Feng shui tips for new homeowners

As one of Singapore’s foremost feng shui experts, Adelina Pang discovered her passion for geomancy after she became a mum. After seeing how it enhanced her family’s well-being, she decided to dedicate her life to it in order to bring about positive changes to others’ lives, too.

Adelina established Adelina Pang Feng Shui Consultancy nearly 30 years ago, combining her academic knowledge of feng shui – acquired under some of Asia’s most renowned feng shui masters – with her understanding of qi (energy) to develop a unique brand of feng shui. Since then, she has lent her expertise to residences, commercial-retail buildings, shopping malls, and hospitals.

Adelina is one of only a handful of female feng shui experts in Singapore, but she sees many benefits to being a woman in a maledominated field.

“Women are generally better listeners and more empathetic. Some of my female clients have worked with male feng shui experts before, but they tell me that they feel more comfortable working with me. They feel that I understand them and their families better.”

Adelina is always excited to help new homeowners bring luck, harmony and positive energy to their space. Here, she shares her top tips for enhancing your new abode using simple feng shui principles.

Tapping into qi

As every location in a property has a specific energy structure, you may want to ask afeng shui expert to identify these energystructures in yourhome. The expert can thengive you advice on how to “tap” into the qi inthese areas.

“Energy structures are based on orientation, and they can only be determined through a reading with an expert,” Adelina offers.

Make a grand entrance
The space in your entryway should be open to help facilitate the flow of qi, says Adelina.

“Your home is like your body – just as you need good circulation in order to be healthy, your home needs to have a clear and unobstructed flow of qi in order to maintain harmony within your household.

“Following this principle, you don’t want anything blocking the entryway, such as a partition, furniture or clutter.”

And if your home’s entryway is narrow, Adelina recommends adding a mirror to create the illusion of space (the wider the space appears, the easier the flow of qi through it).

Keep it neutral

The colour red may be considered lucky and auspicious in the Chinese culture, but Adelina advises against painting entire walls this shade, because it may make your home more accident-prone.

She explains that red in feng shui means fire, so you should be cautious where you use it and to only use it sparingly or as an accent colour. When choosing the dominant colours for your walls, she advises sticking to soothing neutral ones like white, beige, grey and the like.

The right time to renovate

Thinking about renovating? Adelina says that a professional feng shui expert can help you select the most auspicious date and time for the job, based on your family members’ birth dates.

Clear away clutter

Don’t hold on to things you no longer need or want. According to Adelina, clutter symbolises “stagnant qi”. “These items just sit around collecting dust and are not good for your family’s health, so they’re best given away or trashed,” she explains.

See the light

Make sure the outside entrance of your home has plenty of light – this can be natural light or a light installation.

“Light attracts qi, so the more well-lit this area is, the better the energy flow, Adelina says.

“Besides, if your front doorway doesn’t have ample light, it might make your home feel less secure, because dark areas may attract would-be burglars. Plus, a poorly lit entryway just looks gloomy. When an area is bright, it feels more welcoming and 'open’.”

Placing a few real plants outside your front door will also help liven up the qi in this spot.

Natural selection

Having nature in your home brings good energy – think leafy plants (real, not fake ones), flowers and wood elements.

If you have a direct path between your front door and a window, you may wish to place a real plant by the bottom of the window.

“Plants give off good energy, and in feng shui, their leaves are also seen as ‘blocking’ the qi in your home from escaping through the window,” Adelina points out.

Power of water

If your home’s energy structure reading deems it suitable, Adelina suggests placing a moving water feature in the corner by the entrance to attract qi.

“Not every home is suited for a moving water feature – ask your feng shui expert to make a recommendation after doing a reading,” she adds.

For art’s sake

Beautifying your home with jade sculptures and other fancy items will not necessarily bring good luck to your household.

“Displaying art and ornaments in your home is fine, but there’s no need to go overboard; what matters most is that you appreciate and really love the pieces,” Adelina points out.

Toilet matters

If you have an ensuite bathroom, Adelina says to always keep the bathroom door closed, and the bathroom and toilet super clean and smelling fresh.

“In Chinese culture, damp areas are seen as having a negative impact on our health. Toilets are also a breeding ground for germs, so if you keep the bathroom door closed, it’ll prevent the germs from escaping into your bedroom.”

Stove placement

Adelina says that the positioning of your stove is important for your family’s well-being and financial status. She recommends consulting a feng shui expert about where to place the stove.