A Short and Convenient Guide to Choosing Feng Shui Colors

Describing all the intricacies of Fung Shui and the various elements that go into it would take a very long time. But a very simple and generalized explanation would be that Fung Shui is a way of harmonizing your surroundings to improve your mental health and help you to relax. Fung Shui can also be seen as a type of interior design principle that brings all your surroundings together and create a wholesome environment.

There is obviously plenty to cover when it comes to Fung Shui as there are many elements at play, from room arrangement to lighting. But this guide goes into the importance of color and the role it plays in Fung Shui design. If you’re about to start renovations and have had some difficulties choosing new colors for your interior, the Fung Shui design philosophy should give you some ideas on how to work with color. 

Black

Black Feng Shui Interior That Can Be Used for Greater Focus

In Feng Shui, black signifies the water element, which is quite unusual in how it is often associated with the color blue. But take a second to think about what water usually feels like to you. When it’s not a roaring river or a loud waterfall, water is quiet and still, giving you plenty of headspace for quiet contemplation. Our eyes gravitate towards dark spots in times of deep contemplation and thinking since the lack of visual details gives our mind the focus it needs to think of solutions. This could be why black is associated with career success. It’s serene and quiet, hence why we naturally use it in our interiors without even noticing it.

It’s no secret that black is a very bold color and can be a little too dark for some homeowners’ tastes. Use black as accent or decor, but don’t make it the main attraction. Make a feature wall that is black, with the surrounding interior much brighter. Create a black backsplash in your kitchen, but if the cabinets and countertops are brighter in color. Too much black risks bringing in negative energy and bleakness into the room. Learn to balance it with brighter hues, as you still want that room to focus, but not to the extreme where your interior is simply dark. 

White

Clearing the Mind and Visual Senses with White

As one of the most somber colors on the spectrum, white has been known to play well and complement other colors. The emptiness of white hues gives you visual clarity, which in turn leads to inspiration. While black in Feng Shui is all about focus, white can be seen as something far more serene, but visually open and bright. White in Feng Shui is of the metal element, along with silver and gold.

Because white is brighter than black and gives you plenty of visual clarity, it can be used to channel creativity, especially in kids. This is why we see so many kids’ rooms that are bright and colorful, with plenty of white strewn about. While black gives you focus that can help you in your career or studies, white offers visual clarity that can help boost creativity. This is why white can often be found in kids’ rooms, study rooms, as well as kitchens where a ton of creativity is needed to create something unique and wonderful. 

Red

The Strength of Having Red Interior Accents

As one would expect, red is associated with the fire element, making it one of the boldest and most powerful colors on the spectrum. If you like the color red, you may want to use as much of it in your interior as possible. Red symbolizes protection and luck in Feng Shui, which is why you have likely seen those vibrant red envelopes that people use to send each other gifts. The problem with red is that using too much of it can be straining on the visual senses and become very distracting. This is why red is good to use as an accent, as opposed to the main color palette. For example, red rugs are a fantastic way to bring warmth and boldness into the room without having it be too powerful. You can also have red pillowcases and muted red curtains for a bit of extra flair and spice. Some homeowners take a very bold step and paint their front door red. In Feng Shui, red can be a lucky color for house exterior doors, but it is recommended to make the surrounding walls of the entryway more muted, so as to not become too overpowering. 

Green

The Healing Factors of Green Interiors

You don’t have to have deep knowledge of Feng Shui to associate the color green with health and wellness. Green represents regeneration, life, and in many cultures, nature. If you’re looking to make an East facing living room with Feng Shui elements, then green is a must. Unfortunately, the vibrant green you’re used to may be a little too bright and distracting if you’re looking to instill a more relaxing atmosphere in your living room. This is why going for more muted emerald, lime, and salad green is a much better idea. Green can also be implemented via biophilic elements, such as plants, a vertical garden, and a simple accent wall. So if you’re looking for Feng shui colors for kitchen and dining rooms that give off that sense of health and wellness, green should be one of your first picks. 

Blue

The Serene Effects of Blue

In Feng Shui, blue is not one concrete element. It changes depending on the type of blue is being used. For example, deep blues are known to represent wisdom and self-searching, whereas Turquoise in Feng Shui represents water, which in turn symbolizes health and wellness. So blue and all its shades are very versatile colors in Feng Shui. Use darker shades of blue in the bedroom or your personal study, as this will help you relax but also focus on your work. Blue also works well in Feng shui as a front door color, as its connection to health and wellness not only attracts positive energy into your home but also instills it into your guests. Brighter shades of blue can be used in kitchens and bathrooms to bring positive energy and wellness into the atmosphere. 

Yellow

How Yellow Grounds the Interior In Feng Shui

Much like blue, yellow has a lot of symbolism in Feng Shui. For example, in some cases, yellow can mean humility, which is not the kind of connotation most people go for in their interior designs. But at the same time, yellow can also symbolize wealth, warmth, and stability. Pale yellows and other more muted shades work perfectly in Bohi or terra cotta interiors when matched with natural brown, orange, and beige. When combines, these colors bring a lot of earthiness and stability to the interior, which can be really useful if you feel that your interior is too artificial. 

Grey

The Subtle Power of Grey Within Interiors

If you’re looking for a lucky paint color for the house then grey could be an excellent option. Many people are put off by grey, as they think it’s too bland and boring. But grey does have symbolism behind it and it can impact the vibe of both your interior and exterior. When used on the house exterior, according to Fung Shei grey symbolizes good luck for travelers and it tells them that helpful people live there. So, it’s a friendly color for those on the road who have nobody else to turn to. On the interior grey is a neutral color, making it a great combination with just about any other color out there. If there is an area in your home that no other color fits into, grey most certainly can. So if you want to feel more welcoming and happy to have guests over when moving to a new home, consider using grey to your advantage. 

Pink

The Romantic Essence of Pink

Pink is seen as the color of love and romance in a lot of cultures and Feng Shui also shares this sentiment. This makes muted pink one of the best bedroom colors for positive energy. But this is not the only application for pink in the interior. In other areas of the interior, pink can be used to bring positive energy into other rooms as well. Use very muted shades of pink to brighten up living rooms that don’t get much natural light. Also, it can be a playful color to paint kids’ rooms with. So, while pink Feng Shui painting in bedrooms may signify romantic success, you can turn it into the general love for life.  

Purple

Attract Wealth and Power Into Your Home with Purple

In Feng Shui, purple is the color of prosperity and abundance. This also fits with other cultures’ idea of the color, like purple for the longest time was considered to be regal as it was very hard to dye back in the day. Only the rich, who had access to the expensive dying techniques that would get them the color purple, could have anything in their home or on their clothes that were purple. That sentiment is still carried throughout many cultures and in Feng Shui, purple is one of the colors to attract money with. This doesn’t mean people who have purple interiors are flaunting their cash, but it does mean that by having a purple office or library, you’re conditioning yourself for professional and monetary success. Purple is also known to boost creativity, so if you have an at-home art studio or a kids’ room, it makes for a great color to include.