As we welcome the Year of the Snake, there’s never been a better time to refresh and rebalance your home using Feng Shui principles. By focusing on thoughtful lighting choices, you can create an environment that nurtures positive energy, prosperity, and overall well-being.
A Conversation with Feng Shui Expert Jane Langof
To explore the transformative power of lighting in Feng Shui, we spoke with Jane Langof - an internationally accredited Feng Shui Master, celebrated author, and sought-after speaker. Jane’s career spans over a decade, during which she has seamlessly blended traditional Feng Shui wisdom with modern design to enhance homes, workplaces, and community spaces. Watch our interview of Feng Shui & Lighting
About Jane Langof:
As the founder of Feng Shui Concepts, Jane has worked on a diverse range of projects from residential retreats to commercial landmarks. Her acclaimed book, Feng Shui: A Homeowner’s Guide to Abundance, offers practical strategies for inviting prosperity and harmony into your living space. For those ready to personalise their journey, Jane also provides private consultations for home design, renovations, and new builds.
The Vital Role of Lighting in Feng Shui
According to Jane, lighting is more than a mere design detail - it embodies the fire element in Feng Shui. It brings warmth, vibrancy, and clarity, enhancing moods and fostering an inviting atmosphere. While natural light is ideal, carefully selected artificial lighting can balance and uplift a home’s energy when natural options fall short.
Jane emphasises that lighting placement is crucial. Dark, overlooked corners tend to harbor stagnant energy, whereas well-placed lights can activate and refresh any space. The secret is to layer ambient, task, and accent lighting, ensuring no area feels too harsh or too dim.
Key Feng Shui Elements for 2024 & Lighting Choices
This year’s Feng Shui focus aligns with the Year of the Snake, emphasising elements that promote balance and harmony:
- Wood Materials – Symbolising growth and renewal, wood lighting fixtures like timber-based table lamps or wooden pendant lights help ground and stabilise energy in a space.
- Green & Red Accents – Green represents vitality and new beginnings, while red is linked to prosperity. Subtle green lighting or red lighting tones can enhance the home’s energy.
- Circles & Round Shapes – Round fixtures, such as orb lighting which includes chandeliers, and pendant lights promote unity and positive energy flow.
- The Number 8 – A key symbol of prosperity in Feng Shui, incorporating lighting designs with eight bulbs or grouped lighting in sets of eight can enhance abundance and success.
To incorporate the elements that promote balancy & harmony, we have created a curated collection on the Year of the Snake, view the collection.
Best Lighting Choices for Different Rooms Based on Feng Shui
According to Jane, achieving optimal Feng Shui in your home involves selecting the best lighting choices for different rooms to cultivate harmonious energy flow. Below are some lighting choices for residential spaces.
Bedroom Lighting: Create a serene retreat with soft, warm lighting that invites relaxation. Instead of harsh overhead fixtures, opt for bedside lamps with diffused light and built-in dimmers for versatile control. For instance, the Tatu Table Lamp lets you adjust both intensity and focus, tailoring the ambiance to your mood. If you prefer to keep your bedside table clutter-free, consider the Buddy Wall Light, which comes equipped with its own dimmer switch for effortless customisation.
Kitchen Lighting: Illuminate your culinary space with bright, even lighting that fuels both nourishment and activity. Under-cabinet fixtures work to eliminate shadows, while warm white tones create a welcoming atmosphere. Layer your lighting for versatility -choose task-focused options like the Formation Linear Pendant Light, which offers balanced LED illumination for cooking and other tasks, or opt for the Omma 4lt Pendant Light, whose adjustable leaves rotate up to 180º to effortlessly transition between focused task lighting and ambient glow.
Living Room Lighting: Achieve a harmonious balance by combining ambient lighting for relaxation, task lighting for reading, and accent lighting to highlight your space's best features. Consider the Fox Floor Lamp, a minimalist design equipped with a push-button dimmer and an anti-glare aluminium head, perfect for versatile illumination. Alternatively, the Aballs Table Lamp offers a handcrafted touch, made from blown glass and ceramic. Its front-mounted dimmer switch allows you to seamlessly transition between task lighting and ambient glow, making it a multi-functional centrepiece for any living room.
Bathroom Lighting: Cultivate harmonious energy in your bathroom with gentle, diffused lighting, replacing harsh downlights that cast unflattering shadows and disrupt the flow of chi. Well-lit mirrors enhance brightness without glare. Layered lighting is essential: consider wall lights beside the mirror, subtle uplighting for larger spaces, and hidden LED strips beneath cabinetry to create a soft, glowing ambiance.
How Do Different Colours of Light Impact Mood and Energy in Feng Shui?
In Feng Shui, the colour of light significantly influences mood and energy. Warm white light, with its golden tones, fosters a cozy and inviting atmosphere, making it ideal for living rooms and bedrooms. Conversely, cool white light, characterised by its blue tones and often found in offices, can feel sterile or create an energy imbalance if used excessively in the home. Red-tinted light, while energising and activating, should be employed sparingly, particularly in bedrooms where rest is paramount. Ultimately, soft warm white light stands as the most harmonious and versatile option, effectively balancing energy and cultivating a calming effect throughout the space.
Avoiding Common Lighting Pitfalls
To maintain good Feng Shui, steer clear of these common mistakes:
- Harsh Overhead Lighting: Can feel stressful and unbalanced.
- Dark, Neglected Corners: Often become energy sinks - address them with additional lamps or wall lights.
- Excess Cool White Lighting: Might create a clinical feel in living spaces.
- Flickering or Broken Lights: Signify unstable energy and should be replaced promptly.
- Direct Glare: Opt for diffused lighting to avoid overwhelming brightness.
Quick Feng Shui Lighting Tips
Enhance your home’s energy with these simple tips:
- Maximise Natural Light: Keep windows clean and open curtains to invite more sunlight.
- Incorporate Dimmers: Adjust lighting for various moods and times of day.
- Achieve Balance: Avoid extremes - aim for lighting that is neither too bright nor too dim.
- Highlight Key Areas: Use accent lighting to draw attention to artwork, plants, or statement pieces.
Bringing It All Together
Thoughtful lighting is the perfect bridge between ancient Feng Shui traditions and modern design. By integrating wood finishes, rounded shapes, auspicious symbols like the number 8, and a layered lighting approach, you can create a space that radiates warmth, balance, and prosperity throughout the year.
Discover our curated Year of the Snake Lighting Collection for pieces that seamlessly align with Feng Shui principles and elevate your home’s energy. And if you’re ready to embark on a deeper transformation, consider a consultation with Jane Langof to tailor your space to your unique energy and aspirations. Learn more at Feng Shui Concepts or dive into her book, Feng Shui: A Homeowner’s Guide to Abundance, for even more inspiration.
