Feng Shui & Bathrooms: Stop Worrying and Start Loving Yours!

Golden Toilet bowl. Digitally generated image isolated on white background

One of the biggest misconceptions in Feng Shui is about bathrooms – they often get a bad rap.  The question I hear most often is: Should I worry that my wealth is being flushed down the drain?  The quick answer is NO, only waste is being flushed down the drain.

Many hold the incorrect notion that bathrooms are negative, illness causing features and a culprit in the loss of wealth, “money down the drain” so to speak. I would like to put your minds at ease and offer a different way of looking at this necessary space that takes our lives and times into consideration.

First of all, I would like to challenge the notion that a bathroom is somehow counter to wealth.  While you may never have considered it, simply having a bathroom in your home IS a sign of wealth. For many throughout the world a bathroom in the home is a luxury – not having one is an inconvenience at best and a threat to personal safety at worst.  Consider also, all other factors being equal, a home with a greater number of bathrooms generally commands a higher price and is often a key selling feature.  Actually, more bathrooms can equal more wealth.

Second, I want to address the notion that a bathroom in a particular area of the home brings illness and poor outcomes.  While it is true that bathrooms, especially if there are more than one, located in the center of a home can have a negative effect on overall health, most locations won’t bring illness or calamity.  It is important to remember that the classical Feng Shui texts were written when bathrooms were little more than holes in the ground or chamber pots, and allowances must be made for newer more hygenic technology. You have to put your bathroom somewhere don’t you?

In terms of Feng Shui, the real downside to bathrooms is that they are not spaces we spend a lot of time in.  If they are located in a very positive sector, like a wealth producing sector of the home, we are not able to activate the wealth by frequently using that space.  It is more an issue of missed opportunity.

So, what should you worry about where your bathroom is concerned?  Here are 5 things to focus on:

  • Clean, make sure your bathroom is fresh and clean!
  • Tidy, be sure to de-clutter your cabinets and keep them organized.
  • In proper working order, make sure to un-clog your drains and repair any leaks.
  • Up To Date, if it’s an ugly duckling spruce it up, if you can’t re-model a fresh coat of paint and new accessories can do wonders.
  • Pleasing to the senses – Make sure it is well lit and don’t forget to make sure that it smells good too.

When it comes to Feng Shui and bathrooms some locations are certainly better than others but they should not be a cause for worry.  Unless you plan to move or renovate your bathroom the best thing to do is focus on the positive aspects and make the most of your space.

Most important, if your bathroom is in a good sector find ways to spend more time there, turn it into a spa or oasis and enjoy it!