12 Feng Shui Tips for Your Dining Room You Can't Ignore - August 2024

Your dining room is a place where you gather with family and friends to share meals and create memories. Some might argue that the dining space is just as important as a bedroom since it’s where meals and conversations happen.

That said, the dining room is a space where the principles of Feng Shui can be applied to create a welcoming environment. By doing something as simple as choosing the right dining table or changing the dining room layout, you can enhance the energy flow in the space.

Let’s take a look at some Feng Shui tips you can incorporate to your dining room today.

Why follow Feng Shui dining room rules?

Despite initial skepticism regarding Feng Shui (which literally translates to wind water), many people have seen benefits from following simple Feng Shui principles. That’s why it’s still being practiced today, and not just by the Asian community.

Let’s take a look at some reasons why Feng Shui in the dining room is so important:

Promotes good energy flow

Feng Shui is all about creating balance and good energy (or chi) in your environment. By simply rearranging the furniture and layout of your dining room, you can create a space that promotes good energy flow, which can have a positive impact on your overall well-being.

Enhances the dining experience

A dining room that is designed according to Feng Shui principles can create a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere that enhances the dining experience. When the energy in the room is balanced, you and your guests can feel more comfortable and at ease, which can make your meals more enjoyable.

Boosts your mood

Likewise, Feng Shui rules can help to boost the mood of you and your guests. The colors, lighting, and overall ambiance of your dining room can create a space that is calming and relaxing.

Attracts abundance and prosperity

In Feng Shui, the dining room is associated with abundance and prosperity as you’re nourishing the body with food. By creating a dining room that promotes good energy flow and balances the elements, you can attract positive energy and increase your chances of abundance and prosperity.

Feng Shui dining room layout

The typical Feng Shui dining room layout is to ensure that no one’s back is facing a door or window. You want to ensure your table is round or oval to allow for a gentle curving of chi. Lastly, there should also be an even number of dining chairs to create balance.

Here’s what an ideal Feng Shui dining room layout would look like:

An ideal Feng Shui dining room layout.

Dining room Feng Shui tips

Choose a round-edged dining table

When choosing a table for your dining room, it’s essential to pick one that has a rounded edge. Round or oval dining tables help to soften the energy in the room, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

The Brighton Oval Dining Table with Austen Chairs sits 6 people comfortably.

Sharp or pointy edges on dining tables are not recommended as they create negative energy or ‘Poison Arrows’ that can disrupt the flow of chi. Sharp corners are believed to create tension and stress, which can make it difficult for people to relax and enjoy their meals.

If you have a rectangular or square table, you can soften the edges by placing a tablecloth or a runner on top.

Recommended read: Round or Rectangular? How to Pick the Right Shape of Dining Table for Your Home

Opt for a wooden dining table

Wooden dining tables are believed to create positive energy and growth as wood is a natural element. Wooden tables are also psychologically calming and provide a sense of stability.

The Vincent Dining Table with 2 Chairs and Doris Bench is made from walnut wood.

To add on, wooden dining tables are aesthetically pleasing and can gel well with any interior design.

When looking for a wooden dining table, make sure to opt for high-quality solid woods, such as teak, walnut, or mahogany.

Avoid glass table tops

While glass dining tables are trendy and minimalistic, they are believed to be inauspicious as they harbor negative chi when used in the dining area. When compared to materials like wood, glass is more fragile and delicate, which symbolizes the need to take constant care of it.

Hence, when eating on a glass table, this creates a feeling of uneasiness and sensitivity.

Use soft lighting

Lighting is another essential element in Feng Shui, and it can be used to set the mood in your dining room. Use soft lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, and avoid harsh overhead lighting that can create a sense of tension. Consider using candles or dimmer switches to create a comfortable and relaxing ambiance.

Ensure your dining table is big enough

If you’re one to host large groups, ensure that your dining table is big enough. Cramped seating at a dining table is considered inauspicious in Feng Shui as it shows that there isn’t enough abundance to go around. It’s also not welcoming if your guests have to struggle to find a place to sit and eat.

Ideally, you’d want the table to be able to fit 6 to 8 people. You can opt for an extendable dining table so you can reduce the table size when it’s just you, and extend it when you have guests over.

The Seb Extendable Dining Table with the Seb Bench.

Keep the number of dining chairs even

In Feng Shui, even numbers are associated with balance and harmony, while odd numbers represent disruption.

When it comes to dining chairs, using an even number is believed to create balance and harmony in the dining room. Even numbers also represent symmetry, which is great for keeping things balanced.

When you have an odd number of chairs, it can create an uncomfortable feeling for your guests. For example, if you have seven chairs around a table, it can be difficult for people to interact and engage in conversation, as someone will always be sitting alone.

Position your dining table so no one’s back faces a door

The placement of your dining table is also important in Feng Shui. Ideally, the table should be positioned in the center of the room with ample space around it. This allows for good energy flow and promotes a sense of balance in the room.

You should also avoid positioning your table in a manner where a person’s back faces an entrance. Having a person’s back facing a door can create a sense of vulnerability and insecurity.

Choose lucky colors

Colors play a significant role in Feng Shui, and the colors you choose for your dining room can have a powerful impact on the energy in the room.

Red and yellow are popular choices for dining rooms, as they stimulate the appetite and create a sense of warmth and energy. Other colors that are believed to promote good energy flow include orange, green, and blue. You can also opt for neutral or pastel colors.

Avoid dark colors or complicated wallpapers as they can create a heavy and stagnant atmosphere.

Create balance in the dining room

Balance is essential in Feng Shui, and it's important to create a sense of balance in your dining room. One way to create balance is to use symmetrical design elements in your dining room design - such as pairing objects and using matching dining sets - to create a sense of harmony and equality.

The Lily Dining Table with 4 Chairs boasts an elegant look.

You can also use complementary colors or patterns to create a cohesive and balanced look, and add plants to bring the earth element into the room.

Keep the dining area clutter-free

This is a common rule that many Feng Shui masters will suggest for any room in the house. Clutter is a major obstacle to good energy flow, and it's essential to keep your dining room clutter-free.

Avoid using the dining table as a dumping ground for mail, homework, or other items. Instead, use a separate space for these items, and make sure that the dining table is always clear and ready for use. You can also incorporate storage solutions like sideboards or shelves to keep the dining room organized.

Position mirrors that face the dining table

Unlike the Feng Shui bedroom rule to not have mirrors facing your bed, this is the opposite. For your dining room, you want mirrors to be facing the dining table to reflect the food and ‘double the meal’. As food is a symbol of abundance, this also means you’re doubling your abundance.

The Miles Mirror directly faces the Miles Extendable Dining Table with a Bench and Chairs.

Furthermore, if your dining room is small, a mirror can give the illusion of a more spacious area.

Ensure that the dining table doesn’t sit under beams

Beams are considered heavy and oppressive, which can have a ‘cutting’ energy. This is why it’s not recommended to place your dining table under beams as you spend great amounts of time in the dining room having meals.

If you aren’t able to move the dining table anywhere else, here are some ways to soften the visual impact of the beams:

• Use a canopy
• Use drapes
• Paint the beams the same color as your ceiling
• Install a false ceiling

Applying Feng Shui principles to your dining room can help you create a space that is not only beautiful but also promotes health, happiness, and prosperity. By following the tips shared in this article, you can transform your dining room into a space that nourishes the body, mind, and soul.