In feng shui, bathrooms are often viewed as negative because they have the potential to deplete positive chi from the home due to the strong draining power of the toilet, shower/bath and sink. Thus, most feng shui practitioners recommend making the bathroom symbolically disappear (i.e. place a mirror on the outside of the door) and 'inactivating' the space by using a reducing or destroying element instead of an enhancing element.In the case of this bathroom, it is located in the northwest area of the home, which represents helpful people, and is normally benefitted by the element of metal. However, because it is a bathroom, instead of enhancing the metal element, we want to minimize it. Unfortunately, in its before state, the items in the bathroom were signficantly enhancing metal. The metal vanity display, the white (metal) and off-white walls (earth which in feng shui produces metal), the metal and ceramic accessories all had the effect of enhancing metal.
To begin the redesign of the bathroom, I decided to use metal's reducing element, wood. Thus, I used a soft green paint for the walls and a deeper green for the base cabinet. (In feng shui, the color green represents wood). I replaced the metal vanity and accessories with wood shelving and accessories. I added three plants (which repesent wood in feng shui), putting one on top of the toilet to minimize its draining power. In addition, I added two candles which represent metal's destroying element, fire. To declutter, I suggested the occupants pare down on their toiletries so that they could fit them within the medicine cabinet. Finally, I reminded them to keep the bathroom door closed and toilet seat down as much as possible in order to divert positive chi from being drained from the home. In the future, the occupants should consider placing a large rock near the base of the toilet to decrease its draining power even more. In terms of the green aspects of the design, I used Benjamin Moore Aura paint which is "certified under the GREENGUARD Standard for Low Emitting Products and the GREENGUARD for Children & SchoolsSM product certification programs." Water conservation devices were installed on the toilet, shower and sink faucet. In addition, a water filter was installed on the shower. I used organic cotton hand towels and toilet paper made from recycled products. To deordorize and detoxify the environment, I used baking soda with essential oil in a wooden bowl, 'clear head' soy candles with eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint scent, and sea salt placed in a wooden bowl in the corner, as well as suggesting that the window be left open to let in fresh air and let out moisture. In addition, all of the cleaning products were replaced with Trader Joe's Cedarwood and Sage Multipurpose cleaner. Finally, once again many of the accessories were obtained from items the occupants already owned.
