Feng shui, the Chinese art of determining the most optimum design and placement of a building or room to achieve maximum harmony, dates back to 4,000 BC and has now become its own industry. It even has a place in discussions about wood floors.
Author and feng shui consultant Tisha Morris writes about the energetic connection people make with their living spaces in her latest book, Mind Home Body: Transform Your Life One Room at a Time (Llewellyn Worldwide)-and she includes a section about wood flooring. "Good feng shui engages all five senses," writes Morris, who also is a consultant, trainer, speaker and "intuitive healer." "It is important to engage the senses, but to not overwhelm them. In doing so, your home should feel like your very own safe and peaceful sanctuary."
1. The Foundation: When building a home, the actual ground or land on which the foundation is built is an important factor. It affects the strength of the whole house. Before you install your hardwood flooring, take time to inspect the ground it will be on. What is the topography of the land? Does it have proper water drainage for floods? Does the floorboard have termites? These things should always be considered.
2. Hardwood Flooring in a House/Condo: The flooring within a space represents the division between levels of consciousness. A solid floor can help in having clear boundaries. Morris suggests hardwood floors in most rooms except the bedroom. In condos, it is important to establish boundaries. When you hear footsteps or music above you, it feels like those boundaries have been crossed. Paying attention to the conditions of your own flooring will keep your neighbors happy.
3. Hardwood Flooring Repairs: Holes or cracks in a floor can dramatically disrupt the energy of your space. Pay particularly close attention to the baseboards. Make sure they stay in good condition. Simply sweeping your floor helps.
4. Appropriate Furniture for Hardwood Floors: Make sure your furniture colors and textures don't clash with your flooring. Morris recommends mixing finishes. Wood softens a room, while metal and stone harden a room. It's important to make sure your wood textures are different from each other to create a unique decor.
5. Flooring Textures: Surfaces such as tile, granite and are considered to be "yang" in nature, while carpet and rugs lean more toward the "yin." Yang energy is more active, moving and modern; yin emphasizes quiet and coziness. Wood flooring provides a balance of yin and yang energy, which is one of the reasons it has and always will be popular.
