Decorating Tips to Bring in the Earth Element in Feng Shui

In feng shui, we work with the five elements system to create more balance within a space. The five elements (earth, metal, water, wood, and fire) represent the cycles of nature and the different types of energy that make up our world. Sometimes, one or more elements are out of balance in a home and need to be adjusted. We often find that a certain element might be lacking in someone’s space, and the easiest way to adjust this is to introduce more design features that express that specific element.

What Is the Earth Element?

The earth element represents groundedness, stability, and nurturing. It’s related to boundaries, how we care for ourselves, and how we care for others. You might want to bring more earth elements into your home if you feel like you could use more support or stronger boundaries, or if you have been feeling a little anxious or unsettled.

You can add more earth element with these design elements:

• Color: Yellow, brown, and earthy tones
• Shape: Square and flat
• Material: Ceramics, stones, and heavy objects

Here are some of our favorite ways that you can bring the earth element into your home’s feng shui.

Wall Color

Shifting the paint color on your walls can make a big difference in how your home feels, and it's a relatively simple change to make. Earth-toned walls provide a nurturing, supportive backdrop for the rest of your decor. Try a soft, sandy color for a more neutral, soothing feeling, or a warm yellow if you’d like something bolder.

If you want to make even more of a statement with your walls, look for wallpapers with earth element colors and patterns, like square shapes or pops of yellow.

Furniture

While furniture made up of wood might make you assume it's a wood element, it’s often actually an expression of the earth element. The wood element is more connected to living green plants, while the brown color and heaviness of natural wood represents earth. If you want to bring in more earth elements through your furniture, try looking for a heavy, rectangular wood desk or coffee table. These items will bring more stability and groundedness to your space.

Natural Crystals

Natural stones and crystals come from the earth, and they can be beautiful earth element additions to your home. There are so many options when it comes to crystals that it can sometimes be overwhelming to choose one. Our best advice is to follow your intuition to show you which crystal will be the most supportive for you right now. You can also look for crystals in earthy colors, like tiger’s eye or citrine. Once you’ve found a crystal that resonates with you, set an intention for how you would like it to support you, and be sure to cleanse it regularly.

Ceramics and Earthenware

You can incorporate more earth into your home decor by adding ceramic or earthenware pieces. This material comes straight from the earth, so it’s a beautiful way to connect to the energy of the earth element. You could choose a ceramic mug or bowl that you love from a local artist you admire, or a new set of ceramic dishes. You can also bring in a decorative clay planter or vase to hold your houseplants or fresh flower bouquets. If you’re feeling creative, you could even take a pottery class and make something of your own!

Home Decor Accessories

If you’re not ready to make a big change in your wall color or furniture, playing around with home decor accessories is a low-stakes way to try bringing in more earth energy. There are many opportunities to get creative here, so have fun and look for items you really love.

One great place to add some earth into your decor is through textiles. Square pillows or earth-toned throws are a great way to add some nurturing energy to your living room. You can also look for bedding in a soft yellow or terra cotta hue. Square rugs in earthy colors are another option to add more grounding earth energy to your space.

You can also bring more earth elements into your home through artwork. Look for images that include square or rectangular shapes and earthy colors. You can also frame your artwork in square frames, or frames in earthy shades of brown or yellow.