Giving Your Bathroom the Feng Shui Treatment

Bathroom interior design can get quite complicated once you consider how many options you have to play around with. All those combinations of tiles, colors, textures, materials, and layouts to try out will get anyone excited for their next bathroom remodel. But instead of settling for traditional bathroom remodels that follow the latest trends and adhere to whatever is popular at the time, you could take a more ancient approach that is still a viable interior design philosophy that has been around for thousands of years.

You may have heard of Feng Shui but there is a good chance you don’t exactly know what it means. This is completely understandable considering that it takes a while to really understand what Feng Shui is, how to utilize its philosophies for your interior design, and how it can benefit your home. It’s much easier to understand the practical benefits of Fung Shui and the steps that need to be taken to achieve it. 

Why Fung Shui Useful for the Bathroom

What Feng Shui Can Do for Your Bathroom

First, it’s important to answer the question of why one should focus on implementing elements of Fung Shui into their bathroom. After all, aren’t bathrooms designed to maximize comfort and convenience? They sure are. With modern technology and the accessibility of hygienic appliances, modern bathrooms are more convenient, efficient, and, most importantly, cleaner than ever before. But Fung Shui offers the types of benefits that even the best smart toilet on the market may not offer.

At the core of Fung Shui is harmony. Everything in your bathroom must have its place where it creates maximum visual, auditory, and even psychological harmony. After all, if there is anywhere your relaxation is a top priority, the bathroom is definitely one of those places.

In Fung Shui, regardless of what it is you’re designing, there are three fundamental factors you need to consider. Qi, the energy of the room or as modern jargon would call the “vibe”, Yin and Yang, the balance between good and bad, and Wu Xing, the implementation of the five natural elements, which are fire, water, metal, earth, air, and wood. For the sake of keeping things practical and straightforward, the Qi and the Yin and Yang will be considered, although the five elements of Feng Shui are just as important as the prior two.

The vibe of your bathroom needs to be one of harmony, order, and cleanliness — both physical and mental. As for the Yin and Yang, you should keep the scale more in the favor of good, as there is no point in challenging the senses with bad auras in the bathroom. That will only make for a tense atmosphere in the bathroom, which is certainly not preferable. There are several ways you can enact these somewhat vague and philosophical ideas.

Top-Notch Cleanliness

Why Cleanliness In Feng Shui Bathrooms Matters So Much More

Historically, bathrooms were a cesspool of germs, diseases, and vileness. This was because water was not as abundantly available, nor were hygienic products and practices introduced to the public yet. So, unless you were part of a noble or very rich household, chances are your bathroom was very dirty.

Nowadays, our standards are far higher than they were as little as a century and a half ago, so our expectations of how clean a bathroom should be have also risen. Nothing disturbs the mind quite like a dirty bathroom. If you wish for your household and your guests to feel comfortable in your bathroom, It’s best to keep it spotless. This goes without saying as even if we set interior design and harmony to one side, it’s also a matter of hygiene and health. 

No Clutter

How Feng Shui Bathrooms Make More with Less

One great way to sabotage the interior of a bathroom is to fill it with all kinds of items. Bathrooms are quite minimal when it comes to furniture. A vanity, toilet, shower or bathtub, and a few cabinets are staples of the traditional bathroom interior. Other than that, there isn’t much else that is generally necessary for bathrooms. In many households, however, bathrooms tend to be a little cluttered and have all manner of items strewn about the floor and the walls.

These items can be anything from stepping stools for children who can’t reach the vanity mirror, to colorful towels hanging from the walls, and hygienic supplies placed on various surfaces. Surely you cannot simply get rid of these things as you regularly need them. But you can be more discreet about them. You could place all hygiene items in the mirror or vanity storage, get a foldable stepping stool and lean it neatly under the vanity, and keep the towels in the cabinet storage. This way, all the bathroom essentials will be within your reach, but out of sight where they may create visual clutter. As a general rule of thumb, avoid placing things on the bathroom floor as much as possible. This way you also have less physical clutter as well.

Using Colors

How to Use Colors to Create a Feng Shui Bathroom

Feng shui bathroom colors are a huge part of effective design. Each color plays its role in your interior’s atmosphere and each one has its own unique message. For example, in Feng Shui, purple is the color of wealth, white is the color of creativity, and blue is often associated with education. Add to that how the Feng shui window plays with the colors of your bathroom’s interior and you’ll have a robust interior that is also easy on the eyes.

These can also play a role in your bathroom as well. Use somber, relaxing colors that will create a serene and welcoming atmosphere in your bathroom and won’t be too much of a strain on your visual senses. For this, white and gray are perfect. They may seem a little bland at first, but they can help you relax while taking care of hygiene or your personal business. Another way to utilize colors is with the use of Feng Shui mirrors. By placing them in optimal locations on your wall, such as where the natural light can bounce off the mirror and brighten up the interior, you can bring in even more natural light that will make the colors pop out.

Incorporating Nature

Incorporating Nature Is So Important In Feng Shui Bathrooms

Nature plays a very important role in Feng Shui. It grounds us with the rest of the world and brings us closer to our most fundamental characteristics. Regardless of how much time we spend in the concrete jungles of major metropolitan areas, humans are magnetically attracted to natural elements — from Feng Shui bathroom plants to wooden textures, and even simply to the color green. In fact, certain plants in Feng Shui have specific roles. For example, you can use Feng shui plants for wealth, such as the aptly named Money Tree.

Having natural elements in your interior can help you relax. It’s been proven that having a plant at home actually creates a more harmonious environment and makes it easier to unwind after a long day of work or study. With the help of biophilia, you can effectively create a serene environment in your bathroom. 

Water, Of Course

Incorporating Moving Water Into Your Feng Shui Bathroom

You know how some people focus better while listening to the sound of moving water? Well, the sound of water does a lot more than help you focus. It is also great at getting you to relax and feel at peace. This is why moving water is commonly used in Feng Shui interiors. But since you’re implementing Feng Shui elements into your interior, this doesn’t mean you should leave the tap on and be done with it. 

You can purchase miniature waterfalls that you can place in your Feng Shui bathroom on almost any surface. The gentle trickling of water will help you let go of tension while you handle your personal business, and creates a little relaxing haven in the morning amidst all the chaos of the household getting ready for school and work.