than the bottom, it signifies a harmonious environment.
Regarding ceiling lights, they should preferably be square or round-shaped, avoiding triangular arrangements. While some may opt for several spotlights or recessed lights on the entrance ceiling for illumination, arranging them in a triangular fashion would be counterproductive, creating an imbalance detrimental to the household. However, arranging them in a square or circular manner poses no issues, as circles symbolize unity and squares represent stability and balance.
Secondly, the spacing between the walls is significant. The lower part of the entrance facing the main door should have a solid foundation, such as brick walls or wooden panels, providing stability and strength. The upper part, however, can be adorned with glass to achieve transparency without compromising privacy, which is considered ideal for a harmonious entrance area according to feng shui principles. Should one choose to carpet the foyer, the principle remains the same: opt for a carpet with darker hues along its perimeter and lighter tones towards the center. Patterns on foyer floors should avoid sharp angles facing the entrance: While there’s a plethora of patterns available for foyer floors, it’s imperative to select those imbued with auspicious symbolism. Steer clear of designs with many acute angles, and it’s particularly inauspicious if these angles confront the entrance, as it may unsettle the household and invite unnecessary misfortune. The grain of the foyer floorboards should not directly confront the main door: Regardless of the wood type used for foyer flooring, the arrangement of grains should ideally direct them diagonally towards the interior, akin to water flowing diagonally into a space. However, it’s ill-advised for the grain to directly confront the main door, as it forebodes ill fortune. Excessive smoothness of foyer floors: Some households, in their endeavor to enhance the foyer’s aesthetics, excessively polish the floor, which can inadvertently compromise safety. From a domestic safety standpoint alone, this approach is far from ideal, as it heightens the risk of family members or guests slipping and injuring themselves. It’s also inadvisable for underground drainage pipes to intersect between the main door and the foyer to prevent contamination in the foyer, which could adversely affect the health of occupants and impede financial prosperity. Recommended reading: Feng Shui for New Home Decoration.
