15 of the BEST Tricks To Create Good Vibes In Your Home (Or Office) – Feng Shui Explained

You even been invited over to someone’s house and just felt uncomfortable as soon as you walked in?

Maybe the house was a mess or maybe the furniture layout was awkward? Maybe there was a wafting bad smell, dingy lighting, or just a “”bad vibes”” gut feeling?

Whatever the reason, you don’t want your home, apartment, or office to fall into the same trap.

To create a “”good vibe”” feeling and a warm, welcoming, and relaxing atmosphere in your home, it will take a combination of cleaning, color, and atmosphere adjustments.

In this article we’ll let our curiosity explore as we seek answers about positive energy and feng shui from a diverse field of industry experts.

Let’s Dive In !

What is Feng Shui (pronounced ‘fung schway’)

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese ‘traditional practice’ which uses sub-conscious “”tricks”” to “”harmonize”” individuals with their surrounding environment.

Feng shui can influence your emotional state, and “”good”” feng shui can evoke a feeling of being comfortable, relaxed, and open.

While “”bad”” feng shui can make people feel uneasy, anxious, and closed off.

A Quick Story About House Vibes and Feng Shui

A quick story – I’m not an expert on feng shui, but I incorporated a good majority of the tips below into my own house (well before writing this article). For example, colorful accent walls, large buddha painting, always good smells and upbeat or binaural beats playing, and lots of cool art.

So a few weeks back my neighbor’s son “ran away” from their house. He’s about 9 years old, and he has some spectrum of autism disorder, and as a result has trouble communicating…

As a side note, I’ve been to my neighbor’s house multiple times and it’s a very nice middle class home, typical 3 bed 2 bath. But the way it’s decorated looks like a Bed Bath & Beyond catalogue. Not horrible taste and always clean, but very “square”, gray, and unstimulating.

So back to the story, I wasn’t home at the time, (and to keep a long-story short) my neighbors son (who doesn’t talk) had escaped his house and wondered his way over to my house. Eventually when I came home, I found him just chillin’, as happy as could be, relaxing in my living room….just soaking up the vibe on the couch….All was well, but it’s actually happened a couple more times sense then.

The moral of the story is that ‘feng shui’ has a powerful affect on us. One that we may not be consciously aware of. But, sub-consciously or even unconsciously, the ‘vibe’ of your house, has more of an effect on the people in it, than you may think.

Apparently our house’s vibe is powerful enough to attract the neighbors.

How To Bring Positive Energy Into Your House?

15 Tips To Boost The Vibe In Your Home (or office)

1. Clear The Air –

Don’t let the air in your home get stagnant. Think of your favorite place outdoors in nature, maybe a mountain-top, or park, or hiking trail. Now picture yourself taking a deep breath of fresh clean air.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could capture that fresh clean air and bring it home?

Keeping the windows open in the summer time is a great way to boost the vibe, but when it’s cold out the air indoors tends to stagnate.

The Importance Of Aromatherapy

According to Scientific American, ambient aromas do in fact affect people’s mood, work performance and behaviors in a variety of ways.

A few studies on MayoClinic have shown that aromatherapy may have health benefits, including:

• Relief from anxiety and depression
• Improved quality of life, particularly for people with chronic health conditions
• Improved sleep

A Few Simple Vibe Boosting Aromas For your Home

Palo Santo –

Palo santo is a tree native to South American countries which gives off an intoxicating smell when burned. I can vouge, it smells good !

In Spanish, palo santo means “holy wood”. For thousands of years, the wood, resin, and oil of the palo santo tree have been used for medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples for centuries.

Dr. Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D, and healthline.com agree, that palo santo is an ancient traditional remedy for pain, inflammation, and stress. And when burned as an incense, it can be used to clear out negative energy from your home.

Incense –

Burning incense is as old of a tradition as human civilization itself. Found in ancient China, India, and Egypt burning incense has been part of the human experience for over 5,000 years.

It is widely believed by leading experts that Egyptians would use incense to hinder the presence of demons.

