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Constructive Cycle 

• Water springs wood. 
• Wood fuels fire. 
• Fire becomes earth. 
• Earth hardens into metal. 
• Metal erodes into water. 

Deconstructive Cycle 

• Water extinguishes fire. 
• Fire melts metal. 
• Metal chops wood. 
• Wood breaks apart the earth. 
• Earth blocks water.

Elements interact with each other just as our personalities can influence one another. Let's take a look at our wood personality again and mesh it with a person said to have a fiery personality. A creative (wood) person can feed his/her ideas to an overly enthusiastic, "go get 'em" (fire) person that feeds off from ideas and creativity. The end result is two personalities feeding off from each other and working together as a harmonious duo.
 
The same principle applies in decorating your home. Each room in your home should have a working balance of anywhere from 3 to 5 elements. The hard part is determining what a working balance is, this is purely up to you as the key is to balance your home with your own personality. Percentages are a good route for beginners. For example, 50:40:10 is a safe start (50%Earth:40%Metal:10%Water).
 
Wood
The wood element manifests as creative and developing energy. It symbolizes personal growth and development of one's mind. Wood bends but does not break, wood personalities are strong willed individuals.
  
Fire
Fire manifests itself through expansionism and enthusiasm. Fire personalities are natural born leaders these individuals will take an idea and run with it. Fire is a very powerful element and a little bit goes a long way. Overwhelming amounts of fire may overpower and destroy the Chi of a room.
  
Earth
Earth grants stability creating a strong foundation to build legacy upon legacy. Earth aligned persona are honest, level-headed, and rational individuals. An overabundance of the earth element in a home can smother the energy like an over-kindled camp fire.
  
Metal
Mental strength comes from the metal element. Adulthood brings about mental maturity that radiates metal Chi. The metal element in the home generally represents wealth and luxury.
  
Water
Water rejuvenates the body and spirit. Water is unique in that it can be peaceful and calm (still water) and on the flip side it can be violent or even chaotic (running water). Adding the water element to a home renews the Chi.
  
Feng Shui Bagua

In Feng Shui, Bagua is a map - a visual representation of each aspect of your life and where a said aspect can be found inside of the home. For instance, at the heart (center) of a home we find Health. Both physical and mental manifestations occur toward the direct center of most household and as a side note this is consequently where most architectural designers tend to place the kitchen. This may come across as a handy little coincidence but on the contrary this is not a coincidence at all. The kitchen serves as a great centerpiece as it requires a great deal of energy to power up an oven and stove, so in other words, it is efficient to have this room as the center as then heat from the stove and oven will heat the rest of the home.
 
The term Bagua is Chinese, and it is defined conceptually as a fundamental concept of Feng Shui. Bagua is an 8 sided octagonal diagram of life aspects including: Career, Knowledge, Health, etc. A Bagua map exists to help visualize the link between life’s aspects and a living space.
  
Feng Shui Bagua - Life Aspects
  
Bagua breaks down life into 9 general categories or aspects. Familiarize yourself with the following list of life aspects, they are in no particular order as of yet.

1. Career – (North) 
2. Charity – (North West) 
3. Knowledge – (North East) 
4. Children – (West) 
5. Health – (Center) 
6. Ancestors – (East) 
7. Wealth – (South East) 
8. Fame – (South) 
9. Relationships – (South West) 

Before we dive into the Bagua Map, take some time to sketch out a floor plan of your household. Be sure to include labels as best you can. It isn’t necessary to include furniture so much as you need to be aware of structural properties such as windows, walls, and doors. Stick to a basic floor plan sketch but include room names and labels.
 
The Bagua Map
  
A Bagua Map coordinates an aspect of your life with a location inside of the home tying together very specific personal aspects with a household. The map itself is not overly fancy, just a large square separated into 9 equal squares almost like a Tic-Tac-Toe board.
  
