Feng Shui Definitions: Angles and Corners

In Feng Shui, where feelings of safety and comfort are paramount, protruding sharp angles and corners are considered dangerous. They produce “cutting Ch’i”, or arrow-like energy that can make people feel irritable, uncomfortable, and unsafe. Our angular Western architecture also creates corners in every room where Ch’i tends to collect and deteriorate. In Feng Shui, these extreme features need to be balanced.

• Even if the general shape is square or rectangular, choose architectural designs and furniture with rounded corners and more organic lines to assure safety and comfort.
• When existing furniture has sharp corners, drape fabric or a vining plant over the corners to soften them, or turn furniture at a diagonal to minimize the corner’s effect.
  
• Balance protruding angles with the softening influence of plants, screens, textiles, and lighting. Or explore the magical possibilities of faux painting and trompe l’oeil (a French term meaning “to fool the eye”).
• Fill in room corners with items that soften and round them out, such as diagonally placed furniture, lamps, curtains, plants, baskets, screens, and art.