(here’s a related article about ancient cultures & psychedelics if you’re interested)

Sage –

The experts at Verywell Health have found that poor air quality may indeed be linked to a variety of health conditions. With that in mind, Dr. Elena Klimenko, MD, agrees, that burning sage can certainly be seen as a cost-effective way to help purify the air. This is because sage is known to have antimicrobial properties that help kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Essential Oils –

A new age alternative to burning natural scents is to vaporize it. I have an essential oil vaporizer in my office and use it constantly (especially when I need to focus).

2. Deep Clean / De-Clutter –

Maintaining a clean and organized space is fundamental to creating a positive vibe in any room.

In the eyes of professional psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman, decluttering your home can be just as beneficial to your mental health as yoga and mindfulness.

In fact, according to VeryWell Mind, the feeling of a clean and organized home can help you relax and unwind even after an overwhelming day at work.

I’m reminded of the age old saying, “Clean House, Clear Mind”

To back this up even further, a 2010 study published in the scientific journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin  found that women with cluttered homes expressed higher levels of both depression, and the stress hormone cortisol.

The bottom line is, de-clutter your home to boost the vibe.

3. Use Color Psychology To Promote Good Vibes –

Color psychology has always been a fascinating subject to me. There’s no doubt that other than cleanliness (and maybe even more so) color plays one of the biggest role’s in the ‘vibe’ of a room.

Let’s face it (all else being equal) if your living room was florescent orange it would probably be a lot less relaxing than if the wall were painted a more calming tone of deep blue.

Shannon suggests deciding ahead of time “how you want to feel” in a room and then choose a color to match your desired mood.

Other interior experts suggest that while most of us don’t spend a lot of time thinking about room color, it does in fact affects us every day.

Room color sub-consciously impacts our moods, thoughts and overall vibe. So if you’re room is giving you bad vibes, it may be time for a fresh coat of paint and a splash of color.

4. Banish Bad Memories –

From my experience, part of being human, is experiencing both good times and bad.

Sometimes we hold onto the good, hoping it will never end. And sometimes we hold onto the bad, re-living the experience over and over, unable to move on.

It’s often the case that we store our memories in objects. Looking at a certain object can “trigger” a memory, either good or bad. This is what happens when hoarders fill their houses with old junk (each item represents a memory to be relived).

If you have any objects in your home that trigger bad memories, think about either getting rid of that object, or replacing it with an item that triggers a pleasant memory.

For example, Ray Dalio (self-made billionaire who’s son recently passed away in a car crash) keeps a journal of pleasant memories of his son in his living room. So instead of looking at a picture of his son and feeling horror, he can see the journal of fun memories and smile when he reminisces.

This is a much more positive approach to a bad situation, and a way to keep the vibe of the house much more pleasant.

5. Put Up Some Art to Boost The Vibe –

As an alternative to painting the walls, hanging the right art can do the trick just the same.

Art can absolutely has a sub-conscious effect on people.

I’ve had a 7’ painting of Buddha that I bought in Thailand in 3 different houses with 3 very different color schemes, and the buddha painting always gives whatever room it’s in, a calming “”ZEN”” vibe. Go figure, lol

Here’s The Meaning Behind a Few of The Most Common Mood Boosting Art Pieces.

Elephants in Art –

Everyone loves an elephant. They’re big, strong, majestic, intelligent, and they never forget. Considered sacred in many cultures, according to feng shui experts, elephants symbolize strength, protection, wisdom, and good luck! 

An elephant in any room is an automatic mood, feng shui, and vibe enhancer.

Water & Aquatic Life –

From a psychological perspective, water is often seen as a powerful symbol which represents the depths of consciousness. Water also represents knowledge and the mysteries of the unknown.

The ocean is so vast and seemingly boundless, a place where someone can easily get lost. This is a great metaphor to represent the journey through life.

Tortoise –  

(I actually have a small tortoise painting in my house that I completely forgot about until I was writing this.)

