"General guidance, held apart from the computed score."
This page is a broad reference list -- the kind of room-by-room checklist a Feng Shui practitioner might walk through with a client. It's deliberately separate from how the ProperQi™ Score is actually calculated, which uses a narrower, defensible set of Compass School and Form School factors applied to real map and floor-plan data. Nothing on this page moves any score -- think of it as background reading, not methodology.
Two categories below (Bagua Map Application, Classic Cures & Remedies) use BTB (Black Sect Tantric Buddhist) principles specifically -- a different tradition from the Compass School / Form School methodology the rest of this site follows (see the full disclosure). Included for completeness since BTB is common in modern Western Feng Shui practice, but always labeled, never blended in.
Entryway & Front Door
- Front door opens fully without hitting furniture or coats — blocked doors block opportunity
- Path to front door is clear and welcoming, not a straight line from the street (a "poison arrow")
- Address numbers are visible, clean, and well-lit at night
- No mirror directly facing the front door — it pushes energy back out
- Doormat in good condition (worn mats symbolize a tired welcome)
- Front door color aligns with the home's facing direction (red/black for south, greens for east)
- No trash cans or dead plants visible from the entry
- Entryway has a place to pause — bench, table, or landing spot for keys
Living Room
- Sofa has a solid wall behind it, not a window (lack of "backing")
- Seating arranged in a command position, facing the main entrance
- No sharp furniture corners pointing directly at seating areas
- Coffee table shape is rounded or soft-edged, not sharp angles
- TV isn't the dominant visual focal point of the room
- Ceiling beams don't run directly over seating
- Room has a clear, unobstructed flow path (no furniture blocking movement)
- Fireplace mantle isn't cluttered with too many objects
- Live plants present — no artificial or dried arrangements
- Windows aren't blocked by heavy furniture, limiting light and "vision"
Kitchen
- Stove isn't directly in line with the sink (fire/water clash)
- Cook doesn't have their back to the kitchen entrance while at the stove
- All stove burners are in working order (unused burners = untapped wealth)
- Knives are stored out of sight, not displayed on the counter
- Refrigerator is kept clean and organized, with no spoiled or expired food lingering
- Kitchen is clean and grease-free — this is the "wealth engine" of the home
- Leaky faucets are fixed when noticed — dripping water is considered a small drain on the home's energy
- Trash bin has a lid and isn't visible from the dining area
Bedroom
- Bed has a solid headboard and is positioned against a wall
- Bed placed diagonally across from the door, not directly in line with it, and not against the same wall as the door
- No mirror facing the bed
- Nothing stored under the bed, especially not old shoes, books, or exercise equipment
- Bed isn't under a window
- Matching nightstands on both sides — even for single occupants — invites partnership
- No exposed beams over the bed
- No electronics (TV, computer) in the bedroom
- No work materials, files, or office supplies in the bedroom
- Room is used only for rest and intimacy — not storage
- Soft, warm lighting rather than harsh overhead lights
- Closet doors close fully and aren't overstuffed
Bathroom
- Bathroom door stays closed, and toilet lid stays down
- Bathroom isn't located in the center of the home (the "heart")
- Bathroom isn't directly across from the kitchen or front door
- No mold, leaks, or lingering dampness
- Exhaust fan works properly to keep energy from stagnating
Home Office
- Desk is in the command position — facing the door, not with back to it
- Desk doesn't back up to a window (lack of support)
- No clutter of unfinished paperwork left visible
- A backing wall or tall furniture behind the desk chair for stability
- Office avoids being placed in the bedroom when possible
Staircases & Hallways
- Staircase doesn't directly face the front door (energy rushes out too fast)
- Hallways are well-lit, not narrow and dark tunnels
- No clutter stored along stairways
- Curved or landing-broken staircases are favored over long straight drops
Clutter & Storage
- Closets aren't stuffed beyond 80% capacity
- Garage isn't so full that cars can't park inside
- No broken items kept "to fix later"
- Junk drawers are tidy, not overflowing
- Attic and basement are organized, not chaotic storage dumps
- Nothing stored on top of cabinets collecting dust
Mirrors
- Mirrors don't cut off the top of anyone's head when reflecting them
- No mirrors facing each other (creates energetic bouncing/vortex)
- Mirrors in the dining room can double abundance if placed to reflect the table
- Cracked or foggy mirrors are replaced immediately
Color & Materials
- Home uses warm, earthy tones in family gathering spaces
- Kitchen incorporates the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, water
- Bedroom colors are calming — skin tones, soft blues, muted greens rather than fiery reds
- Wealth areas (back-left of home/room using the Bagua map) use purple, green, or gold accents
Plants & Nature
- Healthy, thriving plants throughout the home — no dead or dying foliage
- Round-leafed plants (jade, money plant) favored in wealth corners
- No overly spiky plants (like cacti) in social or entry areas
- Fresh flowers replace wilted ones promptly
Water Features
- Any water feature flows toward the interior of the home, not away
- Fish tanks are clean, well-aerated, with an odd number of fish (often 8 gold, 1 black)
- Water features avoided in the bedroom
Lighting
- Every room has adequate natural light during the day
- Dark corners are corrected with lamps to keep energy circulating
- Flickering or burnt-out bulbs are replaced promptly
Furniture Placement (General)
- Furniture arranged to allow smooth, meandering energy flow, not sharp straight lines
- No furniture blocking windows or doors
- Round or oval dining tables are favored over sharp rectangular ones
- Chairs at the dining table equal in number to seats used regularly (no more "ghost chairs" than needed)
Bagua Map Application BTB tradition
This section uses BTB (Black Sect Tantric Buddhist) principles — a different tradition from the Compass School / Form School methodology ProperQi™ scoring is built on (see the full methodology). Included here for completeness since it's common in modern Western Feng Shui practice, but labeled separately rather than blended in, same as the rest of this site.
