Create Harmony in Your Outdoor Space: A Guide to Outdoor Feng Shui
Have you ever wanted to discover the art of cultivating harmonious outdoor spaces with the principles of outdoor feng shui? If you’re looking to create an environment that fosters positive energy, balance, and serenity in your outdoor areas, you’re in luck. From the strategic placement of elements to the mindful selection of colors and materials, this Redfin article featuring Feng Shui experts shares techniques to infuse your outdoor space with harmony, inviting nature’s wisdom to embrace and uplift your surroundings. So whether you’re seeking to create a tranquil retreat for an outdoor patio for your apartment in Indianapolis, IN, or a vibrant gathering place in the backyard of your house in Prescott, AZ, use these outdoor feng shui tips to design an outdoor oasis that connects you with nature.
1. Keep areas clean and tidy
A clutter-free and well-maintained outdoor space allows positive energy to circulate freely, enhancing the overall balance and vitality of the surroundings.
“Do keep all areas clean and tidy, especially around the entrance,” recommends Landolac Designs. “Landscaping shouldn’t have visible weeds, trash cans should be out of sight, and debris should be swept or hosed away.”
2. Introduce the elements
Introducing the elements in Feng Shui is crucial as they represent different energies and qualities that contribute to a balanced and harmonious space. Each element—water, wood, fire, earth, and metal—brings specific attributes and characteristics that can influence the energy flow within an environment.
“I love using all five elements to create a balanced, calm, and harmonious outdoor environment,” shares Alejandra G. Brady of Life. Styled. “Introduce the element of water with a water feature, birdbath, or pool. The wood element can be represented by plants, trees, flowers, and furniture made of wood. You can bring in the fire element by adding a fire pit, spiky plants, lights, and lanterns. While the earth element can be brought in through ceramic pots, crystals, and rocks. Wind chimes, metal furniture, and outdoor accessories all count as metal elements.”
Feng Shui | ADARSA Elemental Design adds, “Place a water feature in the southeast, such as a birdbath, a decorative feature, or even your water source activates wealth energy. Combining the natural greens of the wood element in the environment with neutral tones for furniture brings in the earth element. A great BBQ placed centrally will activate both fire and metal.”
3. Implement the Bagua Map
Implementing the Bagua Map is vital as it serves as a blueprint for analyzing and harmonizing different areas of an outdoor space. The Bagua Map divides a space into nine areas, each corresponding to a specific aspect of life, such as wealth, relationships, career, and health.
“Your outdoor space is an extension of your homes and by implementing the Bagua Map to this space you can help attract positive energy to all nine areas of your life. From adding a fountain to your wealth area for more abundance, to adding a fire pit to the fame area to help you receive the recognition that you deserve either at home or at work to placing your beautiful wooden furniture in the communal area to create a stronger connection,” says Trish John of Magical Spaces.
4. Ensure chi can harmoniously flow through your space
Allowing chi, the vital life force energy, to flow freely in outdoor Feng Shui is essential for creating a balanced environment.
“When it comes to outdoor Feng Shui, it’s all about ensuring that the chi can harmoniously flow through your space easily to energize your space without any distractions,” notes Feng Shui Roots. “Once you have a good idea of your cardinal directions, you can enhance the chi by creating balance by incorporating the five elements theory in your design strategy to harmonize your color selection to create an inviting and comfortable space that is beneficial for your personality, goals, and intentions.”
5. Remember certain feng shui truths
Catherine Dean Feng Shui, who practices BTB feng shui, notes, “Remember certain feng shui truths: more curved lines instead of straight, no clutter, easy access to the front door, and using colors you love. It may take some thought to bring in all the elements, but you can do so with color.”
6. Place objects in strategic locations
Placing objects in strategic locations in outdoor Feng Shui is crucial for optimizing the flow of energy and creating a harmonious environment. By strategically positioning objects such as sculptures, fountains, or planters, one can enhance specific areas of the outdoor space and promote positive energy.
Kerstin Tracy of Ready2Heal says, “Taking time to place objects, plants, and pathways in strategic locations will ensure that all elements within the space are balanced and inviting. Invite butterflies with fragrant flowers and birds with bird baths and feeders to allow for abundant energy to enhance your yard and home. Adding features like a water feature in the North, East, or South East directions, as well as taller trees for protection in the back, will help to create an outdoor area that is both aesthetically pleasing and energetically harmonious.”
7. Install windchimes
Wind chimes can also create a sense of tranquility and harmony, adding a soothing and calming element to the outdoor space.
“To invite good energy into your yard, windchimes are a common Feng Shui cure that doesn’t just enhance your home’s energy but brings a peaceful sound as well to your yard’s environment,” remarks Honey Lune Hivery. “Windchimes help to break up stagnant energy and keep the chi flowing smoothly. It’s important to invest in a good quality wind chime that is properly tuned and can withstand the elements. Place it by your entrance to your home to invite this positive energy into your life.”
8. Maintain your Ming Tong
It’s important to maintain your Ming Tong, or clear and vibrant energy, in outdoor Feng Shui.
“The ‘Ming Tong’ or ‘Bright Hall’ is the open area or plaza in front of a building. It should be well-lit, well-maintained, and without obstructions or plant overgrowth. Ideally, it would be flat or gently sloping downward from the building to the street. The door should be visible, and if there’s a walkway, curved is best for a gentle chi flow toward the door. Added exterior garden and walkway lighting will move the chi towards the door and around the building,” remarks Helen Keating Consulting.
9. Fix the front garden area
The most important residential garden area is the one leading to your front door. This is known as the mouth of chi and is where beneficial energy moves to your entrance and then flows throughout your indoor space.
