Feng shui practitioners have identified five common household items that, when placed near a front door, are believed to block the flow of good fortune into a home, according to a report by Glamour magazine.
The report centres on the entryway, the part of a home that feng shui, the centuries-old Chinese practice of arranging living spaces to guide the flow of energy, calls the "mouth of chi". This is described as the point through which life force and luck are believed to enter a household before spreading through the rest of the rooms.
Practices such as astrology, tarot reading, numerology, palmistry and feng shui are not recognised as scientific disciplines. They are based on old traditions, beliefs and interpretations that have not been confirmed by scientific research or objective evidence, and material on these subjects is often intended as entertainment rather than a reliable basis for decisions. Questions relating to psychology or health should always be directed to qualified professionals.
A mirror facing the front door
A mirror is one of the most practical items in a hallway, since it lets people check their appearance before leaving the house. But according to feng shui, its position matters a great deal.
If a mirror hangs directly opposite the front door, it is said to interrupt the flow of luck. As soon as good fortune enters a home, it supposedly sees its own reflection in the mirror and bounces straight back out through the door instead of spreading through the house.
The suggested fix is to hang the mirror on a wall to the left or right of the entrance, so it does not send incoming opportunities back outside.
Dried flowers, wilted plants and potpourri
Many people try to brighten dark hallways with plants, but this can sometimes do more harm than good.
In feng shui, any dried or dead plant is said to represent stagnant, lifeless energy known as yin chi. Encountering one at the entrance is linked to persistent tiredness, a lack of motivation and financial difficulties. Dried flowers are also said to symbolise clinging to the past, which can stop new opportunities from entering a person's life.
The recommended alternative is to choose living plants with glossy, healthy leaves, such as snake plants, which can also tolerate darker corners of a hallway.
Piles of shoes and coats
The most common hallway problem is clutter caused by the rush of daily life. Leaving shoes on the floor and coats slung over a cupboard may be convenient, but from an energy standpoint it is considered a poor choice.
According to feng shui, clutter creates mental and spiritual blockages. Shoes are said to carry the dust and tension of the outside world, and when they are scattered around, incoming energy becomes tangled and stuck. This is linked to family arguments, stress and chaotic finances.
The suggested solution is to use closed shoe cabinets, store out-of-season coats in a wardrobe, and keep only the most essential everyday items on display.
Broken objects and stopped clocks
Many households leave a clock that no longer works hanging on a hallway wall, or hold on to a chipped vase or a cracked ornament rather than getting rid of it straight away. A stopped clock in the entryway is said to send a message to the universe that a person's life is stuck at a fixed point. Broken or glued-together objects are said to reinforce feelings of diminished dignity and lack, reducing chances for growth and prosperity.
The advice is simple: repair or throw away anything that is broken, and always keep a working battery in any hallway clock, as a sign that time is working in your favour.
Frightening pictures and aggressive symbols
The most important consideration when choosing artwork for a hallway is the visual message it sends. Paintings of stormy seas, photographs of solitary figures, or hunting trophies are all said to be capable of generating negative energy.
Aggressive or sorrowful imagery near an entrance is said to immediately put a home's energy into a defensive mode. Hunting trophies in particular are described as radiating destruction and conflict, which can leave family members feeling tense and guests feeling uncomfortable.
The recommended fix is to decorate the hallway with gentle images of nature, calming scenes, or motifs that symbolise growth and abundance.
