If your front door could talk, what would it say?

How about “Welcome! Life lives here!”

Your home’s first impression should evoke feelings of love, beauty, positivity and abundance. So much so, that passersby will be curious about the incredible things happening inside!

But more important though, having a well-maintained home with great curb appeal literally transforms your front door into a giant love-filled sponge – attracting and absorbing life-giving chi into your home.

The front door welcomes in energy

The practice of Feng Shui is about balancing chi – life force energy – within ourselves and in our living environments (homes, offices, gardens, etc.). When it is vibrant and flowing, chi enhances your life and propels you forward with opportunity and abundance.

Alternatively, when chi is stagnant and neglected, it expresses a lower vibration and can show up as increased conflict, personal dissatisfaction and low motivation (among other yucky things).

According to author and Feng Shui master Ai Matsui Johnson, the front entrance is considered the mouth of your home, taking in nutrients and energy for the benefit of everyone living inside. “Its purpose is to welcome good energy as well as to welcome you, your family and your guests into your home. I always suggest that my clients work on this area first!”

Look at your home with fresh eyes

Try this exercise! Stand in front of your home and take everything in. How do you feel? What are you drawn to first? Your beautiful hydrangea planting or the broken downspout dripping on the driveway? Are you naturally drawn to your front door or do your eyes dart from side to side, not sure what to focus on first? Your gaze is actually following the natural path of chi. Take note of what you observe during this exercise and let’s get to work!

The Universe is always willing to send us good energy, which usually enters from the main door of the house.

Ai Matsui Johnson

Front entrance space clearing

It’s tempting to use your front entrance or porch as a convenient catch-all for mail, recycling, shovels, gardening tools, or even holiday decorations. Resist the urge. Clutter and debris are not welcoming!

A messy front entrance can also subtly impact how you move through life (it’s cool how Feng Shui is rich in metaphors.) Do you feel obstacles are keeping you from reaching your potential and achieving what you want in life? If so, take a look at what’s happening at your front door!

Wash the door, windows and front pathway on a regular basis. Dirt is old chi. It slows down positive energy and gives off the feeling of neglect. Likewise, if items are broken, like siding or a light, fix them immediately. Over time you can become complacent to repairs and loose motivation. This negativity can wash over other areas of life. Everything is connected!

Always use a doormat. If it is worn, replace it. As we step on a doormat, it literally and energetically absorbs the dirt and low energy we carry in from the outside.

Make the front door a beacon of light and paint it in a bright, joyful colour. It’s like a burst of sunshine or a welcoming smile on the “face” of your beloved home.

Front door chi enhancers

Pump up the chi by harnessing the power of chi enhancers – light, wind, mirrors and plants.

LIGHT: Bright lighting is a must! It lifts, expands and widens energy. Positive chi doesn’t want to come into a dark entrance (and who does?). Light illuminates the fact that something wonderful is happening inside!

Be creative with lighting – especially now with versatile, cost-effective LEDs. Highlight the front path with soft solar lights, hang luminous globes from tree branches and string twinkle lights in your landscape to add movement and interest – not to mention a sprinkle of magic and joy!

WIND: Hang a wind chime by the front door to welcome yummy energy to the space. My favourites are Koshi chimes – there is one for each of the four elements. They are tuned like musical instruments and give off the most beautiful sound. I love sitting on my front porch during a windy summer day to enjoy their sweet tinkles.

MIRRORS: If your front entrance is naturally dark, consider using a mirror on the wall to reflect light. It is an unexpected element that welcomes guests with elegance and sparkle.

PLANTS: No conversation about chi enhancers is complete without mentioning plants (one of my favourite topics by the way!) Lush plants and flowers speak of life, freshness, growth, opportunity and beauty and no surprise, attract that very same energy into your space.

Not sure how to turn your brown thumb green? Stay tuned this summer for great content about the joy of outdoor plants!

Straight sidewalk fix

Chi loves curves! If there’s a straight sidewalk to the front door, it can be a source of rushing chi where the energy enters the home too quickly and can lead to feelings of exhaustion, indecisiveness and agitation. Use potted plants on both sides of the path to soften and slow the energy. Replace smooth concrete pavers with textured ones. Finally, throw down a beautiful mat and flank the front door with two potted plants (or any seasonal greenery).

I have a wonderful, beautiful obsession with nurturing the spiritual heart of my home, and this flows over to include the impact of its curb appeal. Take a honest, meaningful look at what home’s exterior is saying to the world. Change its message to “Life Lives Here”!

That’s the Homehearted way.