Color is a huge topic in the world of feng shui, laden with superstition at it’s worst and full of power at it’s best.
I just received a crazy-awesome installment the Feng Shui For Real Life newsletter by Carol Olmstead (fellow Pyramid School Feng Shui graduate) & when I get Carol Olmstead’s feng shui newsletter, I always read it.
I wanted to write a comprehensive color post for you today to get some feng shui basics out on paper as a reference, but Carol did it so beautifully I had to share!
Colors in Feng Shui (by Carol Olmstead, Feng Shui For Real Life)

Red makes you feel more active and energetic. Add small touches of red where you want to stimulate the fire energy–especially in your work space, where ever you need an extra energy boost, or in a bedroom. Examples include a red flowering plant or a plant in a red cache pot, a red candle, a bowl with goldfish, or a red front door. Buy a new red wallet to attract wealth. However, be careful when you use red, since too much red around you can aggravate anger.
Orange is the color of fusion and therefore a good selection when you are seeking unity, cooperation, or commitment. Orange encourages conversation in a group and enhances mediating, negotiating, and listening skills.
Purple is associated with spirituality and the realm of higher consciousness. It is a good color to use to capture the appreciation for compassion, empathy, and love. Use it when you want to set yourself apart and are willing and able to assume a great deal of responsibility. Purple is the “royal” color, often associated with wealth.
The Earth Element Colors represent the natural world, like brown like the soil, yellow from the sun, terracotta from clay.
Yellow represents sunlight, wholeness, and connection. Yellow in a room encourages a sense of harmony and well-being, so it is a good choice for a living room or kitchen. Since using touches of yellow will raise your spirits, increase mental activity, increase concentration, and improve your memory, consider using it in an office, study, or workroom. While yellow can help relieve depression and fatigue, it can aggravate fears, jealousy, and sleeplessness. Avoid bright yellow in rooms reserved for relaxation and peaceful activities, such as a bedroom or bath.
Brown encourages stability and order. Use brown when you want to encourage security and groundedness. However, too much brown will overemphasize seriousness and make you feel heavy so be careful not to overdo it.
The Metal Element Colors are shiny like gold and silver, plus all of the pastel and light colors like
white and gray.
White represents a desire to be in control and the center of attraction. By deflecting all colors, a white object is set apart from other items. White is easy to work with as a backdrop and goes with most other colors. However, when white is the predominate color it can reduce the flow of chi, resulting in narrow-minded thinking. That means it’s best to avoid using all white, and instead add other colors along with it to keep your chi strong and happy.
The Water Element Colors are the deep blues and black you see when you look into deep water.
Blue represents movement, flow, and tranquility. Adding blue accents to your environment moves you toward learning, understanding, and fulfillment. Use blue in a study to stimulate learning, encourage new thoughts, and improve your career or business. Deeper blue accents are good for bedrooms to help you sleep better. Blue lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and helps you overcome anxiety and lack of self-confidence.
Black helps create calm and reduces anxiety. Because it absorbs all colors and represents the obscuring of light, using black can bring things into focus. For example, when wearing black, a person’s face stands out. Use black when you feel overwhelmed by too many objects, when you want to create a tranquil space around you, and when you want others to focus on what you say.
The Wood Element Colors are the greens, teals, and turquoise from tree leaves and precious stones.
Green represents growth, health, and good fortune. Since green is nourishing, use it in living rooms and family rooms. Green can help restore mental equilibrium and reduce stress and tension. Surrounding yourself with healthy, living green plants can activate your chi.
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The Joy Immersion is a a month of happy-making, mirror-polishing, life-lifting and simple space shifting!
It’s loaded with lots of actions (some you may know for sure even if you’ve never fully practiced them, some you’ve likely never seen or heard of !) that can help you detox from your own negative stuff, uncover more of your greatness and light, and see happiness everywhere you look ! There’s feng shui, there’s life-shifting, there’s lots of creativity and it’s a daily commitment to a positive life shift which is a positive life shift already!!!
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And you can start right HERE! I’m doing the first thirty days with you, so let’s get started!!!
xoxoxo Dana
What colours should I use (and would that be according to the 5 elements) and how do I find out what element I am? Could I do a test or something? Answere some questions?
I do specific tests with my clients, and will build this into courses to come. In my e-book you can get a pretty clear sense of what elements are most expressed in your life and ways to balance them. https://www.fengshuidana.com/core_20161207-181903/core_20161207-181903/feng-shui-101-how-to-transform-the-place-where-you-live-into-a-home-that-you-love/
xoxoxo Dana