Feng Shui Decorating: Front Door Entrances

In feng shui, the main door is the most important aspect because it allows the energy, or "chi", to enter the home. It is the "mouth" of the house, taking in positivity and nourishment. The direction in which the door is facing determines the type of chi that will enter the house.

South -- Qi of Heaven, the Creative Principle; strong, masculine energy

North -- Qi of the Earth, the Nurturing Principle; nurturing, feminine energy

East -- Qi of Fire, the Clarity Principle; active, expansive, inspiring energy

West -- Qi of Water, the Abysmal Principle; condensed, still, dangerous energy

The door itself should be a solid construction free of any vulnerable glass panels. If there are windows on either side of the door, they can suck the good energy out as soon as it enters. Place a leafy green potted plant on the windowsill to keep the energy harnessed. The size of the front door should be in proportion to the rest of the house. A door that is too large can cause financial difficulties; too small, and it may cause petty arguments. Doorframes are the supporting poles of the family living inside the home, so they should be straight and sturdy.

In ancient China, roads leading to and from different towns were always curved and windy in order to keep away evil spirits, who were believed to travel in straight lines. Therefore, the walkway leading up to the front door should be curved rather than straight (straight lines are unlucky "poison arrows" which allow "killing breath" to enter). It is important that the front entrance be protected from any poison arrows. The most common poison arrows are corners and sharp angles. However, almost all houses are built with sharp, 90 degree angle corners. Luckily, there are ways to soften, or "cure", the effects of these poison arrows. If a sharp corner on the inside of your home is pointing directly at your front door, you can soften the corner by placing a cascading, tree-like plant in front of it. Round-shaped furniture placed near the corner is another technique used to cure a poison arrow.

There should be nothing blocking the entrance, especially no large, obtrusive bushes. The front door should open into an uncluttered, clean front room or hallway. Decorate the area with beautiful objects, plants and flowers. As I discussed in Feng Shui: Basic Principles, it is unlucky if you can see the back door from the entryway of the front door. Chi flows like water, so all positive energy will flow right out the back the moment it flows in the front. To counteract this, try placing potted plants or folding screens just inside the front room so that the energy will be diverted. Chi travels best when it imitates nature by flowing in gentle curves. Crystals, wind chimes, mirrors, and pools of water (such as fountains) can all be used to redirect the energy.

Most staircases are located right near the front door. You don't want the chi to come in and head straight up the stairs either; hanging wind chimes between the door and the stairs will slow down the energy. It is especially inauspicious if the stairs directly face the front door. Remember that the best chi flows slowly and NOT in straight lines.