Doing laundry may produce some dread or even anxiety. Millions of people put off laundry day until it’s absolutely essential. If that sounds anything like how you act, know you’re not alone. So how can you make your laundry room a more pleasing space and one that’s tidy, organized and even inviting? Consider the principles of fengshui when it comes to your laundry room and take the steps to make your laundry room more of a positive space.
What is Feng Shui?
Feng shui is “the ancient Chinese art of placement. It is used to facilitate the flow of Ch’i in the home, garden, office, etc. Feng shui is working with things as they are to try to enhance your life by bringing it into harmony and balance with its surroundings,” according to Marquette University’s History Department website. In a literal interpretation, feng means wind and shui means water.
Feng shui’s aim is ensuring people “live in harmony with their surroundings.” That includes principles you can apply to each room of the house, including the laundry room. The principles of fengshui have been around for thousands of years, helping to restore order and harmony.
So how does this apply to your laundry room? It’s easy to forget about the laundry room when you’re applying the principles of fengshui to your home as it is not a public space to which you’ll be inviting others. However, it is a space where you will be spending a good amount of time in your home on a regular basis. Making the laundry room even more important is that like the bathroom, it is a place of water and removal of debris, which are addressed with fengshui. If you’re looking for more zen and positive chi in your bathroom, here are some ways you can fengshui your laundry room.
Choosing the Location of the Laundry Room
If you’re in a position to determine the placement of the laundry room in your home, consider the convenience factor as well as noise. Without diving into the fundamentals of fengshui, you may not want your bedroom or living room near the laundry room, for example. You may also want to avoid having the laundry room near the entry to your home. In terms of necessities, the laundry room will need to have electrical and plumbing points close by. Ventilation is important as it’s easy for the laundry room to get steamy. Another thing to consider is that you’ll want to be able to move around the area with ease. Is the space big enough to have someone help you do the laundry or to fold the clothes without leaving the room? Along with the principles of fengshui, the laundry room should not be located in the “wealth area” of your home as that sector is governed by wood. Additionally, the laundry room should not be in the “fame and reputation” area of the home as that’s governed by fire, which is an opposing force to water.
Colors and Lighting
A fengshui laundry room is one that should be light, enhancing your finances. That means using light colors such as blues and greens that attract water. If you have cabinets in the laundry room, they also should be kept light, such as tan or off-white. While lighting may not seem important in the laundry room, in keeping with the principles of fengshui, the laundry room should have good lighting. Having windows in the room would be a great addition, when possible. If there are no windows in your laundry room, good lighting becomes even more important. That’s because good lighting keeps a positive flow of energy in your home, including the laundry room. Additionally, choosing white-colored laundry appliances, including a washer and dryer, will help.
Storage
While your laundry room should not become a place to dump random home appliances that you don’t know what to do with, it is important to keep organized. That includes having proper storage in your laundry room for relevant laundry items. Whether it’s a dryer rack, wicker baskets or other storage tools, make sure the room doesn’t get cluttered while adding in necessary organizational help. And again, keep the colors light with whatever you bring into the room. Balance must be maintained when practicing fengshui, so keep storage boxes, garbage bags and unnecessary items out of the room. And when decorating, you’ll want to keep any accessories simple, such as a plant on a shelf in the room.
Maintaining the Laundry Room
Keep the laundry room neat, clean and easy to maintain. When you’re not using the appliances in the room, keep the doors closed. You don’t want your wealth to flow away as dirty suds disappear down the drain. Similarly, you’ll want to regularly ensure there are no leaks in the hose or appliances as slow leaking water in fengshui represents the dripping away of wealth. Lint has the potential to have negative energy and clutter, so it should be thrown away after every use of the dryer. And if you’re keeping a trash can in the laundry room, don’t forget to empty it regularly to avoid the buildup of negative energy or chi. You’ll want to keep the room looking good, which means having well-painted walls, dusting regularly and keeping the room neat to help you attract wealth and abundance.
Does your laundry room reflect abundance and positivity? You should feel confident in entering the space while maintaining a positive outlook. Consider hanging a pleasing photograph on the wall if you feel it would help add more of a positive feel to the room. And just keep it simple. Too many fengshui elements can make your laundry room cluttered. Keep these principles in mind to ignite a positive flow of energy and then get to work on applying the principles of fengshui to the other rooms in your home.
Author Bio:
Lauren Silver is a Marketing Coordinator for Abt Electronics, the largest independent retailer of consumer electronics and major appliances. Lauren oversees all content creation from their Glenview, Illinois Headquarters. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, yoga, and cooking for her family.
