Feng Shui Master Class: The Elements in Decor

This is the “handout” for my HexFest workshop of the same name.

It is also a standalone visual key to the 5 elements in feng shui as they show up in your home.

There are 5 elements to be aware of in your home environment: earth, metal, water, wood, and fire.

Here is a basic introduction to each element and how it visually appears.

Earth

Earth element colors are in the range of yellow, gold, orange, brown, beige, terra cotta, and peach.

The earth element can be found in square and rectangular shapes, bricks and tile, terra cotta and adobe, and images of fields or flat expanses of land. Also checkered and plaid prints.

Properly balanced earth helps us feel safe, grounded, and at home.

Too much earth feels stagnant, boring, and lacking in spontaneity and movement.

Here are some examples of environments with too much earth, or earth not properly balanced with additional elements:

It’s highly unusual to encounter a room with too little earth.

Metal

Metal element colors are in the range of white, cream, pale gray, and metallics.

The metal element can be found in circle and oval shapes, crystals and stones, marble, and anything made out of metal.

The movement of metal is inward.

Properly balanced metal helps us feel sharp, clear, awake, logical, and focused.

Too much metal feels harsh, sterile, and clinical.

Here are some examples of environments with too much metal, or metal not properly balanced out with other elements:

Too little metal feels like you can’t think clearly or focus.

Here are some examples of environments with too little metal:

Water

The water element colors are in the range of black, dark grey, and navy blue.

The water element can be found in glass, mirror, wavy lines, actual water and water features, images of water, and soft, asymmetrical shapes.

The movement of water is downward.

Properly balanced water helps us feel fluid, deep, and connected to our emotions and authenticity.

Too much water, or water not properly balanced with other elements, feels depressing; like we’re overwhelmed by our emotions or angst and can’t seem to lighten up.

Here are some environments with too much water, or water not properly balanced with other elements:

Too little water would make us feel thirsty, stuck, or superficial, disconnected from our joy and true feelings.

Here are some environments with too little water:

Wood

The wood element colors are in the range of green, teal, aqua, turquoise, and light to medium blue.

The wood element can be found in wood, wood paneling, wood-grain print, living or artificial plants, stripes (particularly vertical), and pictures or prints of flowers, plants, or trees. Also paper, cotton, and linen.

The movement of wood is upward.

Wood helps us feel like we are growing, evolving, and improving.

Too much wood, or wood not appropriately aspected by other elements, would make us feel anxious and annoyed, like we always have to be doing something and we can’t linger long enough to enjoy the moment.

Here are some environments with too much wood, or wood not sufficiently balanced with the other elements:

Too little wood would make us feel lacking in motivation to cultivate ourselves: exercise, meditate, or learn new things.

Here are some environments with too little wood:

Fire

The fire element colors are in the range of maroon, red, red-orange, bright pink, and purple.

The fire element can be found in animal prints and materials, both genuine and faux, including fur, leather, feathers, and bone. Star shapes, radial shapes (like daisies or suns), triangles, diamonds, and diagonal lines. Candles and lighting. Pictures or other representations of people or animals. Shiny and sparkly things. Also printed words.

The movement of fire is outward.

Properly balanced fire helps us feel excited, passionate, radiant, and enthusiastic about connecting with others and being seen.

Too much fire, or fire not properly aspected by other elements, would lend itself to anger, narcissism, addiction, and addictive behaviors.

Here are some environments with too much fire, or fire not properly balanced with the other elements:

Too little fire would cause us to feel shy, retiring, reticent to share our gifts, and lacking in passion.

Here are some rooms with too little fire:

Elemental Balance

Here are some elementally balanced environments:

Here’s a key to the nourishing and diminishing cycles of the elements:

With this in mind, look back at the photos in this post to see how the elements are interacting with one another.