Spring is here and the lovely new green leaves are appearing on the trees. Green is a colour that resonates with nature, freshness, new life and a sense of calm. It comes in a range of shades and you need to decide if you go for a yellow-based green which produces the colours of happy apple green and citrus lime or if you are considering blue-based shades which can offer a range of colours including tropical green and emerald. If you are unsure, try out sample pots from paint companies such as Farrow & Ball before the whole room is painted.
For Feng Shui, think more of your typical natural greens and textures of trees, plants and natural fabrics. In the Bagua Map, green represents the Wood element and naturally symbolises growth, new beginnings, healing and good health. It can be used as a dominant colour or touches in cushions and accessories can be enough. If there is too much of the Wood element in the room, it can unbalance the Chi and give a sense of too much happening and over-commitment. This can easily be balanced with other elements.
Feng Shui First
Green is all about growth either for energy or emotion and it is the base note that is most important. Blue-based greens are best in the Career sector as they resonate with water whilst yellow toned greens are best in other sectors and partner well with the Wood and Earth elements. It is best not to use Green or Wood in the Metal sectors as Metal chops down the energy of Wood. Also, use it carefully in the Fame sector which is partnered with the Fire element. You want a strong burning fire but not an explosion! Tropical green with a deep yellow base is ideal in the Wealth sector and we have used this colour and motifs in our living room stimulating wealth and abundance in all areas of life.
Career & Life Harmony
This is a Water area and often a front door entrance into the whole house or apartment. If it is where you enter your space, a touch of dark green can work well with Water as part of career growth, but not too much as green can ‘soak up’ too much of the Water element. There are other Bagua sectors more suited to green and the element of Wood.
Inner Knowledge and the Relationship Sectors
This is a great area to combine green and blue as Wood grows in Earth. Inner Knowledge is all about growth and self discovery. Soft greens can be really restful and if this is a bedroom or living area, a sense of balance can easily be achieved. Our bedroom is in this sector and we have added bed linen with birds and green leaves to represent growth. For the Relationships area, the element is Earth and Wood definitely needs Earth to grow but just make sure there are pairs of any furniture or decor to represent two people. See other posts on this blog for the Relationship sector.
Family & Health and Wealth & Prosperity
These are great areas for shades of green, being the key Wood sectors as Water adds to ensure growth. Our second bedroom is in the Family and Health area and tropical art decor, navy blue and pistachio green offer an inviting energy to the room.
Fame & Reputation
The key element here is Fire and the colour red, and the Wood element feeds fire. Green is an ideal combination with reds and oranges. This doesn’t necessarily mean you paint the whole area red! I am not a fan of hot colours; however, so in a previous apartment, we placed in this sector a Chinese money chest with artwork of harvests and growth and used flowers that usually included reds, oranges and green foliage.
Where Not to Use Green
The rest of the Bagua map shows areas that have the Metal element. This element cuts down Wood and it is not a good place to use green or Wood accessories as the Metal element cuts down the Wood energy.
Final Colour Combinations
There are obvious complementary colours; red and green or orange or pink. Consider other pairings of black, white and green for a sharp but chic look. Green with coffee shades and wood look inviting and pastel greens with soft shades of blue can add warmth and light to small rooms. If you are brave, paint a wall, a big piece of furniture or even picture frames. And finally, as we head in to warmer weather, I am reminded of Mary Webb surrounded by the English countryside, who said, “Green is the fresh emblem of well founded hopes. In blue, the spirit can wander, but in green it can rest.”
