Kitchen chi
As the activity hub of most homes, the kitchen usually needs little help from what feng shui followers think of as energizing houseplants. But for a kitchen with a lack-luster feel, Koidu recommends plants with broad, full leaves - they radiate with potent yang energy. Try herb plants with larger leaves like basil, sorrel or sage - and the bigger the better. As sun-worshippers, herbs need either a southerly exposure or a grow-light to thrive. Koidu adds, "In a sunless, low-energy kitchen, even a good quality silk plant in a drab corner adds warm, creative energy - more than a real, but wilting, plant.
A balanced living room
From lively entertaining to quiet reading, the living room needs the best balance of calm and active energy. A small water fountain surrounded by an arrangement of feathery and broad-leaved plants will create balanced energy or Chi. In feng shui belief, water feeds wood, and draws energy from nearby plants. Corners, where energy is said to stagnate, are excellent locations for a harmonizing plant-fountain arrangement in the living room.
Feeling like a feng shui skeptic? Try placing a potted cactus on your night table, and don't be surprised when you sleep fitfully. According to feng shui, prickly cacti release negative energy and bad luck. Replace that cactus with a feathery fern, and say hello to sweet dreams.
Read more in Decorating & Design and Flower Arranging
