Q&A Sunday: What If Door Mats Are Not Allowed?

You recommend a black welcome mat to encourage cash flow, but what if you live in an apartment building where you can't have door mats or hang anything on your front door?

Tracey T., Chicago, IL

Hi Tracey,

Thanks for your thoughtful question. It’s a good one. 

Even though your apartment building does not allow door mats or any sort of personal items on the outside of your front door, there is still feng shui hope!

As far as the door mat is concerned, you can place the mat on the inside of your apartment. The same guidelines apply as if it were outside the door. It’s preferable that the door mat is close in dimension to the width of the door (not too big, not too small). A black mat can welcome wealth and cash flow, as black is the color related to water. You an also energetically draw an invisible welcome mat in the front with the visualization that it’s there attracting abundance into your home.

Be sure to check out the other blog posts that discuss how to work with your entry area. Generally you want to keep the door and entry area clean, clutter free, and bright! 

A black mat is not the only way to welcome wealth and abundance to your space. There are many routes in BTB feng shui for attracting wealth, including activating the Knowledge area, practicing one good deed a day and mirroring the burners on your stove. Take a look at some of our previous posts, and hopefully you will find an adjustment that works for your building and space!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday".  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

Experts Give Decorating Tips for the Minimalist

featured on Homeclick

Much of current modern design has gone the direction of a minimalist style. To understand exactly what that means and how to achieve a sense of artistry within this style, we’ve sought the advice of several design experts who have the experience to guide us.

Architect Anjie Cho gives these tips related to building storage into a minimalist design: “It is best to have closed storage - minimize open shelving. Keeping things behind doors keeps the space clean, minimal and looking uncluttered. White storage against white walls, has the most minimal look. It's clean and sleek and blends into the wall.”

...read full article

My Favorite Things: 5 Home Accessories for Summer

Welcome to My Favorite Things! Each month, we highlight products to help you create a holistic lifestyle that inspires and nurtures you, so that you can be happier and feel supported.

Last week was the summer solstice, the first day of the warm season in the northern hemisphere. The summer is associated with the element of fire and the Recognition area of the bagua. As with each season, there are ways to balance out your holistic space using design features and feng shui philosophy. These are some of my favorite ways to welcome summer into your space!

Coyuchi Relaxed Linen

I love warm, cozy sheets and bedding during the cold winter, but when summer arrives, it's time to pack those thick blankets up and switch to something a little cooler!

I love these Coyuchi linen sheets. Linen is a wonderful option for summer - it helps keep cool and wicks away any sweat. These are available in a variety of neutral colors that will match any holistic bedroom! Try Alpine White, Fog or Storm for more Metal, Misty Ocean for more Wood or Undyed for more Earth. 

Available at: Coyuchi

Organic Buckwheat Pillow

In our list of organic pillow options, buckwheat is my favorite and is amazing for summer. Buckwheat pillows are great for eliminating back and neck pain as well as snoring. They are known for incredible air circulation and don't hold any heat, which is perfect for the hot season. 

My mom bought me a buckwheat pillow in college, and it's still my favorite pillow. I've dragged it around everywhere with me, and now my husband even has one too! It's worth noting that these pillows can be a bit loud due to the filling, so be sure to choose a pillow with an outer covering to muffle the sound, like these organic cotton options! 

Available at: CozyPure

no. 3 Space Mist

One of my favorite ways to welcome any new season is with a space clearing ritual. There are many ways to do this, including the BTB orange peel method, palo santo and more, but one of my favorites for summer is the Holistic Spaces sage spray!

Sage is known for its healing and space clearing properties, and this mist makes it portable so that you can clear your home, car, office or any areas you travel to without causing an issue with smoke alarms. It's perfect for hotel rooms or guest rooms and is one of our most popular apothecary items, so it sells out very fast!

Available at: Holistic Spaces

Folding Hand Fan

Folding fans serve a dual purpose as symbolic decor and an energy-efficient, no-cost cooling method. I was recently given my Shambhala name, which relates to fans, and in my studies, I found fans can be metaphorical in many ways. 

They represent femininity, but they can also be seen as swordlike to cut through difficulties and were actually used as weapons in some Asian countries. Fans even have their own secret language in China and the Victorian era, when women were almost forbidden from speaking their minds. I recently purchased a white fan with gold trim from DengraDesigns, and I absolutely love it!

Available at: DengraDesigns

Aloe Vera

I'm always a fan of adding more greenery to a space, and aloe vera is a great addition for summer! Traditionally, spiky plants or plants with pointy leaves are not good feng shui, but there are exceptions. 

Adding aloe vera to your space as a healing tool, not as a feng shui adjustment, can be a wonderful move for summer. Aloe vera is widely known for its healing properties, especially with regards to sunburns! This is also a great opportunity to add some water colors to combat the fiery summer element. Opt for a black or dark blue pot to cool off your space!

Available at: CB2