The five elements – free, fire, soil, metal, water – break chi energy down into five different types. These are related to the time of the day and the season. Imagine the atmosphere at certain times of year and day to get a feel for each element. The five elements are unique in the way they relate to each other.

Each element will nourish and feed the next in a clockwise direction. As it does this it looses some of its own chi energy. However, this is replenished by its own preceding chi energy.

Become familiar with each of the five elements so you can recognize them in their different forms in your home. Using the box opposite, look around each room in your home and pick colors, materials or features that represent each of the elements. For example, you might have wooden furniture, electric light, yellow walls, a stone floor, and a water feature representing tree, fire, soil, metal and water respectively.

• The elements define how chi energy moves through your home. For example, a tall plant will increase the upward flow of chi energy. This would be useful under a heavy beam where the energy one can feel seems oppressive.

• One element will be dominant in each part of your home according to its direction. This matches the movement of the sun where it rises (upwards) in the east, fully radiates in the south (outwards), descends in the south-west (downwards), diminishes in the west (inwards) and is unseen in the north (flowing).

• Each element has a color(s) that will bring more of the associated element into your room.

• Every shape or pattern represents an element. These can be represented by patterns on fabrics and wallpaper, the shape of furniture and artworks. To increase or reduce the impact of an element, take a look at your home to see if there is anything you need to change.

• Each element is associated with particular materials and by using these materials you will bring more of that element into the room.

• The five element features are a powerful way to change the energy of a room without redecorating.

Once you have taken a good look at your life and home and have decided which of the five elements you want more of in your home, look through the list below for options on how you can achieve this. For example, you can add flowers, art, sculptures, water features and plants to introduce more of any element into a room.

Related posts:

1. How to Understand the Properties of Each Direction of Your Home in Feng Shui

2. How to Feng Shui Your Eating Rooms

3. How to Arrange Your Furniture in Feng Shui

4. How to Use Water Features to Feng Shui Your Home

5. How to Position Artworks in Your Living Room in Feng Shui

6. How to Feng Shui Your Home with Window Treatment

7. How to Understand Yin and Yang Principles in Feng Shui

8. How to Choose Colors for Your Kitchen in Feng Shui

9. How to Choose a Direction to Face in Your Home Office in Feng Shui

10. The Basics of Improving Your Health with Feng Shui