Feng shui, the ancient Chinese philosophy that looks to improve the energy flow in our homes, can help us create living spaces that promote positivity and harmony.

According to the experts at Real Simple, however, there are five common mistakes many homeowners make that go against the grain of feng shui principles. Take a look around and see if you have any of these offending situations in your home.

1. Blocked doors. In feng shui, doors are the means by which energy flows in and throughout your home. If you have a door that is unable to open a full 90 degrees due to clutter hanging behind it or a piece of furniture, remove the blockage so that your door can open fully.

2. Misdirected beds. One of the key principles of feng shui is placing your bed in a “commanding” position, one which lets us see opportunities coming toward us. With this in mind, make sure you’re able to see your bedroom door while lying in bed, without being directly in line with it—in other words, make sure your feet aren’t pointed out the door. If you can’t move your bed accordingly, strategically place a mirror from which you can see your door.

3. Beds against a wall. Make sure your headboard is against a wall, but that you have left space on either side of the bed. If you have one side of your bed entirely against a wall, this creates an imbalance of yin and yang. Just 18 inches of space will alleviate the problem.

4. Desk facing a window. While it certainly seems appealing to be able to gaze out your window as you move through your work day, in feng shui practice, facing a window while working pulls your energy toward it and away from your work. In other words, that amazing view might be more of a distraction than a benefit.

5. Desk in a bedroom. If you place your primary desk in your bedroom, you’re putting your work/life balance at risk. Seeing your desk while you’re heading to bed puts work top of mind when you should be focused on relaxing. Conversely, gazing at your bed while you’re trying to work can lure you toward sleep when you need to be plugged in and productive. If space restrictions necessitate a desk in your bedroom, put it behind a divider, like a screen or bookcase. Be sure to turn off your computer screen at night and cover it as well. This creates important visual and energetic boundaries. 

• 
• 
• 
•