14 Best Feng Shui Kitchen Tips, According to the Experts

The five elements are the very foundation of Feng Shui. “The key to creating harmony in the kitchen is how you arrange the elements,” says Gomez. “For example, water and fire don’t mix — so, avoid placing the sink next to the stove. Also try to have living plants or an herb garden, since ‘living wood’ is stronger.” Represent the elements in a kitchen as so:

1. Water: the sink
2. Fire: the stove
3. Wood: cabinetry, butcher-block counters or a wood table
4. Metal: appliances, hardware or metal bar stools
5. Earth: marble or granite counters, tile backsplash and flooring

“We can’t always decide where each room in a house or apartment will be in relation to the others, but if you’re working with new construction or doing extensive renovations, ideally the kitchen will be in the back of the house,” says Emmer, who also notes that a kitchen shouldn’t be at your home’s entry point.

Having the kitchen at the entry point means that guests may come over to eat and then leave immediately, according to Emmer. When the kitchen is placed at the back of the house — as it is in this kitchen designed by Jill Croka — it encourages guests to walk through your house and prompts them to stay longer.

“Light is Yang energy in Feng Shui and darkness is Yin energy,” says Emmer. “Yang energy in the kitchen keeps the cook motivated, helps them see all their ingredients and read recipes. Try to have task lighting near work areas, as well as overhead lighting and just plain ‘gorgeous’ lighting.”

Emmer also suggests small lamps and other mood lighting throughout a kitchen, something that easily turns on and off.

“Lighting is important in creating a Feng Shui kitchen,” says Rideau. “Natural lighting can be uplifting, along with different levels of illumination” — which means including task lighting, accent lighting and ambient/general lighting.

“Good overhead lights and under-cabinet lights allow you to fully see what you’re doing, lift your mood and make cooking more pleasurable,” says Gomez of the importance of task lighting. The expert also suggests dimmers for overhead lighting, so it’s easy to adjust them based on the time of day.

“There are so many elements that can be used to add dimension to a kitchen, while incorporating the elements of Feng Shui,” says Gomez. Here are a few suggestions:

• Lush, leafy and thriving plants to promote wealth
• Concrete or marble countertops to bring in elements of earth
• Shiny metallic surfaces, or use white, gray and gold colors for metal element
• Gold or silver lighting fixtures
• Raw woods, butcher block counters or the color green for wood elements

In this symmetric space, designed by Jill Croka, open shelving is used to put glassware and art on display. “It’s easy to completely skip over the idea of art in the kitchen but it can be a vital part of creating a sense of focus and a feeling of home,” says Claudat. “Compelling art slows down the pace of life and invites us to pause for meaningful moments.”

“To Feng Shui a building, I take compass readings facing out the front door, and superimpose a template called a ‘Bagua’ over the floor plan — oriented based on the compass directions,” says Emmer. “Ba” means eight in Chinese, and “Gua” means sector, so Bagua translates to “eight sectors” — with the ninth being the center. Here are what the Nine Life Areas represent and which element they should be paired with:

1. Career [North]: blue, black, WATER
2. Helpful People and Travel [Northwest]: black, gray, white, METAL
3. Children and creativity [West]: white, METAL
4. Relationships [Southwest]: red, pink, white, EARTH
5. Fame and Reputation [South]: red, FIRE
6. Wealth [Southwest]: red, blue, purple, WOOD
7. Family and Health [West]: brown, green, WOOD
8. Knowledge and Self [Southwest]: black, blue, green, EARTH
9. Center of good fortune and gratitude [Center]