7 tips for harnessing great Feng Shui in the year of the Wood Snake – experts reveal all ahead of Chinese New Year

Wednesday 29 January will mark the start of the Lunar New Year, an event celebrated by millions of people round the world who will welcome the year of the Wood Snake.

Rooted in ancient tradition, this period symbolizes a time of renewal and preparation, and an opportunity to cleanse and refresh the home. In particular, the Snake, a symbol of intelligence, charm, and creativity, when paired with the element of wood, encourages transformation and renewal.

Here, our experts share how to create good Feng Shui in your home this new Lunar year to invite prosperity, growth, and harmony into your life.

What does the year of the Wood Snake bring?

Our Feng Shui consultant and home expert at Interiors Therapy, Suzanne Roynon, has been studying the predictions for a year which is poised to bring considerable change.

She shares, 'The Wood Snake Year is a time for rapid growth and great transformation, so it's important to be flexible and open to change, rather than fighting it. Be ready to start afresh.'

In particular, the year of the Wood Snake invites a 'less is more' focus, with decluttering and releasing, both emotionally and physically, the things which no longer serve us.

'Recognize that having fewer things which really matter, rather than a home bursting with unappreciated stuff, will make life much easier,' continues Roynon. 'Focus on quality over quantity and simplicity over excess in all aspects of life.'

It's the perfect time to get into the under-consumption trend.

1. Declutter and let go

Putting decluttering methods to use at the start of the year is always a good idea, particularly in years like this when the energy encourages us to let go of what no longer serves us. As Anjie Cho, Feng Shui expert, architect, and co-author of Mindful Living, available at Amazon, says, 'Shed, like the snake.'

She explains, 'Just like the snake sheds its skin that is has outgrown, you can declutter, donate, and let go of what you've outgrown.' This includes clothing, and broken or unused items.

Laili Kafi Gonzalez, Feng Shui expert at The Meazured Life, recommends paying particular attention to decluttering the bedroom, the center of your home, and, if you are familiar with the directions of your home, the East, Northwest, and Southeast areas.

'Be thorough in letting go of any items that do not have a clear purpose or spark joy in your life,' she says. 'And let go of things connecting you to past versions of yourself.'

The aim of this is to remove stale, stagnant home energy and make space for new, better things. As Feng Shui and Chinese astrology expert Vicki Iskandar says, 'This ritual reflects our intention for a harmonious, prosperous year ahead.'

2. Replace your bedding

When was the last time you changed your bed sheets, or replaced your bedding in general?

Meena Jagpal-Parè, classic Feng Shui master at Momentum Feng Shui, says, 'This is important as we spend one third of our lives in our beds. Opt for earth-toned sheets to promote calm and peaceful sleep.I If you're looking for inspiration, Mocha is the color of the year and a soothing, cozy color that goes with almost everything.

'Ensure pillows are matched and items in the bedroom are arranged in pairs to enhance relationship energy and harmony.' This is particularly important in the bedroom for promoting healthy relationships, so do away with any singular items.

If you're looking to invest in new bedding, our resident sleep expert Emilia Hitching has put together a detailed and handy guide on the best bed sheets, so you can shop with confidence.

3. Clean for fresh energy

To use Feng Shui this year, Feng Shui master Jagpal-Parè suggests cleaning your kitchen. 'The kitchen is considered the heart of the home,' she says. 'As such, ensure that the stove is spotless, and the pantry is stocked with food.'

It's also a good time to make use of pantry organization ideas, with pantry organizing tricks and products, such as the Everything Organizer Medium Shelf Depth Pantry Bin w/ Divider Clear available at The Container Store, to keep yours calm and clutter-free.

Also, Feng Shui expert Cho recommends taking the time to clean all your windows, with a dish-soap solution for for streak-free windows, or the best homemade window cleaner, made with castille soap and distilled water.

'As a bonus, open them up for nine minutes to let fresh energy into the home,' she advises. 'Nine is a lucky Feng Shui number of completion.'

Sprucing things up ahead of the Chinese New Year precedes cleaning before the Feng Shui New Year but may share areas of focus such as on top of doors and behind furniture.