- Front-left area of home/lot (as you enter) relates to wealth and abundance
- Front-right area relates to love and relationships
- Back-center relates to career, front-center to fame/reputation
- Center of the home represents health — should stay open and clutter-free
Exterior & Landscaping
- No large trees or poles directly blocking the front door
- Pathways curve gently rather than approaching in a straight line
- Overgrown bushes near windows are trimmed back
- Backyard has a sense of enclosure (fencing, hedges) for protection ("the turtle at the back")
- House isn't positioned at the dead-end of a T-intersection (a strong poison arrow)
- Roofline and gutters are kept clear of debris where possible — a tidy roofline supports a sense of order at the top of the home
Symbolism & Objects
- Artwork depicts uplifting, peaceful imagery rather than violent or somber scenes
- No images of solo, wilted, or dying subjects (flowers, animals) in main rooms
- Family photos displayed in the relationship or family Bagua areas
- Wind chimes, when used, are metal and placed near entries to invite movement
- Nothing broken kept on display — it's considered stagnant energy
Sound & Air
- Home has good air circulation — windows that open, not sealed stagnant rooms
- Unpleasant odors (mustiness, pet smells) are addressed at the source
- Excess noise pollution (HVAC hum, squeaky doors) is minimized
Overall Energy (Chi) Flow
- Energy can move through the home in a smooth "S-curve," not a straight shot from front to back door
- The home feels balanced — no single room dramatically over-furnished while another sits empty
Advanced Structural Observations
- Home's shape on the lot matters — L-shapes or U-shapes create "missing" Bagua areas that need remediation
- Sloped or sunken living rooms (common in mid-century US homes) can trap and stagnate energy
- Homes on a slope should have the front lower than the back ("commanding" position from behind)
- Split-level homes need special attention where staircases interrupt the main floor plan
- An open floor plan (very common in modern US builds) can dissipate energy too quickly without "chi-holding" furniture zones
Garage & Laundry
- A garage cluttered enough to block easy movement is one of the most commonly neglected spaces in American homes — keeping a clear path through it supports smoother energy flow
- Laundry room symbolizes cleansing — keeping it tidy and in working order, when possible, supports a sense of things moving forward in the home
- Garage door, if it's the most-used entry, should be treated with the same care as a front door
Pools, Hot Tubs & Backyard Water
- Pool shape ideally avoids sharp, angular designs — kidney or curved shapes support smoother energy
- Pool water should be clean and circulating; stagnant or green pools symbolize blocked wealth
- Pools directly behind the home (no buffer) can create excess yin — a patio or deck buffer helps
Attics & Basements
- Unfinished basements should still be swept and lit periodically — total neglect creates "dead" foundational energy
- Attic access shouldn't be directly above the bed
- Basements used as home theaters benefit from balancing heavy yin (dark, quiet) with plants or warm lighting
Home-Specific to US Architecture
- Craftsman and colonial homes with symmetric facades naturally support balanced chi
- Split ranch homes should avoid long, dark central hallways without light sources
- McMansion-style homes with cavernous entryways need grounding elements (furniture, rugs) so energy doesn't feel hollow
- Open-concept kitchens (very popular in US renovations) should still visually separate the stove from the front door sightline
Personal & Family Energy
- Each family member's bedroom door shouldn't align directly opposite another bedroom door (creates conflict/tension energy)
- Teenagers' rooms benefit from a study desk in command position to support focus and grades
- Elderly family members' rooms are best on the ground floor, in the "health" or center Bagua zone
- Nursery/baby rooms avoid direct alignment under heavy beams or slanted ceilings
Business & Home Office
- Home-based business owners should place their desk in the wealth or career Bagua area of the room
- A cluttered inbox pile at a WFH desk is treated the same as physical clutter — both stagnate opportunity
- Video call backgrounds (increasingly relevant) should avoid clutter or bathroom doors in frame
Seasonal & Timing Considerations
- Front door decor that's become very worn, torn, or broken is best refreshed or removed — simple, well-kept pieces are fine to leave up season to season
