The Role of Rugs in Feng Shui and Energy Flow in Your Home

If you’re a home decor enthusiast, you’ve certainly heard of fengshui, the ancient Chinese philosophy of home design and architecture. Feng shui, or 风水 in Chinese, refers to the two characters that stand for wind and water respectively, combining to mean ‘fluid’. The tradition of Feng Shui is akin to the Indian tradition of Vastu and is a philosophy centred around optimizing the flow of qi, 气, or energy in a home. Originally, the system emerged to find synergy between the placement of houses and the impact of surrounding elements, such as compromising between flood-prone areas and altitude, but today it is used to harmonize the flow of energy in living spaces to create a balanced and healthy environment. 

Our team at Obeetee loves carpets, which is why we insist that every time you purchase one of our pieces, your spaces will transform with the unique character that the floor furnishing brings to your home. Today, however, we want to explore how a systematic approach to energy flow can influence carpet placement in your home. We’ve taken a deep dive into the principles of fengshui to find the best ways to incorporate these tips into rug placement across your home. Read on to learn the top 3 ways that rugs operate in fengshui, and how best to incorporate these tips to improve the flow of qi, or energy, through your home. 

1) Harmonize the flow of energy right from the entrance

Your landing and front door are the first thing people see when they enter your home, and it is also the first gateway through which external energy flows through your home. Feng shui suggests that you should have a strong entryway, and ensure that paths of movement are unblocked. We believe the best way to address these principles is by placing runners in your hallways, guiding the flow of energy from the front door, through the corridors of your home, and into your living spaces. Explore our collection of Runners to find the best fit for your home. 

2) Optimize the flow of energy to your furniture

Feng Shui principles suggest that when you set up a living space, the central piece of furniture should be placed in a commanding position, to attract the most energy in the room and to center focus towards the core activity in the room. There should be a clear line of sight from the door of the room to this piece of furniture - so from the door to a desk in a study, a sofa in a living room, and a stove in a kitchen. The belief is that making the purpose of an activity clear in a room enhances the prosperity a person will encounter. To accentuate the commanding position of furniture, you can place a carpet under the pivotal piece of furniture. For instance, in a living room, you may consider placing a round carpet underneath the coffee table, and ensuring that attention is drawn to the sofa placed near the table. 

3) Balance the elements

A core idea in Feng Shui is the balance of the elements - wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each element carries certain characteristics, and it is imperative that you find ways to balance these across your home. A simple way to incorporate the elements is through decor, where items such as wind chimes reflect metallic elements and mirrors represent water. When you select rugs for your living spaces, being mindful of the colour palettes you select can help you balance the elements in your space - from the passionate reds, pinks, and purples that bring elemental fire to your home, to the greens and blues of wood and plants. We recommend starting with an earthy palette to invoke this element as it is said to be grounding, promoting growth, stability, and strength. 

We’ve only scratched the surface of the role of rugs in Feng Shui with our tips, but if you’re interested in exploring our carpet collections to learn more about how you can incorporate a positive flow of energy into your home decor, do visit us at obeetee.in. We also have flagship store locations pan-India, where our experts will be able to help you find the perfect floor furnishing for your home.