Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art and science that is believed to have originated in Tibet around ten thousand years ago, and has been practiced across the world since then. According to this science, there is a constant flow of good and bad energies in the nature, and to enhance their flow in any specific space, one has to decorate that area in a certain way. It provides relevant information on how to balance the energies in a given space, to assure health and fortune for people living in it. Living room is the most important area of a home, where family and friends usually gather for get-togethers, parties, and sometimes for business meetings or formal affairs. Hence, it is a room that should contain a wide assortment of chairs and sofa benches along with some innovative, classic designs and decorations. The arrangement of furniture and objects requires to be done according to feng shui, in order to have good health, happiness, and prosperity for the family. Living Room According to Feng Shui To enjoy all the benefits and avoid unsettled conditions, it is important to recognize and modify each and every point of the living room according to the feng shui concepts. Therefore, given below are some basic rules that will help to arrange, and decorate your living room in the right manner. Layout According to feng shui, the living room should be on the ground floor, and not upstairs. It should not be visible from the main entrance way or doorway. Technically, when people enter the house, first there should be a finely decorated foyer or entrance hall having common rooms close by and personal rooms a bit away. Another important point is the wealth, which lies in the left hand corner, when someone enters the room. A door or doorway located just under this point can lead to gradual loss of financial prosperity as the money will keep seeping away. If you have such a living room layout, and now it is impossible to change the design, you can counter the negative energy by keeping a healthy plant in a large pot at the entrance but with no dead leaves or flowers. Colors Since each color attracts a particular type of energy, the color of the living room has to be selected depending upon its location. If the living room is at the center of the home, then with the health point of view, brown or shades of yellow are great colors as per feng shui. If the room is in the west, then white color suits well, whereas, if the living room is positioned in the east, shades of green or black help to increase the family honor and heritage. Dark shades can also be used for a room positioned at the north to bring success and prosperity in life. If the room is positioned in the south, shades of red will bring in lots of fame and power. Soft or pastel pink when used in the south west corner can revive a dull or ending relationship, whereas gray or silver colors when used in the northwest can bring in opportunities and success. Furniture Placement The next point to be considered is the furniture placement in the living room. The furniture should be arranged in such a way, that it enables easy movement throughout the room, and creates no obstacles when people traverse the room. The couch, chairs, or sofa seats should not be positioned in such a way that people sitting on them have to look straight out the front door. You should place the couch and chairs with their backs to a wall, not necessarily flat against the wall. If you have two couches, avoid placing them facing each other as this can induce stress in your visitors who are unknown to each other. The best way to place them is with one to the side of the other in a catty-cornered set up. Also, don't place the couch under a beam as it puts undue pressure on the family's breadwinner. Try to position the furnishings with their backs to either the front or the main door or a window. Decorating Tips Given below are some general decorating tips that will not only help you to decorate the room but also invite positive energy in the home.

• Corners or dark areas of the living room should be lightened using mild lights, blend of clear colors and mirrors, as this attracts 'chi' or positive energy, and enables it to flow through the whole room.
• Avoid placing television and other metal objects in the center of the room as this can invite negative energy.
• As the room's main table symbolizes health, it should be neat and tidy. Keeping natural flowers and plants on it is good for the sight and health of people sitting around it.
• Another important element of feng shui is the mirrors. A well-positioned mirror can bring in more light, make the room look wider and can reflect a symbolic element in it.
• Placing feng shui items like fuk luk sau at an elevated level can create an auspicious chi for the entire house. Fuk luk sau is basically a three stand deity believed to symbolize three main aspirations of humans - happiness, wealth, and long life.

Apart from these, hanging wind chimes in certain areas of the room ,and placing a fish tank in the north of a room can promote health, harmony, and prosperity within the family. So, if you are planning to buy or renovate your home, keep these principles in mind and enrich your family's lives with its positive benefits.