Color can influence light frequencies in a space while boosting personal energy. Choosing the right color accents for walls, woodwork or furniture can make a dramatic difference in design while catapulting specific areas of one's life. From a feng shui persepctive, colors can be classified as yin or yang or categorized by the five elements according to compass direction.
Yin & Yang Colors:
Yin and yang are two interdependent polar opposites that drive the forces of the Universe. They are relative terms used to compare everything in the world. Although these forces are opposite, they strive to meet a balancing point for harmony to ensue. From a color perspective, bright colors (red, orange, yellow, etc.) take on a yang quality and have a way of making one feel active or (yang). Pastels and subdued colors (green or blue) reflect yin qualities and are apt to create a relaxed atmosphere.
Compass Direction & Color Harmony:
In feng shui, the 8 compass directions are assigned to one of the 5 elements. Each element represents an enormous amount of information that can be used for a feng shui analysis. Specific colors align with these elements and when used in accordance to proper direction will result in a balanced and harmonious space. The following list outlines the colors associated with the compass directions.
Feng Shui Color Reference:
- North: This direction represents your career in feng shui . Strengthen with grey, off white, black or blue.
- Northeast: This portent relates to inner wisdom and understanding of the self. To enhance incorporate earth tones (yellows to browns) or fire colors (red, burgundy or purple).
- East: This area represents family roots, heritage and health. Think greens or blues for rooms in this direction.
- Southeast: This is the direction that corresponds to wealth and fortunate blessings. To catapult the energy in this section incorporate greens or watery blues.
- South: This is the direction for enlightenment or one's soul's mission in life. Step this area up with fire colors (red, burgundy or purple) or feed the energy here with shades of green.
- Southwest: Here is the direction for romance and partnership. Fire colors or earth tones work wonders for this section of the home.
- West: A playful energy abounds in this direction. This is the area for children or what makes your heart sing. Choose metal colors (copper, gray, gold) or white to acknowledge the inner child or favorite hobby. Earth tones will also bode well in this sector.
- Northwest: Helpful people and mentors is how one moves forward in the world. Recharge this direction with earth tones or metal color hues.
- Center: Rooms located in the center of the structure should be decorated with earth tones ranging from yellows to browns. The center is the stabilizing point of the entire space and represents the self. The human life journey depicts the aforementioned areas (family, wealth, enlightment, relationships, children, mentors, career and inner wisdom). In order to bring those possibilities to fruition, one must honor the self or center point.
Choosing color for a space can be a confusing process. Using the proper colors based on directional position of a room can produce subtle changes in the energy of the environment while igniting different aspects of one's life.
