How to feng shui your outdoor space this spring

While it may seem like a bit of a buzzword remnant from the 1980s, feng shui is here to stay. In fact, feng shui has been used almost exclusively for outdoor areas since around 4000 B.C.

So, how can you practise feng shui outside your own home?

Feng shui recognizes five different elements that comprise all of nature, each corresponding to their own colours:

• Wood
• Fire
• Earth
• Metal
• Water

The goal is to balance these elements and promote a proper flow of chi (which is a universal energy that Taoists believe exists in all things) in order to achieve a unity between yin and yang. When this balance is attained, it is believed by practitioners to promote positivity, health, and prosperity.

Feng shui for your outdoor living space

With Toronto’s humid summers and frigid winters, we must consider the potential for harsh conditions affecting the outdoor space. It’s important to find the balance between functionality and design aesthetic when committing to exterior renovations.

While all of this may sound complicated (and it is), it’s relatively easy to practice feng shui throughout the exterior of your home. The simplest areas to apply feng shui practices are going to be your exterior paint, front door, porch, garden, and any landscaping elements you may have.

Painting your front door

Possibly the biggest factor out of those mentioned above is the front door, as it is the threshold to your home. Depending on the direction your door faces, there are different colours that are both compatible and incompatible with the proper flow of chi. Each of these colours correspond to one of the elements listed above, which are then believed to have different effects on the flow of chi. Below is a helpful chart to help you determine the right colour for your door.

Feng shui for gardening and landscaping

When it comes to landscaping and gardening, it’s definitely about quality over quantity, so don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of space to work with. Here are the basics:

The North is associated with your career, meaning you should be utilizing water features, as well as deep blues and blacks, in this part of your yard.

Associated with spiritual growth and inner knowledge, the Northeast is the perfect home for your garden.

The East represents longevity and health so keep this space green and healthy. This is the perfect spot for a long-living tree such as the white oaks we frequently see in Toronto.

The Southeast is your money and abundance area, great for purples and gold. Stick with wood elements here but feel free to spice it up with some water features as well.

The South is associated with fire, so it is the natural place for a grill or fire pit.

The Southwest correlates to love and relationships so try to place some comfortable seating in this area, as well as pinks, reds, and yellows.

West is for creativity, making it an excellent space to reserve for children.

And finally, the Northwest is home to new people and travel, meaning it should be an open space where you can greet people and let new and old friends alike get to know one another. It is associated with the metal element, so try to include grey hues.

We hope these tips help you make the most of your outdoor space this spring! Even if you’re buying a new construction home this spring, it’s never too early to start thinking about how to plan your outdoor spaces.