There are said to be more shades of white than any other colour. It is a great colour to use as a blank canvas to allow other colours to shine. White is known in art as a non-colour along with black and yet, it is the top-selling colour for a t-shirt. It is also the colour of both death in Asian countries and new life and beginnings in Western weddings. In Feng Shui, it represents the Metal element which is crisp, clean and cutting through other energy. On the down side, the Metal element can be cold and harsh and is best partnered with the Earth element as this is said to polish and soften Metal. Water can also soften Metal but it is important to balance the two.
Career and Life Path
The dominant colour here should be black, and what a chic partner with white! Make sure you balance both equally as they represent the Water and Metal elements. Our past Berlin bathroom was in this sector and that required balancing the Water element. Too much water means that this area can drain the Career and Life Path choices! We added dark grey stone floors with soft grey wall tiles. Metal frames and accessories add to create a harmony between the three elements. Black touches give a sense of elegance. If this is a living area, it can be very chic to use white and black with different shades to soften the look and feel.
Inner Knowledge
This is another great area to have white in as it balances the blues and Earth element. As with other sectors, make sure that the Earth element comes first and use white as a background for Earth to stand out. Check where your front door opens as well as white may be the best colour for the entrance. The classic Feng Shui colour of red is not always the best colour to choose for a front door, there are alternatives.
Family and Health
This is the area of Wood, and Metal is said to cut Wood down. It is recommended to use other colours if possible. Don’t panic if you have a white kitchen in this area! Remember the five elements where you use the full cycle to balance this area. Our tiny French kitchen was in the sector with plenty of white cupboards. We added strong green accessories in stone and wooden boards and the hot plates represent fire. If you have a living space here, use white as the background colour and boost up the greens, wood and stone accessories.
Relationships
The dominant colour here is pink or red with white as an accent. I am not a fan of pink and the main bedroom is in this sector. If this is not your choice of colour either, balance with white and earth tones. Soft lemon and buttermilk or ivory shades can enhance this area and even some touches of green as wood grows in earth. Interestingly, peach colours in Feng Shui in this area are said to communicate that you are single! Our current French kitchen is in this sector and soft creamy tones with earth and ceramic tiles has given a gentle 1950s vibe with a bit of lemon added here and there.
Communication and Creativity
White is the dominant colour here and Metal is the element so a perfect sector. However, if this is a bedroom and particularly, a child’s room, it can be clinical and hard. Choose a softer shade of white with less blue in the base. There are some lovely paper lanterns that add a gentleness to this area. If it is your living area, consider it a place to put hobbies, art work and a place for self-expression. If your office is in this area, place your communication – phone and computer, in this space.
Travel and Helpful People
Grey and white are perfect here as they represent water and metal. Use dove greys and softer shades of white to avoid a harsh look or as Feng Shui, sees it a blunt energy. You can often find great black and grey prints or maps for travel.
Where to Avoid Using White
The other sectors are all about fire and growth. Fire melts the energy of Metal, and Wood is cut down by Metal. It is best to use white as the background colour in the walls to enhance the dominant colours of reds and greens. As always, it is about balance.
