Feng shui kitchen designs

Combine harmonious colours and blends of natural elements to complement your kitchen interior through the art of Feng Shui.

In feng shui, the kitchen represents the element of fire, and is also a room for nourishment and nurturing. Therefore, it needs to be harmonious and supportive of the home and family.

Finding harmony for your kitchen design

The kitchen is a room of multiple functions with many conflicting dynamics - water and fire (kitchen sink and stove), hot and cold (water, stove, fridge), as well as sharp knives and hard and sometimes slippery surfaces.

"There's potential for trouble and disharmony unless a kitchen is designed properly," says Kerry Tabor, principal of Spirit of Design. "Water and fire side by side or opposite each other should be avoided.

“For example, the stove shouldn't be next to or opposite the sink or fridge space."

Balancing energy with a dynamic space

It's also a challenge to avoid yang (masculine or active) energy dominating the kitchen, because in most cases, hard, bright surfaces, straight lines and an open, dynamic space epitomise this energy.

"Too much yang results in a space that's noisy, unsettled, uncontained and cutting," Kerry explains. "It can be balanced with yin through the use of warm colours, softer textures and surfaces, and curves, like rounded benchtops.

Harmonious colours and surfaces to match your layout

Yellows and reds are better colours for the kitchen than whites, blues and metals, which are usually too cold for a nurturing environment. Soft, ambient yet practical lighting is important too.

Soft surfaces, like linoleum or timber flooring, and laminate benchtops, are preferable, as they're not as cold and hard, and therefore more friendly to work on."

Efficiency leads to harmony in feng shui, so steer clear of features that add clutter. Pots, pans and utensils hanging overhead are a big no-no. "Storage is far more important than you may think," Kerry says. "Harmonious access to items is imperative."

Feng shui kitchen designs ensure that qualities and finishes speak to the adjoining areas, like a timber floor that connects with timber in the living area. "This avoids fragmentation and a feeling of separation," Kerry says. "However, it's also important for an open-plan kitchen to have boundaries."

Rules that become a lifestyle

It may sound like a lot of rules to follow, but Kerry warns against getting too prescriptive with feng shui. "Cooking is a personal process," she stresses. "Kitchens should be harmonious places and designed with the users in mind.

“They should nourish body and soul and encourage a sense of belonging. Creating this harmony, in practice, requires conscious placement and design.”

Contact an interior designer to learn more about feng shui kitchen designs: