Q&A Sunday: Blocked Doors

I just looked at a rental house, and the back screen door could only open about 40 - 45 degrees out, as the landlord had built an awning to create a porch and wanted to keep it lower to prevent wasps making nests. I know that is a feng shui problem; I am not sure what it would signify. My guess is it would limit my motion, my career prospects and more? Especially if it is used as the most common entry. What do you think? 

Harley P., Queens, NY

Hi Harley, 

Thanks for sending in your question! I applaud you on your intuition in realizing that this might be a problem. It's ideal for a door to open at least 90 degrees. 45 degrees is only half of that - not very much at all, really - and it does signify a feng shui issue.

Doors are a portal for your energy to come into your home and space. Typically we do want energy coming into our lives, with some exceptions, such as a retired couple or private vacation home, where it might not be as important for energy to enter. In general though, any door, whether it be the outside door, bedroom door, closet door, etc., should open at least 90 degrees. It is a feng shui issue when energy can't come in, and it also affects your path every day in life when you have to squeeze through a door. 

In this case, we're talking about a back screen door, and whether that limited motion will limit your career prospects and more. It really depends on the person, the situation and where the door is located on the feng shui bagua map. Since this is a rear door, let's assume it's in the back of the bagua map. Generally this would signify a limitation in opportunities, energy and positive qi coming to you. This could refer to relationships, wealth, job prospects and more. This would be a much bigger deal if it were the front door, but it does limit your physical, spiritual and energetic movement. 

You might want to take a look at this similar Q&A to get a little better grasp on what a blocked entrance or door can mean, feng shui-wise. Again, I applaud you for realizing this might be a feng shui issue before even choosing the 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!

Check Out A Feng Shui Designer's Blissed-Out NYC Apartment

featured on MindBodyGreen by Emma Loewe

Today on Holistic Home Tours, we’re checking out the New York City home of interior architect and feng shui designer Anjie Cho. 

Perched in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, Anjie Cho's space feels worlds away. The interior architect has used her knowledge of feng shui to deck out her new apartment—which she shares with her husband, Jeremiah, and their two Chihuahuas, Javier and Pearl—like only a pro could. She's letting us in on how she used feng shui to create an oasis in the middle of the city, and you're going to want to take notes.

What are three words that describe your design philosophy at home?

Simple, bright, calm.

What was the first room you tackled when you moved in?

Definitely the bedroom. We needed a place to sleep, and in feng shui the bedroom is thought to be the most important room in the house since it represents who you are. Since I have a home office, we split the bedroom up with some white fabric panels to create separate spaces. My husband loves how soft and tent-like these feel.

...read full article

Power Houseplants: The Golden Pothos

Adding plants to your space is one of the easiest, most common feng shui adjustments. Plants of all types can be added for many reasons, whether it be to bring more Wood element into a home, provide a healing atmosphere, welcome prosperity, improve air quality or more. There are thousands of types of houseplants and indoor trees, but some are more symbolic than others, and some are more effective at accomplishing certain goals.

The Golden Pothos is one of the most popular of all houseplants and is easily a great choice. I recently mentioned Dr. B.C. Wolverton's book, How to Grow Fresh Air, and the Golden Pothos is one of the top 50% in his list of houseplants for purifying air. Not only does it remove a large amount of chemicals and vapors due to its high transpiration rate, it is also very resistant to insects and is arguably the easiest plant to grow and maintain. 

This plant is actually a vine, with heart-shaped leaves that range in color from golden (thus the name) to lush green and maintain color even when low on sunlight. Though the Golden Pothos is a vine and can be trained to climb, it is often grown in hanging pots (like this one) and can actually be cultivated in almost any potting medium. It's a great plant for cuttings, as these take root easily in water, and overall, it's an ideal houseplant for beginners or those with forgetful watering tendencies. I have a Golden Pothos I was given when I moved to the city over a decade ago! It's survived through basement apartments, cold winters and much more. 

To Grow Successfully:

- Maintain temperatures between 65 - 75 degrees, and do not let it get cooler than 50 degrees.
- Let the soil dry slightly between watering.
- If possible, feed your plant weekly during its growing season.
- Clean the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth. 

Keep an eye on the blog, as I'll be sharing some of the best options for houseplants, one by one!

by Anjie Cho