Feng Shui Saturday – The Five Elements

One of my favorite feng shui authors, Terah Kathryn Collins, writes about using “feng shui eyes”. My interpretation of that means to look at your home with part intuition/feeling & part awareness of feng shui symbols.

An important basic of feng shui is the five elements – Water, Wood, Fire, Metal & Earth. Each of the five elements are represented by colors, shapes & substance. They show up everywhere in interior design. In fact, everything in our homes is made up of at least one element, often two or more.




Elements, like everything else in feng shui, are symbolic of energy flow. By increasing one element in an area, you bring in more of that type of energy. By using the Bagua map and applying elements, you increase the power of the energy.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to go all out and paint the room in your Wealth area purple, although I have seen that done. (It was a bit of an ‘ugh’, but it made the homeowner happy.) Actually, you really want to balance the elements in any given space. Having all five elements represented is optimum, but three or more is fine.

So let’s begin with Water – the element of Career.



The colors of Water are blue & black. The deep blues of Water represent the flowing nature. Release is the keyword. As in, you Release the old to move forward in your Journey.

Asymmetrical shapes are associated with water. Squiggles, if you will.

And the substance is, well, water, for one. Also glass, such as windows, crystal vases, and mirrors.
Common Water elements in a home are:

• anything in Blue or Black
• anything with asymmetrical patterns
• windows
• mirrors
• fountains
• pictures or artwork depicting water, the sea, ocean, rivers, etc.
• sinks
• toilets
• showers & tubs
• draperies that are flowing & fluid
• hanging plants (downward energy of waterfalls)

Next comes Wood – the element of Family.



The colors of wood are green. Rich or bright greens, not pastels. The Keyword for Wood is Personal Growth. Wood is represented by the roots in the earth, the trunk reaching towards Heaven. It’s located in the Family area because we draw on our ancestors (roots) to grow.

Keep in mind, these are all symbolisms. I will say over & over that feng shui is a language to use in decorating.

The shapes of wood are tall rectangles and columns. Anything that reaches from the floor (Earth) upward (to Heaven).

The substance is wood, anything made from wood. Also anything that grows from the earth – cotton (fabrics), flowers & plants.

Common Wood elements found in the home are:

• wood furniture
• wood doors
• anything with vertical stripes
• anything with the color green
• fabrics made of cotton
• rectangular shapes, particularly vertical rectangles
• artwork depicting trees, plants, flowers

Then there is Fire.



The colors of Fire are clear & bright. Red is the most common – but a bright red, not brick red. Also any ‘electric’ colors such as chartreuse, bright blue, even some yellows.

Fire is represented in the Fame & Reputation area of the bagua. The keyword is Transformation, as in, where fire burns, new transformation begins.

The shapes of Fire are triangles, pyramids, diamonds (double-sided triangles).

The substance of Fire is represented by candles, lights & lamps, fireplaces, stoves, ovens – anywhere light it generated.

An interesting representation of Fire is anything alive – people, pets, things made from living things such as wool, silk, bone, feathers. Not exactly why, actually. I believe it has something to do with lifeforce flowing thru living beings, but I truly am not sure.

Common Fire areas in the home are:

• anything with bright colors or bright red
• anything in the shape of triangles or diamonds
• fireplaces, stoves, ovens, candles
• all electric lighting
• wool, silk, bone or feathers
• pictures of people or animals

Then there is Metal.


Metal is home in the area of Creativity & Children. It is represented by metallic tones, white, as well as all pastels. The keyword of Metal is Creativity.

The shapes represented by Metal are circles, arches, & domes.

Anything made from Metal substances have the metal element – wrought iron, steel, gold, nickel.

Common Metal elements in the home are:

• anything white or pastel in color
• anything in circular or arch shapes
• anything made from Metal
• pictures & artwork depicting above colors & shapes
• things made by children
• things that represent your creativity – writing, art, scrapbooking, sewing, etc.

Finally there is Earth.

Earth is in the center of the bagua. The colors of orange & ‘muddy’ tones are associated with Earth. Keywords associated with Earth are Support & Stability.

Square shapes are the representation of Earth energy. Flat squares, boxes & cubes.

Anything that comes from the earth is the substance – clay, terracotta, etc. However, not rocks – those are associated with Metal. Think of mud, pottery, that thick energy which is grounding.

Common Earth symbols in the home are:

• anything with a square, cube, or horizontal rectangle
• anything in orange or muddy tones
• anything made from clay or terracotta
• tables, bureaus & dressers
• artwork that depicts landscapes or earthy colors

Okay! So those are the five elements of feng shui. I honestly didn’t mean to write a book here, but it’s better to have all five at once then one by one.

Now, this weekend, try putting on your ‘feng shui eyes’. Look around your home and begin to identify the elements. Look at the color, shape & substance. Remember, most things will be combinations of the elements. Have fun with this.

Here’s what I’d like to know from you – what element shows up the most in your home? And which element is hardly present at all?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Colleen