Each square is a visual representation of a life aspect. The boxes are also aligned according to directions like a reversed compass (N, NE, NW, S, SW, SE). For instance the top-middle square is said to be in the southern location and to box located just to the right of that box would be in the Southwest location. At the center of every map (the core of a home) is the most important aspect of any life – physical and emotional health.
 
With this in mind and using a sketch of your home we then use Bagua to map out problematic areas of a home. Then when we fill in the Bagua map with the correct life aspects we can see areas of our lives that can be improved through Feng Shui. The idea is that those problematic areas of your home like an unfinished basement or a disastrously cluttered closet space will fall under a certain life aspect when the Bagua map is placed over a sketch of your home. If that unkempt closet space falls within your Career aspect for example, your career is suffering as a result of an unorganized storage space.
 
Bagua Mapping Your Own Home
 

  
Empty Spaces
 
Realize that each home may not have a perfect square shape. Gaps and empty spaces in any floor plan are quite alright, these spaces make great places to host a garden, patio, or even a sun room addition. No action is required for the empty spaces so long as these spaces are clean and enhance the house itself in some way.
 
On the other hand, “squished” rooms or areas of the Bagua map that have little or no living space under them are very problematic. These areas need to be “filled” in immediately as a vacant map indicates a missing aspect of life. If this is the case extending a room, building a side patio, or planting a herb garden are all terrific ways to extend this area of your home to help extend that aspect of life.
  
Living Room

Living Room Design: Maintain A Formal Living Room - The living room is a place to entertain guests, converse with acquaintances, negotiate with business contacts, and host formal affairs inside the home. This sets apart the living room from recreational areas, TV rooms, or family just based on formalities. The design should contain a wide assortment of chairs and sofa benches along with your most formal of decorations and traditional designs that will appeal to a wide spectrum of personality types. Much of the floor plan should consist of group seating, with an assortment of chairs, sofas, or benches where a handful of individuals are able to conduct their business comfortably and without interruption. Be willing to sacrifice your own personal taste at times when your design has wandered dangerously close to the line between formal and exceedingly modern . Maintain a traditional and classy design and save the informalities for the family room. 
  
Inside smaller homes and apartments the living room and family (recreation) room might occupy the same space. If this is the case formal decoration may not be in your best interests. This area should still manifest itself as the most formal area inside the home. When a living room and family room are shared formality may take a backseat to functionality and practicality. The designer is blessed with plenty of freedom in this case. 
  
Feng Shui Living Room
 
In Feng Shui, a living room is designated as a room of opportunity. When an old friend or neighbor surprisingly knocks on your door, the living room should be one of the first rooms newly arriving guests are able to enjoy. This is a place of opportunity and potential, linking this room to several aspects of life including career and relationships. From a more practical standpoint, a well designed living room will provide your guests with distinct feelings of security about you and them spending time inside your house. The front door and entry way are where first impressions are born and following up a great first impression with a formal jaw dropping living room arrangement will plant a seed of lasting impression into your guests and leave them wanting more. 
  
The Metal and Earth elements of Feng Shui are formal by nature, appealing to all. By design these two elements complement each other classically well like peanut butter and jelly and including these elements into your living room design is an absolute must. Even just visualizing gold colored trim and décor begins to bring formal imagery to mind as if we were spending time inside a King or Queen’s guest chambers. Gold plated light fixtures or silver-lined wall trim are definitely not an option for any level headed individual, however silver décor and gold paint are much more obtainable to anybody with a more practical budget. Build a solid foundation to your living room using these primary elements and expand as your personal taste sees fit. 
  
Living Room Colors

Colors of the living room should be warm and welcoming with a semi-formal appeal. Walls account for about two thirds (66%) of all color found inside household rooms. The remaining third of color manifests itself through the carpeting and furnishings like the sofa, a rug, bookshelves, and lighting. Neutral earthy tones play a large favorite inside the living room as their soft, cozy tone brings the room together. Color directly relates to the feelings we experience while spending time inside of a room, since the living room acts as a middle ground where acquaintances become friends, it is best to neutralize the color found inside. 

