Feng Shui Expert Shares Christmas Decorating Tips as Demand Surges
With many people living in apartments or working from home, decorating a Christmas tree in a small space can feel stressful – and new research shows almost 1 in 10 people feel stressed while decorating.
Searches for “how to decorate a Christmas tree” have increased by 1,062% in the last month, and 46% in the last week, as the UK looks forward to the festive season. With 89% of Brits planning to decorate a tree this Christmas, UK’s leading housebuilder Redrow partnered with an expert in Feng Shui and healthy home design to reveal how Christmas decorations can influence the energy in your home.
Elaine Cartwright, Sales Director at the premium homebuilder, outlines: “Feng Shui has an average UK monthly search volume of 90,000, with searches increasing in December and January. In the last month alone, searches for Feng Shui have increased by 34%. While it might not be for everyone, our homes are designed to adapt beautifully to any type of Christmas, from Feng Shui-inspired, peaceful and pared-back, to full family-focused celebrations.”
Expert reveals where to put your tree for good fortune
The best place to put your Christmas tree is often based on where you have the most space, or where you can admire it most throughout the day. But did you know it can influence the energy, or ‘chi’ of your home too? Katie Malik, house whisperer, shares the best place to put your tree according to Feng Shui principles. She says: “In most homes, trees are placed in the living room. If that’s the case, the best locations are the South or Southeast part of a living room, because both are linked to Fame and Reputation, and Wealth and Prosperity. This means they can help activate financial luck for the coming year.
“Some Feng Shui masters advise against placing the tree in the North area of the living room because the North is associated with the Water element. Since the tree represents a strong Wood element, placing it there can create a conflict that may lead to money issues.”
Katie Malik also highlights the importance of making sure your tree isn’t obstructing movement or interrupting the natural flow of the room, because “blocked energy can create stress and stagnation.”
Almost two-fifths of Brits will be decorating with traditional colours – and experts say balance is key
Almost two-fifths (38%) of Brits plan to decorate their tree in classic reds and greens this year, according to the new research. Experts note that while traditional palettes always look beautiful, mixing in complementary textures and accents can help create a balanced, welcoming look.
- One in seven (13%) will be using minimalist or neutral tones, like white and beige
- One in eight (12%) will use sentimental decorations
- 6% will be embracing an eclectic or mismatched approach
Katie encourages decorators to include and combine all five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water), because this creates a sense of balance.
Her top tips for incorporating each of the elements are as follows:
- Wood: “It’s the tree itself or it could be also fresh flower arrangements or green-coloured ornaments.”
- Fire: “This is represented by the lights on the tree but also candles and red or orange ornaments.”
- Earth: “Earth is represented by yellow, brown or peach colours and can be also introduced through ceramic or crystal ornaments.”
- Metal: “Silver or gold ornaments allow you to include metal, but also the silverware we use on the dining table and metallic ribbons that can be added to adorn the table or stairwell.”
- Water: “Water can be introduced with wavy or flowing shapes and blue coloured decorations.”
Overusing one element or colour can create an imbalance and, according to Feng Shui, may result in feelings of stress, lethargy or conflict. Katie suggests that people should consider how much they are using red, blue, black and metal. Importantly, it’s about not using too much of them, rather than not using them at all:
- Red: A firm favourite at Christmas, and sure to be on any Christmas tree – but according to Katie, too much red “can be overpowering and an excess may lead to arguments, anxiety or even burnout, especially when used on a small tree in a small room.”
- Blue or black: Offset darker colours by also incorporating lighter and brighter colours. Katie says too many dark colours “can lead to the feelings of sadness and emotional instability and ‘drown’ the positive energy of the tree.”
- Metal: Pair metallics with warmer colours too, like creams and beiges, because Katie says, “if you decorate a tree exclusively in metallic shades it can feel cold and sterile creating an un-relaxing atmosphere.”
Elaine notes: “Ultimately, the colours and styles you choose for your tree should reflect your tastes. Feng Shui isn’t for everyone, and your focus should always be experimenting with what works best for you and your space.”
Eight decorating mistakes to avoid this Christmas
Decorating the tree makes most people feel joyful, nostalgic and excited. However, almost one in 10 report feeling stressed, and 8% suggest that they feel overwhelmed. To simplify the decorating process, Katie has compiled eight things that Brits should avoid doing to their tree:
- Placing the tree where it obstructs doorways or natural room circulation
- Placing it in the bedroom (the active ‘yang’ energy of the tree can disrupt the calm ‘yin’ energy and disturb the sleep)
- Placing the tree under exposed beams or low ceilings
- Over-decorating the tree; a cluttered tree is like a cluttered home, it leads to chaos
- Ignoring the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water) when choosing and decorating the tree (as combining them creates a sense of balance)
- Placing the tree in the wrong area of the house and living space
- Using broken decorations, as these can represent unresolved issues
- Using a lot of spiky decorations, as these can create feelings of conflict
By navigating these common pitfalls, decorators can create a positive energy within the home.
How to adapt Feng Shui principles for small spaces
If you live in a smaller home or are trying to decorate a smaller room like an office, there are still things that you can do to incorporate Feng Shui into your decorations this Christmas.
Katie suggests:
- “Use a smaller tree – even a tabletop one, as long as it’s a real one (ideally). This will stop you from overwhelming the space.
- “Focus on decorations to balance the energy. For example, if a tree (representing the Wood element) can only be placed in the North, which naturally holds Water energy, use blue lights or decorations to support Water. This works with the area’s natural energy, allowing the Wood element to thrive instead of clashing with the space.
- “If someone lives and works in the same small space, use a room divider for energetic separation and place the tree in the right area after.
- “Decluttering is actually even more important than the tree placement. Removing obstacles and old or broken items so the energy can flow is critical.”
Elaine at Redrow concludes: “While Feng Shui can offer helpful guidance on creating balance, Christmas is ultimately about connection and comfort. Even small changes, like decluttering or adjusting the flow of a room, can lift the mood for the season. Redrow homes are purposely designed with spacious layouts, open plan living, impressive ceiling heights and plenty of natural light, making them the ideal backdrop for any festive style and any size of Christmas tree.”