Turtles and tortoise’s are usually shown in popular culture today as easygoing, wise, and patient grand-father like creatures.

For thousands of years, and dating back to multiple ancient civilizations, the tortoise has been seen as a symbol of longevity and stability, wisdom and knowledge. Likely this is due to their long lifespan (some over 150 years old), slow (but majestic) movement, sturdiness, and ‘experienced’ appearance.

Buddha –

The general ‘vibe’ of a buddha symbol is ‘chill’, calm, and relaxed. The buddha symbol represents the story of Buddha, a prince who gave up his royal luxuries to pursue a life of happiness.

These are the 3 Pillars of the Buddha Symbol.

• Virtue, good conduct, morality. The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal. Do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you.
  
  
• Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one’s mind is the path to wisdom which, in turn, leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct.
  
  
• Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.

6. Pet Feng Shui (could be positive or negative vibes) –

Pet feng shui can go either way.

I’m sure you’ve walked into a house and had a dog start growling at you (bad vibes). But you’ve probably also walked into a house with a cute sleeping cat or a dog that licks your hand (good vibes).

Pets bring love. I like to think of my cat (his name’s Dior) as a “love battery” because he’s always in a good mood and purring around everyone.

The connection between humans and pets is no joke. The Naperville Animal Hospital recently wrote about a few different published studies where oxytocin (AKA the “love hormone”) was found to spike in both dogs and humans when around one another.

On the flip side, I have another cat (Prince) who was rescued from the Humane Society after a traumatic and abusive childhood. He’s a lot better now, but still a bit of a jerk around company.

The bottom line here is be nice to your pets and they’ll be nice to you in return.

7. Play Uplifting Music –

It will likely come as no surprise, but music and sound can have a HUGE effect on feng shui, your direct mood, and the vibe of a room.

I always listen to music when I work, I’m actually typing this right now with binaural beats playing in the background to keep my attention focused.

As direct evidence of this, a 2013 study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who listened to upbeat music could improve their moods and boost their overall happiness in just two weeks.

Lead study author, Yuna Ferguson, also stated that “happiness”, has been linked to better physical health, higher income, and greater relationship satisfaction.

The ScienceMuseum.org backs up the positive effects of music, saying that “the most wonderful thing about music’s ability to boost positivity, is that it works for almost all of us, without us even noticing.”

So try throwing some positive background music on to boost the vibe around you.

8. Feng Shui House Plants, Office Plants, & Fresh Flowers –

Andrew Gaumond is a plant and feng shui expert who runs a business specializing in designing indoor spaces.

Andrew’s company, the Petal Republic understands and leverages the idea that indoor plants foster the free and productive flow of positive energy.

Other research has shown plants can boost productivity and learning.

Andrew has a bachelors degree in ‘plant science’ and he knows a thing or two about what indoor plants have to offer. When it comes to improving feng shui, in addition to attracting positive energies, plants will purify the air, reduce stress, and improve your focus to help you prosper.

All positive qualities for your home or office setting if you ask me. Speaking of which, I need to water my office plant right now before I forget.

9. Focus On Natural Sunlight –

The Earth’s entire ecosystem runs off of sunlight. With-out the sun we die.

There’s a reason that if you work in an office, you want a desk with a window. There’s a reason why TIME magazine asks if doctors should prescribe sunlight for depression.

Based on studies being conducted by Dr. Paul Desan, sunlight allows us to make Vitamin D which helps support our immune system,  physical health, and has been shown to have a beneficial effect on depression comparable to that of anti-depressant medications.

With all that being said, if you have the ability to open up your blinds and let in some natural sunlight, it’s a definite mood booster.

We often take the sun for granted, but thousands of years ago, the Ancient Egyptians worshiped, and were grateful for the sun every single day. As a vibe boosting tip, next time you see the sun, try being grateful that we have it while it lasts.

10. Open The Windows –

Even in the winter-time, I try to open all the windows every once in a while to flush out stagnant air.