Earthy tones and simple patterns that highlight key colors and textures are what nature intended for your living room. An elegant, floral sofa with solid-colored, throw pillows on top create idealistic contrast. Mix and match a schema of about 3-5 colors in this room, and remember less is always more. Select one color to be your “bold” lively color. A Stimulating color sparks conversation and compliments blossoming the relationship between your visitors and yourself. 
 
Living Room Wall Color
 
Those struggling to find the perfect living room wall color would be relieved to hear that this is no easy task. Wall color must match well with nearly every object inside the room and should begin to fade into the background as the living room fills with furniture. Textured paints and tones are welcome inside the living room so long as the contrast on the walls is fairly limited. Black and white checkerboard texture for example would definitely be overly artistic and modern where the desire is to keep things simple and traditional. A soft, “sponge” texture coordinating two well matched shades on the other hand could provide the perfect backdrop to any living room composition. Regulate wall space by filling up wall gaps with framed photos of family or other wall hangings. 
 
Dining Room

Dining Room Design - The ideal dining room design must prove to be dynamic enough to satisfy the role of a functional feasting ground in addition to providing an intimate setting for a social gathering among friends and family. One of the great benefits a dining room offers is being able to implement themes into the dining room. Restaurants are great examples of this technique as most restaurants typically develop a design to match the foods that they prepare. A dining room design has no real limitations so long as its two function roles remain intact. 
 

 
Feng Shui Dining Room
 
Like the living room, a dining room serves as a social gathering place for friends and families. The difference being that in a dining room setting the social experience is far more intimate. Secluding the dining room from the rest of the home provides a comfortable location for personal communication among family members. Provide an environment free of distraction and you will strengthen aspects of your life including family and health. 
  
The dining room is a middle ground where Yin personalities must interact with Yang persona. The two types must balance in order to raise the comfort level of the room and promote quality conversation. A dining room in perfect harmony is functional, free of distraction, and welcoming to all personalities of the household including close family friends and relatives. Since the majority of your guests will never spend more than a glance inside this space, feel free to implement decorations that appeal to you and your family’s taste. 
  
The Formal Dining Room
  
At some point in a lifetime, the dining room will be the spot where a formal event may transpire. The occasional formal episode does not warrant the need to implement a permanent formal dining room design. An alternative option is to plan in advance for these occasions by having spare luxury décor on hand for such an occasion. 
  
Linens such as window shears, table cloths, and floor rugs have the greatest impact on the atmosphere of the dining room. Next in line on the formal dining room design are dishes and table settings, china and cloth napkins are generally sufficient to host most formal banquets. A formal dining room is less intimate and more business oriented; simple, elegant designs should blanket the room with formal ambience. 
  
Kitchen Dining Room
  
Kitchen/Dining room combinations prove to be a much harder design time and time again. Being combined with the kitchen, the dining room table may see an increase flow of foot traffic making it prone to collect clutter. It is an awful habit to set mail, newspapers, school work, car keys, and the like on the table top as we march into the bathroom or as we stagger toward the living room sofa. Finding the way temporarily limit access to the table or provide an additional side table top might be a great solution to prevent these happenings. Install a temporary screen to seclude the dining area from the kitchen area, this may also prove to limit the foot traffic passing by the empty dining room table. 
  
Another challenge that combo rooms face is insufficient space. Consider down-sizing the table or a slight remodel of the kitchen may be in order. Mirrors open up space a great deal, often tiny, “hole in the wall” restaurants might employ large mirrors that span the entire distance across a wall surface. This opens up the space a great deal seeming to nearly double the size of the room. 
 
Dining Room Table

 
The Dining Room Table Centerpiece
  
The table itself is really the focal point to this room, however, no dining table is complete without a centerpiece! The elegance of the table centerpiece greatly relies on the amount of space readily available. A showpiece that consumes too much table space is likely to prove to be a greater nuisance than novelty. The greatest attractions utilize surrounding decorations and amplify the theme present inside of the dining room. 
  
