The Kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. It is not wrong to say that Kitchen is the heart of the home and since it should be designed so that it fosters good Feng Shui. In fact it is said that the family health and fortune depends on its energy status of the Kitchen. Every aspect of the Kitchen including the Design, Appliances, Furnishings, location and shape of the kitchen etc can create either good luck or bad luck in a home or encourage or discourage the physical and mental well being, financial prosperity and domestic harmony of the people residing in the house. The kitchen is considered to be more Yang in nature with strong dominance of the Fire element. Kitchen is an area where all the Feng Shui Elements are present like Wood, Water, Metal, Fire and Earth and thereby does not need much balancing and is quite easy to fix things.

Given below are the Do's and Don'ts for a Feng Shui Kitchen or Tips to follow which can help one to have a healthier and more abundant life.

Position of the Kitchen: The good direction is the direction that auspicious with the fire element. The ideal position for the kitchen is on either the southern or the eastern side of a house. Kitchen to the North East and South West also do not seem to cause any good or bad to the fire and therefore this direction is a neutral one. Kitchen to the South East is also a good direction for Feng Shui Kitchen as both directions represents wood element which can be a good source of energy when you want to start fire. Kitchen on the North is also of balance position. It is better to keep the kitchen separate from the Dining Room.

Also make sure that the Kitchen should not be below a toilet or adjacent to it. It is also inauspicious to have kitchen in the centre of a home. The kitchen should neither face the front nor back door or the staircase or bathroom or an adjoining room as such a placement encourages bad health, arguments among family members and overall bad luck. Keep the kitchen door and the other doors close as far as possible. If kitchen is visible from main house entrance keeps a screen or beads curtain using green crystals preferably Malachite. Also make sure the kitchen doors should open smoothly and easily to ensure a smooth flow of energy.

Kitchen Space and Color: Narrow kitchens do not give much opportunity for an Owner or Tenant much scope to move appliances to improve the Chi. One Feng Shui fix for this is widening the narrow space by adding mirrors above and around the stove to expand the appearance of the area and hang a plant or a wind chime in the doorways. The Kitchen shape should not be triangular but instead square or rectangular. Wood surfaces are the most ideal for the kitchen. But since that is not possible using Blue or Green colored Tiles on the wall between the stove and sink or the stove and refrigerator or using that color tiles on the floor is advisable.

White is a good Feng Shui Color to use in the Kitchen as it is symbolic of purity and cleanliness. It is advisable not to use Red, Black, Dark blue or Green here. Adding Malachite, Chrysoprase and Moss Agate are good Crystals to be placed in the Kitchen.

Clean the Clutter:Kitchen is not a place to accumulate Clutter.A dirty or cluttered kitchen is bad Feng Shui as it will have stagnant and negative energy which interferes with your ability to cook and enjoy healthy, nourishing food and also earn a good income. Here are some things one should do.

• Empty the Garbage and Compost regularly. Keep the Waste Baskets clean and out of sight. Also keep the brooms out of sight as well.

• Throw away the foods that are past their expiration date. Hidden clutter also counts like the stored food in the pantry or freezer if it far exceeds a reasonable amount for your family. Throw away Old stale food even if the expiration date is not over. Clean out your food cupboards and refrigerator regularly.

• Also remember that the junk food you put into your body is clutter too and thereby should keep away from eating, making or storing such food.

• Give away Gadgets and Cookware which are not used. Unused presents and wrong purchases not only attract stagnant chi but also takes up unnecessary space. Only have items in the view that are used regularly and do not get in the way. Stagnant chi can also take the form of smell.

• Keep your Feng Shui kitchen shiny, clean and smelling fresh. Clean the cupboards regularly and keep the things in the Kitchen in an organized manner. Also make sure that the cupboards and shelves etc does not have sharp corners. Make sure you do not have sharp corners pointing at you while preparing your meal.

• Throw away Chipped Plates and damaged equipments.

• Use Natural cleaners rather than products with Chemicals.

Read more about Clearing Clutter and Space Clearing

Foods prepared and Stored: Junk and Processed Foods are considered unhealthy and a bad choice according to Feng Shui. So try eating more of whole and natural foods. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables are excellent choices. Unhealthy food brings poor performance and poor health which in turn lead to a depressed ability to earn a high income. So keep a watch on the type of foods you prepare or store.

Clean and Perfectly Working Stove: The stove is an energy source, associated with your own fire and passion so make sure it works well and the burners are kept well maintained. Make sure there are no gas leakages. Make sure your stove placement allows the cook or chef to have full view of the entire room. If your back is facing the entrance to your kitchen when you cook place a small mirror near the stove so you can see who’s coming in and out. A stove jammed against the wall is also bad Feng Shui. A cooking island is a good cure for a hopelessly trapped stove. The stove should not be placed under windows or skylights. The stove should also not be directly in line with the front door. If relocation is not possible then keep the blinds down while cooking. Should not be place directly beside the fridge or sink since this create direct clash of the water and fire elements. You may place green crystals between them to act as a moderator. If you live in a 2 storey building, ensure the stove is not place directly below the lavatory. Also keep the stove away from the window as such an arrangement also allows the Chi to escape and fly out the window. The Feng Shui fix for this can be using a reflective strip or mirror panel around the window to create a doorway reflection. A Wind Chime is also ideal in this area.

Position of Sink:Fire and water fight each other so the placement of the stove and sink should be in such a manner that they are not next to each other or directly opposite each other. Also make sure to fix the leaks as this can drain your money away. The Feng Shui fix for a wrong placement is putting a small plant or pot of herbs or something green in between these elements weaken the According to Feng Shui the stoves and sinks and refrigerators should be at diagonals from each other, forming a triangle with the corners at least six to eight feet apart to prevent conflict between these elements.

Good Lighting and Ventilation: Make sure your kitchen is well-lighted and well-ventilated. But ensure that the Stove is not directly beneath either a window or a skylight because this placement can lead to poor health. Make sure to install bright lights and throw away bulbs that are not working.

Position of Appliances: The fire element appliances like the Oven, Microwave or Stove should be considered carefully. For instance the water elements like the Sink and Refrigerator should not be opposite or adjacent with the fire elements. An ideal placement would be having the Kitchen Sink, stove and refrigerator in such a manner that they form a triangle. The Refrigerator is best placed in the South Eastern sector.

The Refrigerator should be emptied and cleaned regularly and the clutter thrown out. Clean with vanilla essence. Keep the Knives in a Knife Rack or keep them in drawer. Microwave above the Stove is bad Feng Shui. In fact many Experts even advice to keep the microwave out of the Kitchen as they are conductors of radiation.

Potted Plant or Flowers: A Potted plant or a Bouquet of Flowers can add life or uplift energy in the room. The Color green is essential in a kitchen as it symbolizes the element wood which supports both the water and fire elements present in the kitchen. Fresh flowers, bowl of fruit or a living plant on your kitchen table, windowsill is a good idea. But make sure not to keep Old fruits and dying flowers in the Kitchen.

However, remember that there is a remedy for every bad placement in the Kitchen and a Feng Shui Expert can help in this situation.