According to some feng shui experts you should Open the windows and doors for at least 10 minutes a day

By keeping fresh air flowing through your house (office or apartment) it removes stagnant air, energy, and smells. You might not thing that this would make much of a difference, but it’s actually much more noticeable than you think.

Don’t take our word for it, give it a try.

11. Himalayan Salt Lamp –

The ultimate stereotypical epitome of feng shui has to be a ‘Himalayan Salt Lamp’. We actually have 2 in our house.

According to expert feng Shui practitioner Sally Painter, himalayan salt lamps boost the vibe of any room by leveraging aspects of the 5 natural elements to create a feeling of balance and harmony. The breakdown of these elements are:

Water – The rock salt was originally formed in the ocean.

Metal – The salt crystals contain minerals that are metal elements.

Fire – The use of a candle or lamp light represents fire.

Earth – Salt crystals are mined in rock quarries from the Earth.

Wood – The wood base represents the natural and organic wood.

Also, according to Healthline, salt lamps can be beneficial by helping to create a relaxing atmosphere that will help you unwind.

12. Light Some Candles For Improved Feng Shui –

Candles kill 2 feng shui birds with 1 stone (in a figurative sense).

Leveraging both sight and smell a well-placed candle can command the attention and set the focal point of a room.

In the words of psychotherapist Chryssa Chalkia, “Scented candles have been used for centuries in all manners of rituals as they promote healing, enhance meditation and cleanse energies.”

A study conducted by Keville and Green in 2009 found that imbalances in your psychological wellbeing, like depression, can be improved with the use of scented candles (or oils).

13. Bamboo Decoration (or any wood in general) –

Caroline Ord-Hume is an expert on bamboo, running an entire website strictly dedicated to the bamboo plant.

Caroline has found that bamboo is brought into the home in many different forms such as wind chimes, water fountains, decorative flutes, flooring, picture frames, among many other unique forms.

Bamboo grows in many countries around the world, and symbolizes longevity, endurance, and durability. Bamboo is believed to bring both luck and success because of its rapid growth, strength and fortitude.

On top of the symbolism, bamboo is part of the natural world, and bringing nature inside is generally altogether a positive mood booster.

British scientists published a study back in 2013 which found that “Being around nature in your own home can also boost concentration levels and increase your attention span.”

14. Fish Tanks and Small Indoor Fountains –

Anytime you can bring an element of life or nature into your home (or office) it will do wonders to boost the vibe.

Alissa M. Clouse presented her Honors Thesis at the University of Mississippi on the psychology of indoor water features. Alissa’s thesis found that…

“Individuals have a positive psychological response to interior water features.”

The majority of participants in the study found that water features lower stress and increase their mood.

After conducting hundreds of hours of research Alissa believes indoor water fountains will become more popular as more people become educated on the psychological benefits, like promoting more a positive mood (both at work and home).

Fish tanks can act as a water fountain, water feature, and a live animal all at the same time.

15. Rugs For Feng Shui –

Just like wall color, art selection, and natural decor can influence your mood (your vibe) your rug can do the same.

If you have a dark room, try brightening it up with a light or colorful rug. If you’re really looking to change up the vibe try a rug with a traditional yoga symbol or mandala pattern.

Why Is Positive Energy Important ?

The Power Of Positive Energy – According to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Conclusion: Feng Shui and Positive Energy In Your Home

As humans, our ‘general internal vibes’ reflect on the outside how we feel on the inside.

BUT, if we surround ourselves with positive cues, and mood boosting psychological tricks, like promoting good feng shui practices, then we can hack our internal mood from the outside in.

In other words, whether we’re in a good mood or not, by promoting good vibes inside your house you can create an atmosphere that is more likely to produce positive and relaxing brain signals.

Your attitude and your energy affect how the people around you feel, and the same is true for the vibe of your house (or office space). It affects you, your family, friends, and colleagues.

Let us know if you’ve tried any of these feng shui tips, how they work for you, or if there’s any other tips that we missed.

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