Tiny Homes are all the rage these days and becoming a popular housing alternative for many people. I too have been swept up in the hype and love watching Tiny House shows, and following tiny home dwellers on social media.
It is interesting that so many Americans have embraced the tiny home concept since we generally live in rather large spaces relative to the rest of the world. I believe this trend is a mindful reaction to a culture of over consumption and excess. A teacher of mine once told me that for him wealth meant freedom and tiny homes certainly offer freedom in terms of finance and location.
As a Feng Shui consultant, the question I am often asked is: are Tiny Houses good Feng Shui? Well, my answer is one I give to many Feng Shui related questions: it depends.
There are both pros and cons to living in a tiny home from a practical standpoint and from a Feng Shui perspective as well. Any space that is narrow or tight will have some challenges from an energetic standpoint, however, with the right planning, it is possible to incorporate good Feng Shui into tiny home living. If you are thinking of building a tiny home here are 5 important Feng Shui Tips you should use to make the most of your space!
- Have Ample Windows
Yin/Yang balance is always a primary consideration in any home and a tiny home is no different. Very small spaces are yin in nature so adding an ample amount of windows which are yang in nature can help to achieve better yin/yang balance. By adding ample windows tiny spaces are opened up and able to borrow the expansiveness of the exterior environment, and bring it inside.
2. Keep it Open
Keep as much open space as possible in your floor plan especially in the center of the home. Try to divide the space in such a way as to avoid long narrow hallways which are a Feng Shui no no because this restricts the Qi energy making it move too quickly. A floor plan that does divides the space crosswise rather than lengthwise can help make the space more open and this is one way to have a more harmonious flow of energy.
3. Protect Your Stove
The stove is one of the most important feature in any home and according to Feng Shui principles, the stove, which affects both health and wealth, should be protected. Make sure your plan includes a solid wall behind your stove – do not put it in an island/peninsula or under a window. Another way to protect your stove is make sure it is not in line with a doorway, especially your main door. For added health benefits, it is also best to keep the stove out of the center area of the home.
4. Ample Bed Room
Probably the biggest Feng Shui issue when it comes to tiny homes is bed placement as most use loft beds that are very close to the ceiling. Unfortunately, beds close to the ceiling like loft beds and bunk beds are not considered ideal in Feng Shui as they compress the Qi of the person sleeping there in a negative way. If you are looking to maximize space in your tiny house use the lofts for storage but not for sleeping. A better option for a tiny home would be a roll-away or fold-away bed like a Murphy bed. Just like beds in larger homes, it is also important to make sure your bed has a solid wall behind it and that it is not in line with the door. This murphy bed on the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company’s website is a good example of great Feng Shui for a tiny home.
5.Use your Best Directions
One of the advantage of a tiny house is mobility. This is where having a tiny home can be an advantage in terms of Feng Shui because you can position your home to align the main door to one of your personal good directions wherever you are. You can also reposition your main door to capture auspicious energy that changes directionally each year. If you find your front door is going to receive negative energy for the year such as the 5 Yellow Star, no problem just re-align it, problem solved! You can also personalize your space by incorporating your personal best directions for bed and stove orientation relative to the main door to your space. Doing so will ensure that way no matter where you are, as long as your main door is aligned to a good direction, everything else in your space will be too.
By following a few simple rules it is possible to go tiny AND have good Feng Shui. If you want more tips on personalizing your space using your Ming Gua number and best directions be sure to check out my blog for more information!