In Feng Shui, the kitchen represents the family's fortune, sustenance, and health. The kitchen is no longer just a place for cooking; it also serves functions such as storage, washing, and food preparation. To meet these various requirements, the placement of kitchen appliances and electrical devices must be reasonably arranged. A good kitchen layout and facilities can bring good luck to you and your family. On the contrary, an improper arrangement may lead to negative effects. So where should the kitchen be located to be auspicious? Let's learn together with the Feng Shui net of Huayi.
Where Should the Kitchen Be Located for Auspiciousness
The kitchen is a place for cooking, so it belongs to fire in the five elements.
If the kitchen is located in the east or southeast of the house, these two directions belong to wood in the five elements. This is known as "wood and fire bright," which means that the family will often receive the support of kind-hearted people.
If the kitchen is located in the northeast of the house, the northeast direction belongs to earth in the five elements. This is called "fire and earth generating each other," representing harmony. Fire is a yin trigram, and earth is a yang trigram, which indicates a balanced combination, considered a medium auspiciousness.
If the kitchen is located in the south of the house, the south belongs to fire, which indicates excessive fire energy, only considered slightly auspicious.
If the kitchen is located in the northwest or west of the house, these two directions belong to metal in the five elements, forming a "fire and metal opposing" situation, which signifies unstable luck.
If the kitchen is located in the southwest of the house, the southwest is a "sick spot," belonging to earth in the five elements. Earth, being a sick spot, drains the fire energy, which indicates illness within the family.
If the kitchen is located in the north of the house, the north belongs to water, hence referred to as "water and fire complementing each other," which signifies safety for the family.
Aside from the auspicious or inauspicious nature of the kitchen's location, items like the range hood, stove, and faucet inside the kitchen should also ideally be placed in auspicious directions according to Feng Shui principles.
Which Feng Shui Is Most Auspicious for Kitchen Decoration
The most suitable location is the eastern or southeastern part of the house, both of which belong to wood in the five elements. Since the kitchen involves both water and fire, it can coexist harmoniously with wood. It is not advisable to place the kitchen in the south because the southern direction belongs to fire, and the kitchen also belongs to fire. Placing the kitchen in the south would result in "fire on fire," which is unfavorable for the family's fortune. The kitchen should also not be located in the center of the house, as Feng Shui considers the center as the core of the house, where vital energy gradually spreads throughout the room. Therefore, it should remain quiet and free from any pressure or disturbance that might prevent the energy from settling. The center of the house is equally important as the heart, and it should never be polluted by cooking fumes! Here, it is worth mentioning that many people imitate Westerners by making open kitchens, but they fail to realize that the cooking habits of Westerners differ greatly from those of Chinese people. In fact, some Westerners are unwilling to rent their houses to Chinese people because of the heavy cooking fumes. Once the kitchen is open, the entire house will smell of oil, even affecting the house price. It should be noted that Feng Shui does not recommend open kitchens, as this can lead to "leakage of wealth." In an open kitchen, cooking fumes easily pollute the entire home. Even if the house originally had good wind protection and energy gathering, the positive energy could be polluted, thus affecting the family's respiratory health.
The kitchen should be kept clean and dry, avoiding excessive moisture. It should be regularly opened for ventilation, allowing light and fresh air to enter. To ensure good air circulation, in addition to installing a range hood, a exhaust fan should also be added. This can accelerate air circulation. In summer, cooking is already a burden, and this can also help reduce the kitchen's temperature. It should be noted that the range hood and stove should not be directly opposite a window, as this can cause "wealth leakage."
Cooking and frying in the kitchen require stoves, and the position of the stove should also be carefully considered. For example, the stove should not be without support behind it. The stove represents the family's happiness, the health of the residents, and the master's marriage and career. If there is no support behind the stove, such as a glass wall, it should be a solid wall. Additionally, the stove should not be placed under a beam. In both residential and office Feng Shui, having a beam over the head can have negative effects. A beam above the stove can suppress the energy field, leading to illness in the female member of the household. If the stove is directly facing a beam, it should be concealed during renovation. According to Feng Shui principles, the stove should not face the door of the kitchen directly outward. If it has to be placed this way, a curtain can be hung to neutralize the effect. The ideal position for the stove is on the right side when entering the house.
The kitchen involves both water and fire, but how can we achieve a balance between them? Obviously, the stove, which belongs to fire, should not be too close to water sources. The faucet should be far away from the stove, as being too close can lead to financial loss. The sink should ideally be placed to the left of the stove. The best positions for the stove and sink are against the northern wall, followed by the western wall, and finally the southern wall facing north.
It is also not advisable to place the washing machine in the kitchen. From a location perspective, the kitchen should not be near the bedroom, or directly visible from the bedroom, as the stove and cabinets can affect mental stability and health. The kitchen door should not face the main door. The kitchen is the source of the family's wealth, while the main door is the entrance for energy. When the main door faces the kitchen door, the kitchen becomes fully visible, exposing the wealth and preventing the family from retaining it. The solution is the same as before—hanging a curtain.
Where Should the Rice Cooker Be Placed
In Feng Shui theory, there is a popular saying: "The three essentials of a residence are the door, the room, and the stove." This means that the most important aspects of a house's Feng Shui are the main door, the rooms, and the stove location.
When placing the stove, the direction is crucial. Similarly, the direction of the rice cooker can also be studied. Some Feng Shui masters consider the side of the rice cooker's switch as its direction.
First, remember that the rice cooker belongs to fire in the five elements. Below are the auspicious or inauspicious evaluations based on the direction of the rice cooker:
1. If the rice cooker is facing north—north belongs to wood, and wood meets fire, forming a "water and fire complementing each other" situation, which is auspicious, indicating safety for the family members.
2. If the rice cooker is facing east or southeast—both directions belong to wood, and wood and fire generate each other, which is also auspicious, indicating that the family often receives the support of kind-hearted people.
3. If the rice cooker is facing northeast—this direction belongs to earth in the five elements. Fire meeting earth creates a "fire and earth generating each other" situation, which is a moderate auspiciousness.
4. If the rice cooker is facing south—south belongs to fire, and the rice cooker's fire meets fire, resulting in excessive fire energy, only considered slightly auspicious.
5. If the rice cooker is facing west or northwest—both directions belong to metal in the five elements. Fire and metal oppose each other, resulting in a minor misfortune, indicating unstable luck for the family members.
6. If the rice cooker is facing southwest—considered inauspicious, as the southwest belongs to earth, a yin trigram, and is associated with a "sick spot." The fire of the rice cooker enhances the power of the sick spot, increasing its negative influence, which leads to illness among family members. Recommended reading: Common taboos in kitchen decoration Feng Shui.
