What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice focused on arranging spaces to encourage the natural flow of qi (or energy) and promote harmony between people and their environment. It uses principles like the Bagua map, which incorporates the five elements (fire, earth, water, metal, and wood), and directional energy to optimise how a space feels and functions. In gardens, Feng Shui can influence layout, plant selection, and the placement of features like seating or water elements to create a balanced, restorative outdoor space.
What is Vastu?
Vastu Shastra is a traditional Indian principle that aligns buildings and spaces with natural forces to promote wellbeing, prosperity, and spiritual peace. It’s similar to Feng Shui in that it combines elements of design, layout, geometry, and directional alignments, but is rooted in Hindu philosophy. In garden design, Vastu focuses on directional planting, the placement of water features, and specific plants to attract positive energy and transform a garden into a sacred, energised space.
Designing your garden according to Feng Shui and Vastu
With a focus on balance and harmony, Feng Shui and Vastu principles are a great place to start when designing your garden. They’ll help you understand how elements like layout, direction, and materials can influence mood and wellbeing. They’re also flexible enough to adapt to your lifestyle, personal tastes, and the way you want to use your garden.
Zone your space
As you’ll want to use your garden for both active socialisation and quiet relaxation, start by zoning your garden intentionally. Feng Shui encourages a balance between Yin (quiet, reflective) and Yang (active, sociable) spaces, so you might want to keep these areas separate.
For example, you can create a lively corner for hosting friends, complete with a dining table, BBQ, firepit, or even an outdoor kitchen. Then, dedicate another nook for relaxing solo moments. Add sun loungers, a bench, or a hanging chair to give you a spot to rest and unwind.
You can use natural dividers like trellises, hedges, or pergolas to carve out separate areas and make them distinct. Curved pathways can guide energy gently through the space, while open areas encourage interaction and movement.
Be mindful about furniture placement
The Feng Shui Bagua map divides a space into nine zones, each representing aspects of life such as health, love, and prosperity, as well as one of the five elements. Vastu also follows similar principles in which different areas of the garden represent different Pancha Bhutas (the five elements).
| Direction | Feng Shui element | Vastu element | Symbolism | Decor suggestions |
| North-west | Metal | Air | People/social space | Use metal furniture and accessories like wind chimes to create a social and communicative atmosphere. This is also the ideal place for a gazebo or a relaxing patio area. |
| North | Water | Water | Career energy | Add water features like fountains, ponds, or birdbaths to enhance career growth and flow of energy. The north is also the perfect spot for trees and flowers to grow. |
| North-east | Earth | Water | Personal growth | Include plenty of greenery, stone, and clay for a grounding and nourishing environment. In Vastu, the northeast corner is sacred and ideal for water features or meditation spaces. Tulsi (holy basil) is often planted here for spiritual uplift. |
| East | Wood | Air | Family and health | Incorporate lots of wooden elements like wooden furniture and trees. Bamboo, orange trees, and plum trees are popular in Feng Shui. Herbs are also good here for vitality and healing. This is a great place for a water feature or hot tub, particularly a wooden hot tub. |
| South-east | Wood | Fire | Wealth and prosperity | A great relaxation spot, along with the north-west. Incorporate lots of soft lighting, wood elements, and water features for abundance and financial success. |
| South | Fire | Fire | Success | Use vibrant colours like red and place a BBQ or firepit to ignite passion and achievement. This is the best spot for large trees, especially if planted along a wall. |
| South-west | Earth | Earth | Relationships | Add earthy tones and natural materials to strengthen relationships and harmony. The south-west should be heavy and stable, making it perfect for denser plants or trees. |
| West | Metal | Water | Creativity and children | Incorporate metal elements and round shapes, along with playful and creative accessories. If you have children, this is the perfect spot for an outdoor playground. |
Vastu also recommends keeping the centre of the garden clear for energy to circulate freely, promoting overall wellbeing.
Choose plants for positive energy
Both Feng Shui and Vastu advocate for plants that promote positivity. Bamboo, jasmine, lavender, and holy basil are top picks for good fortune and their perceived air purification benefits. Snake plants, peace lilies, and money plants are also considered to have energy-cleansing properties. Be mindful to avoid thorny or dried-out plants, which are said to stagnate energy.
Use colour theory to set the mood
Colour plays a huge role in how a garden feels. By being selective with your plants and furniture, you can transform the mood of each space. For example, to create a calming, peaceful environment, use cool colours like blue and lavender. For an energising social space, opt for warmer tones like red, orange, and yellow. If you want to create a dreamy, romantic look, stick to shades of pink, purple, and white.
Create seamless indoor-outdoor flow
The connection between your indoor and outdoor space makes a huge difference to the overall feel of your home. A seamless transition between the two not only creates a sense of flow, but also makes both spaces feel more spacious and welcoming. Use similar natural materials like wood or stone in both areas for visual harmony. For example, if you have wooden flooring inside, consider a wooden deck or wooden furniture outside to echo the look.
Large doors or windows can help with the transition and physically open up the space. Meanwhile, matching colours or décor accents (like throws, pots, or cushions) will make the two spaces feel like one, helping to create harmony and balance between the natural and built environment.
“Creating a garden that balances relaxation with entertaining is easy with a little thought to the layout. When planning your space, think about what you want to use it for and how you can create zones to suit those needs. Do you want a cosy fire pit corner for evening chats? A BBQ or outdoor kitchen for alfresco dining? Or perhaps a calm nook with comfortable furniture for soaking up the sun? Defining these areas helps you make the most of your outdoor space, whether you’re hosting guests or enjoying a peaceful afternoon alone.
“Both Feng Shui and Vastu emphasise the importance of flow, energy, and intention in outdoor spaces. These ancient design philosophies encourage us to think not just about how a space looks, but how it feels and functions.”— Adam Oldfield, Director at outdoor living specialists StovesAreUs