Debra Duneier President of EcoChi shares, “The path to your door should be meandering, so if you have a straight walkway, use vibrant, healthy plants to create a more natural flow. The most auspicious facing direction for your front garden is south which is very lucky but if this is not the direction available to you, use red flowers, a red front door or a garden statue of a red phoenix. If your garden faces north, this is the area that has the energy of prosperity. To enhance this energy, place a pond, bird bath, or water fountain in this area.”
10. Honor your front door
Honoring your front door in Feng Shui is highly significant as it’s considered the mouth of chi, the main entry point for energy into your home.
“Honor the spirit of your home by giving special care and attention to the front door. Designing a gently curving and easily walkable path to the door with illumination and maintained plants helps create an energetic connection with the land and a flow of nurturing, positive energy to your threshold, providing blessings for the home and its residents. Clearing away overgrown shrubbery around the door can be incredibly impactful and signifies within your physical environment that you’re open to new opportunities finding you,” remarks Natalie LaBonte, owner of One Light Interiors.
“When we are in harmony with the outdoor surroundings, our lives become much more balanced,” adds Feng Shui & Ba Zi expert Master Maša Zorn. “To attract positive chi from outside to our interior, we need to bring focus on our front door, curb appeal, and the views that are surrounding us. It is recommended to have greenery in the garden, to reconnect with natural chi.”
11. Add winding pathways
Adding winding pathways in outdoor Feng Shui can create a natural and meandering flow of energy throughout the space. These pathways encourage a sense of exploration and discovery, inviting visitors to engage with the outdoor environment.
“When using feng shui to design an outdoor space, you can apply the same principles as indoor spaces,” notes Laura Morris, teacher and co-founder of Mindful Design Feng Shui School. “You want to ensure that the chi (the energy) can flow smoothly through the space. Try adding winding pathways that create a sense of ease. If you have a lot of straight edges and hard lines in your outdoor space, you can soften the energy by adding plant material and shrubbery with round or irregular shapes. It is about balancing out the yin and yang of the space.”
12. Raise your eye level to raise your energy
Selecting taller furniture in outdoor Feng Shui is important as it helps to create a sense of stability and grounding in the space.
Sanctuary Feng Shui shares, “Aim for always lifting energy up to give you a calming and relaxing vibe. Often, outdoor furniture is super low to the ground, so adding in additional items that raise your eye level will also raise your energy resulting in those wonderful vibes, like a hanging umbrella, plants that grow tall like small trees or vining plants, or overhead Edison light bulbs.”
13. Install a water feature
Installing a water feature in outdoor Feng Shui is highly significant as water symbolizes abundance, wealth, and the flow of energy. A well-placed water feature, such as a fountain or pond, can attract positive chi and enhance the overall energy balance in the outdoor space.
“My favorite way to enhance an outdoor space is with a water feature,” says Pure Living with Lisa Morton. “The trickle of a water fountain can be so relaxing on a summer evening. Ensure that the fountain flows towards the home and not away from it. Water represents wealth and abundance in Feng Shui, so you want it flowing toward you.”
14. Note the way people move through the space
Noting how people move through a space in outdoor Feng Shui is crucial as it allows for the optimization of energy flow and the creation of a harmonious environment. By observing and understanding how individuals naturally navigate through an outdoor area, you can identify potential blockages or areas that may require adjustments to promote smooth energy circulation.
“When planning your landscape, pay attention to how people move through the space. Creating soft, curving paths is thought to help energy move intentionally through the space rather than rushing out. Also, keep your materials and colors balanced throughout,” notes Frisella Nursery.
15. Don’t have a pool at the center of your property
Avoiding a pool in the center of your property in outdoor Feng Shui is important as it can disrupt the energy flow and create an imbalance in the overall energy dynamics.
“Don’t have a pool in the center of your property. It will destabilize the energy of your property and your life,” says Dr. Lydia Anne Mitchell of Spiritual Reality. “Do keep the pool clean to ensure good money flow and no murky finances.”
16. Create pockets of interest where chi can gather
Creating pockets of interest in outdoor Feng Shui is valuable as they serve as focal points where chi, or energy, can gather and circulate.
“Positive chi likes to flow and meander, so if you have the space, think gently curving pathways that lead to a quiet sitting area that you can relax in, a fire pit for social gatherings, or a beautiful garden bed you can admire,” recommends Home Abundance. “To ensure that the chi here stays positive and beneficial, keep these areas maintained and tidy to avoid the energy becoming heavy and stagnant.”
17. Be purposeful with your tree placement and landscape
Being purposeful with tree placement and landscape in outdoor Feng Shui is crucial as trees hold significant energetic influence and can greatly impact the overall energy of the space. Carefully selecting and positioning trees based on their size, shape, and elemental qualities can help create a balanced and harmonious outdoor environment.
Roger Lan of Basic Feng Shui Theory shares, “There should be no big trees directly in front of the main door because it will block your future. When you walk out the front door, the tree on the left-hand side should be taller than the right-hand side so it is easy to succeed. The backyard also must have a higher building or a hill, not an empty landscape view or a large swimming pool that is not easy to be helped by others and will feel insecure.”
18. Bring in elements that remind you of your favorite travel destination
Bringing in elements that remind you of your favorite destinations in your outdoor space adds a personal touch and evokes positive emotions.
“Consider bringing in elements that remind you of your favorite travel destinations, and begin to recreate the look and feeling,” notes Lisa M. Alban, CFSP, FSSP of Cloud 9 Feng Shui. “Solar powered café lights and lanterns are whimsical and useful in the evening, while windchimes or breezy grass can help to mitigate traffic sounds. Outdoor screens, sunshades, and creative landscaping can help to create a canopy where it is missing and also add privacy to any exposed areas.”