- Spring cleaning has literal feng shui roots — decluttering before the lunar new year (or just seasonally) refreshes annual chi
- Flying Star feng shui shifts yearly — a home "auspicious" last year may need adjustment this year
Overlooked Small Details
- Squeaky doors and hinges are corrected — sound friction symbolizes friction in life
- Burnt-out porch lights are replaced promptly — they represent the "eyes" of the home
- Welcome mats pointing worn-side-out are flipped or replaced
- Keys and mail aren't left in a chaotic pile by the door — a tray or organizer channels smooth "wealth flow" the moment you enter
- Pet beds and litter boxes are kept out of wealth and career Bagua zones
- Empty picture frames or unfinished gallery walls symbolize incomplete goals
Color Psychology Deep-Cuts
- Front doors facing north do well in dark blue or black tones (water element)
- South-facing homes benefit from red, orange, or wood-tone doors (fire element)
- Avoid all-white bedrooms with zero warmth — too much metal/void energy can feel isolating
Classic Cures & Remedies BTB tradition
This section uses BTB (Black Sect Tantric Buddhist) principles — a different tradition from the Compass School / Form School methodology ProperQi™ scoring is built on (see the full methodology). Included here for completeness since it's common in modern Western Feng Shui practice, but labeled separately rather than blended in, same as the rest of this site.
- Bagua mirrors (convex, octagonal) placed outside above the front door only — deflects sha chi from things like a T-junction or pole directly facing the house
- Wind chimes with hollow metal tubes correct energy in a home with a missing corner, hung in the corresponding exterior area
- Crystal spheres hung in windows help disperse and soften harsh light or a poison arrow from a neighboring structure
- Salt water cures (a bowl of sea salt and coins in water) placed carefully to absorb negative energy — used sparingly and only where appropriate
- Faceted crystals hung in a hallway can slow down energy in a "shotgun" straight-hallway home
- A "wu lou" (gourd) placed near the entrance is favored in health-focused feng shui
- Bamboo flutes hung at an angle under exposed beams soften their pressing effect
- Bright lights or uplighting used to "raise" energy in a sunken or low-ceiling room
Home Gym, Workshop & Hobby Rooms
- Home gyms do well in active, yang-energy zones (garages, converted basements) rather than in quiet bedroom-adjacent spaces
- Mirrors in home gyms are fine (unlike bedrooms) since the activity there is active, not restful
- Workshops/craft rooms benefit from good ventilation and organized tool storage — chaotic tool walls create scattered focus energy
Compass School Depth
- Homeowner's personal Kua number determines their best-facing directions for sleeping, working, and sitting
- East-group vs. West-group people benefit from different auspicious directions in the same house — useful for couples with conflicting needs
- The home's sitting and facing direction (measured by compass at the front door) determines which Bagua map orientation is correct — a common mistake is using the floor-plan-only "BTB" map instead of the classical Compass School map when a compass reading is available
Form School / Landscape Depth
- Ideal "armchair" position: mountains or tall structures behind the home, open space in front — mirrored in suburban US lots by a solid tree line at the back and open yard in front
- A home lower than surrounding land can pool stagnant energy — drainage and uplighting help compensate
- Homes near water (lakes, rivers) benefit if the water is slow-moving and in view — fast rapids or floodplain proximity are cautioned against
Nuanced Object Placement
- Sharp corners of neighboring buildings pointing at a window ("secret arrows") are softened with plants or window treatments
- Grandfather clocks or loud ticking clocks are avoided in bedrooms — they subtly agitate rest
- Taxidermy or hunting trophies are avoided in bedrooms and dining rooms per traditional guidance (represents death energy)
- A cluttered "everything drawer" in the kitchen (very American) should be tidied — it's often the home's most stagnant micro-zone
Want the actual score methodology instead?
See how the free and Expanded ProperQi™ Score is calculated, the $29 Floor Plan ProperQi™ Score methodology, or ProperQi™ Match methodology -- or check the glossary for plain-language definitions of the terms used across all three.