The centerpiece serves as the main topic of conversation and should be the most visually stimulating of all your decor. This piece should represent you as a person or your family. Incorporate mirrors and candles into your centerpiece to stimulate conversation. Be mindful of the size of your centerpiece in relation to your table. Tall centerpieces act as a barrier and can create distance among guests. Guests at the dining room table should have the ability to make eye contact with everyone at the table. 
  
Use Feng Shui to Select the Perfect Table

It is important to select a table that really fits inside of the dining space. Ensure that the table you choose will provide plenty of room for family and friends to navigate all sides of the table while simultaneously offering adequate amounts of table space for each dining participant. Replacing a dining room table often requires a complete dining room make-over as it can be very difficult to find a dining table that compliments both size constraints and the decorations that already lay in place. 
 
The Round Dining Room Table
  
A round table is perhaps the most dynamic of table shapes. By design the circular shape places people face to face encouraging each of them to interact with those sitting directly across from one another. In addition there is no distinct “head of the table” since the design is even throughout the perimeter, this removes hierarchy from this space as well. A round table is also easily molded to fit any occasion both formal and informal events. 
 
The Square Dining Room Table
  
Simple square shaped dining tables offer elegant dining arrangements best fit for an intimate couple and small families. A family of 3-4 would be perfectly accommodated with a square table keeping the dining occasions personal and sometimes intimate. Choosing to incorporate a square table into your dining room regime is the perfect solution when space is a limitation. Lighting candles atop a square table reaches an intimacy level that is unmatched by any other shape.
Rectangular tables offer a more casual setting for dining. Tables of rectangular design are generally larger than most square tables and provide six or more seats. Rectangles are not as elegant by nature as circles and oval shapes, and therefore a rectangular table may not reach the same level of formalities as an elliptical table setting. Rectangular tables are ideal in casual dining surroundings such as combination kitchen and dining rooms.
 
Dining Room Colors

Color can be incorporated into the dining room by means of paint, tile, furniture, or decoration. Warm pastels like pink, peach, yellow, or green are great colors for the dining room. Wall color should remain fairly neutral and fade into the background of the room. Save darker tones to compliment brighter shades, and splash lighter colors onto the walls themselves. 
 
Let the colors of table cloths, photograph frames, window sheers, furniture, and other decorations contrast wall color and implement your bolder tones through décor rather than wall paint or trim. A typical color scheme might include two complimenting colors for the dining room walls and trim, and then matching 2-3 more shades of decoration with the wall and trim colors. 
 
Finding the perfect color of the dining room has a lot to do with personal preference. Remember that the color of a room sets the mood or 'feel' of the room and the goal of the dining room is to send a warm message to eager, food-gorging enthusiasts. 
  
Specific colors that work well in the dining room include any color commonly seen in nature. Commonly is the key word to that statement, being that just about every color can be seen in nature if you dig deep enough. Stick to an array of earthy, natural tones like sky blue, evergreen, peach, yellow, and creams. If you are struggling with making a decision I suggest taking a look at some soft, off-white tones and then mix and match additional décor colors. 
 
Feng Shui Kitchen
 
A kitchen serves as the heart of your home. Like the heart of any living being, a healthy heart will take you farther as well as output greater amounts of energy. A kitchen that is in working order invites the family to spend time together, provides a warm atmosphere for the entire house, and serves as the heart and soul of the home.
 
Cooking and chatting are the primary activities that should take place in the kitchen. Televisions are always a distraction, they're probably best left in your living room or recreational rooms. The kitchen should be built around the primary activities of cook and chatting. Anything that inhibits these two fundamental activities does not belong inside of the kitchen.
 

 
Kitchen Layout and Decor
 
Functionality of the kitchen is of the utmost importance. Tables, chairs, stools, and cabinets should be placed in such a way that allows for an easy flow of movement while working your way around the kitchen. Clutter and poorly placed furnishings can reduce the functionality of a kitchen just as a clogged artery blocks the circulation of blood in your body.
 
