The kitchen is the social center of your house. Everybody in the family gathers at the kitchen from simple dinners, parties, and during the holidays. It is also where you prepare the food that nourishes and sustains us. Because of this, having a good energy is very important to foster both good health and wealth. Here are some great Feng Shui tips you should use in decorating your kitchen.

The kitchen should be placed at the back of the house – Positive energy is best when you do not see the kitchen from the front door. If your kitchen is not well-placed and cannot be relocated, you need to make minor adjustments on the kitchen entrance such as hanging sheer fabric or strings of bead over it; adding bright or shiny objects at its opposite side; or installing a swinging or louvered door on it.

The ideal stove position – Where the cook stands at the stove is most important in Feng Shui. The cook should be able to see as much as possible without turning away from it. It is important that the cook’s back is not facing the kitchen door. If someone enters the kitchen and startles the cook, bad energy could enter the food. If your existing kitchen layout does not allow for a good viewpoint from the stove, you can make a few adjustments such as adding a cooking island and relocating your stove on it, with the cook’s view being as wide as possible from the island; or adding something reflective such as mirrored stove backsplash into the cook’s view that allows him or her to see the kitchen’s entrance.

Keep the stove clean – Food provides nourishment, giving you energy to work and earn money. The energy of your cooking area will affect your food. Keep the burners clean and use each one equally, illustrating the movement of good fortune.

Avoid locating your stove under a window – The wind can take the energy of your food out of the window.

Hang portraits that portray abundance – Put pictures of fruits, flowers, and other foods in your kitchen. An image of a cornucopia (a goat’s horn overflowing with produce) is also advisable.

Mirrors “double” the food – Speaking of abundance, mirrors installed near the eating area, stove, or preparation area, gives an impression of having more food, thus increasing your health and wealth.

Keep water and fire elements separate – The stove symbolizes fire, while the sink and the refrigerator symbolize water. Do not put these items together. If needed, you can add a wood element (like a plant or a wooden cutting board) in between the stove and sink to interrupt the fire/water interaction.

Keep knives stored out of sight – Put knives safely in a drawer or cupboard. Not only does it hide cold energy, it also fosters safety.

Keep all surfaces clean and free of clutter – A disorderly kitchen surface often causes frustration, inhibiting the cook’s ability to prepare nourishing food. This also means to store small appliances like toasters or coffee makers out of sight.

Remove the clutter in your cabinets and pantries – Broken items, empty boxes and containers, and even unused food should be donated or disposed.

Keep trash and recycling containers away from view – Garbage does not symbolize wealth and good health. You can place garbage containers inside the sink cabinet or outside the house.

Remove any negative objects – Energy connects to anything. If the kitchen has rotting fruit or worthless ornaments, discard them.

Surround your kitchen with positive things – Meaningful items foster good energy. For instance, keep seashells gathered by the windowsill during family gatherings, or placing fresh flowers in an antique vase.

Avoid sharp corners – Aside from being unsafe and uncomfortable, sharp corners deplete energy. Choose rounded corners over squared ones for tables, countertops, and chairs. Go for wooden tables rather than a pointed glass one. Oval and round tables are better than square and rectangular ones since they promote circulation of good energy. 

Red, orange, and yellow are ideal colors – These colors are stimulating. They are warm, bright, and will activate the appetite. You can also mix it with relaxing colors like blue, green, and purple, to balance the energy in the kitchen. White is also recommended to balance out the fire and water elements. However, be careful not to overuse it, as white is considered the symbol of death. Colors can come from the paints on the wall, artwork, backsplash tiles, even the appliances themselves.