All prices correct at time of publication.

4. Create areas of calm

There are many ways to make your bedroom more relaxing, and Feng Shui expert Kafi Gonzalez recommends making this an area of complete calm this year.

'This is where we go to recharge, and the only purpose of the room should be rest and romance,' she explains. 'Be sure to remove any clutter, items, or photos related to past relationships, family members or friends – basically, if it's not you and your partner, it shouldn't be in the room!'

You should also pay attention to the Feng Shui death position in a bedroom, and rearrange your bed in accordance. Luckily, even if you're tight on space, there are plenty of tiny bedroom Feng Shui tips to incorporate and embrace.

5. Repair and renew

You should also ensure everything in your home is in good working order, says Feng Shui expert, Jagpal-Parè, who advises paying special attention to your front door.

'This is the "mouth" of your home where prosperity enters,' she says. 'Repair loose handles, cracked pathways, or any visible damage, as these issues symbolize cracks in relationship energy entering the new year.'

Wooden door numbers need cleaning and care too.

To perfect your entryway Feng Shui, set a good first impression by fixing drafty doors with window insulation tape and weatherstripping, such as the Weather Stripping Door Seal Strip available at Amazon, and using caulk to seal gaps and cracks.

6. Update family areas

According to Feng Shui expert Kafi Gonzalez, 'This is a year where enhancing family connections will be important.' For this reason, she suggests giving areas of your home meant for family gatherings, like your living room or kitchen, a good update.

'Clear out the things that don't belong, and focus on making spaces that foster greater connection,' she says. For example, keep kitchen counters clear, declutter your dining room table, and reduce visual clutter in your living room.

'Think comfortable seating, open layouts, and inviting spaces that are free of clutter and well cared for,' she adds.

7. Separate work spaces

This can often be easier said than done, but keeping your work space separate, particularly from where you sleep, will foster a more prosperous year, says Feng Shui expert Kafi Gonzalez.

'If possible, keep your work and sleep spaces separate,' she advises. 'Remove anything like files, excess books (especially those with activating topics like politics, business, etc.), and get rid of paper clutter for good office Feng Shui.

'This is a great year for focusing on learning and growth. If you have a dedicated home office space, or even just a place where you like to work, focus on making it as supportive as possible.'

This can be as simple as choosing a supportive and well-made chair to sit on, and ensuring your back is not to the door when you're seated. One of our writers asked sleep experts to help her organized her cluttered bedroom and found adding a laptop storage solution helped immensely. It meant when she finished with her work day, her work items were no longer in her line of sight in the bedroom and she found it helped reduce stress and help her sleep better.

For an added bonus, Gala Magriñá, holistic design expert and founder of Gala Magriñá Design, suggests a small ritual, to set your intentions for the working year ahead. She explains, 'Sit quietly and clear your mind for a couple of minutes, and then say to yourself, or out loud, an affirmation of what you're intending.

FAQs

What are the lucky colors for the year of the Snake?

Red, green, and gold are all lucky colors to consider this year, whether that's in the clothes you wear, or the interior design ideas you use. In particular, for people born in the year of the Snake, green is the most auspicious color for life. If that sounds like it might be of interest to you, our green decor ideas may be of interest.

Feng Shui and fragrance are also closely related, so you might want to consider overhauling your home's signature scent to symbolize change and renewal. Layering fragrance can also amplify your favorite scents for more impact.

What are the lucky flowers for year of the Snake?

When it comes to Feng Shui plants for this year, orchids and cacti for good fortune, strength and adaptability. These also make lovely, thoughtful gifts for bringing good luck to family and friends.

Another way to engage your home around the Lunar New Year is by displaying nine fresh oranges in a bowl, says Feng Shui expert Cho.

'Oranges represent wealth and abundance, so you can place the bowl of oranges in your kitchen or living areas to welcome more prosperity,' she explains. 'And yes, you can eat them.'

Have you heard of the Feng Shui energy map? Our experts explain what it is, how to apply it in your own home, and why it could benefit you this year.