Flowery, lively decor will brighten the day in the morning as you drift into the kitchen for breakfast. The ideal kitchen radiates energy that is warm and fresh making flowers a perfect choice.
  
Kitchen and Clutter
 
Clutter instantly stagnates a room bringing it's energy levels down (think about the heart analogy). If we suddenly stagnate the energy of our heart it will have a drastic effect on the rest of your bodies and ultimately we will die. This is a great analogy for your kitchen. The food we place into our bodies deserves to be prepared in a fresh and clean environment which will help you live healthier.
 
Counter tops should be clear of any appliances, even the toaster. Always have a place to store these things when they are not in use.
  
Kitchen Colors
 
Generally most of the color in the kitchen comes from the flooring and ceilings as many of the kitchen walls are covered up by wooden cabinets and appliances. Hardwood floors bring an irreplaceable earthy perhaps more traditional feel to the room. Fall back on earth and fire colors if you are having a hard time selecting colors that you enjoy. Remember part of Feng Shui comes from your personality and your personal preferences.
  
Monochromatic pastel colors work great for smaller kitchen spaces while larger kitchens require a strong presence of fire and earth tones. Brushed, marbled or "sponged" paint styles work great in the kitchen. Use high gloss paints that are easy to wipe clean and maintain. A dull finish will not give you that much needed energy in the morning.
 

 
Kitchen Highlights and Accents
 
The greatest way to add a spark of color to your kitchen is through your crockery, window shades, or floor trim. These may be great ways to bring "critical" colors into your kitchen. Still frame wall art is belongs in the kitchen as do fresh flowers and produce. A fruit bowl often works as a great accent to a kitchen as well.
   
The Bottom Line
  
Your ceilings and floors are the primary source for color in the kitchen followed by your cabinets and counter tops. Use accents and highlights to bring your kitchen into harmony.
  
Kitchen Coloring Tips

• Use high gloss paints, they're easier to clean! 
• Functionality is always the number one priority. 

Feng Shui Office
 
The office is a place to get the job done, no matter what the job description includes. An art studio, a construction site, and the back of your motor vehicle are all job specific offices existing in society today. Yet, these very distinct work areas share a common goal, they all provide a space to get the job done!
  
Office Feng Shui is very dependent on the inhabitant and also the nature of work being conducted inside of an office. At times an office can be overwhelmingly hectic, such as the Emergency Room where nurses and doctors may be scrambling around on autopilot like an army of ants while alarms and heart monitors squawk in the background. Work areas like the ER require the utmost organizational skills since the work being done can sometimes be life dependent.
  
To accomplish harmony in your work space you need a combination of the above productivity principles combined with a design and layout that matches your nature of business. If you find yourself questioning your productivity, look directly at your physical work area and search for ways to improve your productivity through inspiration, organization, or look directly at your tool set and see if there is an adjustment to be made.
  
Right now would be a good time to think about your current job. What are your daily responsibilities? Identify as many tasks as you can. Formulate a list and be mindful of these responsibilities before losing yourself in the design and layout of your office furniture. The type of work you do will affect energy levels in your working environment and thus your Chi will vary depending upon your occupation as we have enumerated again and again. Professional artists may prefer to work in solitude where noise levels can be maintained allowing them to remain focused on their works of art. Police officers may not enjoy the same luxory of peace and quiet given their line of work, busting criminals. These responsibilities are important to focus on when beginning to Feng Shui any office.
  
Above all else, including interior design, an office must always be functional. Objects that hinder the ability to work an obnoxiously bright light, broken desk drawers, or overgrown plants do not belong in the office. They should be removed or fixed immediately.
  
Office Desk
  
The greatest tool in the office is by far the desk. The shape, size, and placement of a desk can lead to a productive or unproductive work area. Always remove clutter and unused office supplies from your desktop. Everything should be stored inside of its designated place when not in use. 
  
