If you’re looking for the flooring material that will bring you the most peace and harmony, choose wood, an expert in Feng shui recently told Livingetc.
Feng shui is a traditional practice that attempts to harmonize people with their surrounding environment using energy forces. “In Feng shui, it’s very important to have each of the five elements—earth, metal, fire, water, and wood—represented in your home in order to maintain harmony and balance,” Feng shui expert Marie Diamond told Livingetc. “Wood floor types are a great way to represent the wood element and can help you feel grounded.”
The wood element in Feng shui also represents strength, flexibility, family and prosperity, and having wood flooring, as opposed to other flooring materials, can bring “a greater sense of peace and harmony,” Diamond added.
Diamond went on to recommend wood flooring be used in “Yang” rooms of the house—rooms that people spend the most time in, like living and dining rooms. In terms of layout, Diamond recommended straight planks, as they represent “the long, straight silhouette of trees which in turn represent the wood element.” For patterns such as herringbone and chevron, Diamond recommended they be featured in the west or northern areas of the home.
“The energy flow of our home affects our own personal energy, and vice versa,” Diamond said. “If you choose to install a particular kind of flooring that, whilst having a lot of Feng shui benefits, you simply can’t stand the sight of, you’re going to feel annoyed or angry or frustrated each time you look at it. This personal energy of yours can then affect the energy flow of your home in a really negative way, so remember: you have to live with the design choices you make.”
