Fengshui (‘風水’ - literally translated to ‘wind-water’ in English) is a traditional practice originating from ancient China, the principles of its philosophy lies in the usage of energy forces to harmonise individuals with their surrounding environment. Fengshui claims that through the arrangement of pieces, such as furniture and doors, in one’s living space they are able to create balance with the natural world. 

However, with no clear link to science, most people understand that fengshui is just a matter of superstition.

This article will explore these two seemingly clashing concepts - science and fengshui - as we find out just how compatible are they…

‘Good’ fengshui - your bedroom door should not be in line with or opposite your bathroom door

Fengshui point of view: According to the principles of fengshui, having your bedroom door in line with or opposite your bathroom door is considered very inauspicious and practically sinful. The word ‘sinful’ may sound like a severe dysphemism, but to believers of fengshui this is very important, as the bathroom is a space where people get rid of bodily waste by washing or defecating, hence why it is unhygienic and is a breeding ground for pathogens. Apart from hygiene concerns, it also creates unpleasant odours, hence why the occupant(s) of the bedroom may be directly affected by this ‘bad’ fengshui, especially in terms of health.

Realistic/scientific point of view: Having your bathroom door in line or opposite with your bedroom door is not as frightening or as bad as fengshui believers make it out to be. According to science, there is absolutely no problem if the doors of these two rooms were to be in line or opposite each other, given that the room’s occupant(s) keep the doors of the rooms shut when they are not in use.  Also, once we take into account modern bathroom architecture, there are often methods of getting rid of odour; for example, bathrooms are often equipped with vents and exhaust fans, which can also help with keeping the room well ventilated and prevent it from getting damp and musty. In addition to this, routinely cleaning the bathroom to maintain hygiene will mean any points of concern about ‘bad’ fengshui associated with hygiene will be easily eradicated, even if your bathroom door is in line or opposite to your bedroom door.

‘Good’ fengshui - your bedroom door should not be in line with or opposite your front door

Fengshui point of view: According to the principles of fengshui, having your bedroom door in line with or opposite your front door is not ideal, as this means that the first thing you see when you enter your house is your bedroom, a place associated with rest and sleep, causing us to feel weary and exhausted.

Fengshui believers hold the opinion that because of this, work progress will be hindered and it will cause the occupant of the bedroom to develop antisocial behaviour towards their fellow occupant(s) of the household, as they will typically go straight to their room.

Realistic/scientific point of view: Having your bedroom door in line with or opposite your front door has no effect on the occupant(s) in any way. The fengshui principle that explains why having your bedroom door in line with or opposite your front door is ‘bad’ fengshui alludes to psychological principles of human behaviour. Humans, when triggered by certain things in their environment and surroundings are prone to feel a specific way, for example, a person may feel sleepier if they see sleep-related things such as a bedroom.

However, when referring to scientific principles, it is good to have your bedroom door in line with or opposite to your front door, as it keeps it well ventilated, and also helps reduce odours in the room.

‘Good’ fengshui - your sink should not be situated next to your stove

Fengshui point of view: According to the principles of fengshui, once a sink (water element) and an electric stove (fire element) meet, the opposite elements will clash and become a destructive element once combined, so should not be situated in proximity to each other.

Realistic/scientific point of view: Realistically, most flats and apartments will have the ‘bad’ fengshui layout as the kitchen appliances are usually built in, therefore, no changes can be made to the original layout. Therefore, the only way to modify the layout is by placing an object, such as a separating screen, between the two areas. Another realistic and logical reason that this layout is not ideal is that water from the sink can spill onto the electric stove causing electrical malfunctions.

‘Good’ fengshui - your kitchen should not be adjacent to the bathroom or have doors that are in line and lead directly into each other

Fengshui point of view: According to the principles of fengshui, the kitchen (fire element) and bathroom (water element) are antagonistic elements. This causes clashes between the elements, which is believed to bring destruction and illness to the occupant(s) of the household

Realistic/scientific point of view: Realistically speaking, there is no problem with kitchen and bathroom doors being in line and leading directly into each other. In fact, this is quite a common layout for flats and apartments. However, in terms of complying to fengshui, this can be easily fixed by simply closing the bathroom door after use. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, modern bathroom architecture takes into account ways of reducing odours and dampness e.g. vents and exhaust fans, and in the kitchen, a hood may be installed to help remove unwanted odours. With just this, there will be no problem in tackling the clashing of antagonistic elements.