First and foremost your desk should be placed inside of your office before anything else. Arrange the rest of your furnishings around your desk accordingly. Try to have your desk always facing a window or the office door, as you do not want to have your back turned to your doorway. A doorway at your back always creates a sense of nervousness as you cannot see what is approaching from behind. 
 

 
Feng Shui and the Office Desk
  
The selection of a desk depends solely on the personality of the individual using it. For example, creative, imaginary personalities may need to be "brought back to Earth" with an earth aligned desk, a short and sturdy frame with a broad flat desktop. On the opposite end of the spectrum a level-headed "down to Earth" individual may find a boost in productivity with a narrow, desktop with bookshelves towering overhead.
  
The office desk is also a key elemental source in an office design. A wood desk provides support and stability and makes a great all-purpose work space. Metallic work desks are cold and better suited inside of heavy machinery shops and industrial sites. Don’t forget to take into account the type of work you will be performing on your desk. 
 
Bedrooms
  
The Bedroom: Personal Santuary - Before we dive into specific arrangements, I would like to first point out some of the major roles the bedroom plays in our lives. The obvious and most important aspect is sleep. We spend about 1/3 of our lives sleeping in our rooms peacefully indulging ourselves in a world of dreams. And when we wake up we feel completely refreshed and ready to tackle any obstacle life can throw at us, right? I won’t promise that every night we get 8 solid hours of sleep and every morning we will be ready for anything, but I think you are beginning to see my point. A bedroom needs some planning in order to amplify certain aspects of your life including love, romance, relaxation, and rejuvenation both mental and physical. A bedroom is a personal retreat -- an escape from the real world and its problems. Everything inside is highly familiar and a connection exists between you and everything in it. 
 

 
Feng Shui Bedroom Tips

• Use shelves, bookcases, baskets, plants, or even chairs to bring the room together and avoid vacant spaces. 
• A television in the bedroom is always a temptation to stay up longer especially for children, if you find yourself without a proper dose of sleep look at removing the television. 
• Vacant floor space and wall space have no place inside of a bedroom. 

Feng Shui Bed Tips

• If you read before sleep, keep a short bookshelf or wicker container at the base of your bed and a nightstand close by for easier access to these things. 
• Storable items belong in closets and storage containers, never under the bed. 
• Avoid placing your bed under heavy objects or shelves, they act as potential hazards and will interrupt your feelings of safety and security. 

Bedroom Colors

A bedroom is personal and private. As a single or young adult, the bedroom serves as a personal retreat and the platform to spring personal growth. Color sets the mood and overall feeling we have while spending time inside. Room hues that are unappealing leave us feeling distasteful toward this room and will limit the amount of time we enjoy spending inside. The colors in this room should reflect on one's inner self and every attempt by you should be to deploy your favorite array of colors into this space. Color is a very powerful tool and psychologists agree that our mood can be affected just by interacting with specific colors. 
  
Coloring any bedroom begins with the bed itself. Remember earlier when I mentioned that the bed is symbolic of your own personal throne and everything else in the room is molded and shaped to amplify your throne. This same principle holds true for colors. Most professional designers agree that it is far harder to match a bed comforter with wall color than it would be just to pick a favorite comforter and stroll on down to the hardware store to find a paint that matches the bed cover. Most paint supply retailers will even offer to mix or match a specific color found in the bedspread design. 
 
Dark shades on the walls are generally harder to work with inside the bedroom especially as the sun sets and lighting becomes scarce. If you find that charcoal is the absolute perfect match to your room, be sure to include plenty of lighting fixtures to help keep the room feeling lively well into the evening hours. 
 
Bedroom Color Tips

• Don’t be afraid to take some risks when finalizing color choices. 
• Using one powerful secondary color choice will prove more appealing to the eye than two or three different shades. 
• Secondary colors should compliment both your personal taste and wall paint. 
• Ceilings and floors colors work best when they are in the background and reasonably unnoticeable.