The art of Geomancy or more commonly known as Feng Shui in the Chinese community is often debated for its facts. After years of studies, Feng Shui has been proven to have its foundation built on natural sciences and not merely based on Chinese superstitions. Feng Shui, just like the name suggests, means wind and water when translated into English. The art has been practiced since 4,500 years ago with the aim to create a harmonial balance between a home's occupants and its surroundings.

Today, even the Western world have begun to take notice of this ancient practice, incorporating interior design with the art of Feng Shui. In the simplest form, it is divided into 5 key elements - fire, earth, metal, water and wood. All these basic elements are used to help enhance the general well-being and luck of the occupants. This is the reason why a Feng Shui master is invited to survey the house before the family moves in. The Feng Shui master attempts to bring together the natural order of Heaven, Earth and Man, blending these 3 orders with the owner's Bazi (the birthday) to help create a perfect interior orientation for the house.

When someone buys a new property in Singapore, there are some very basic Feng Shui rules to observe, specifically rules that affect the flow of Chi into the house. For example, Singaporeans would refrain from buying a property located on cul-de-sacs or the ‘dead end' of a street, or those facing a ‘T' junction. The properties located at these areas are believed to be bad for Chi flows, either too much or not enough flowing into the house.

The landscape is another basic criteria in determining a Feng Shui of a house. Try imagining a house with a tree planted at its entrance. From common sense, it is bad landscaping because it blocks the walkway. From the Feng Shui point of view, it is an unfavourable because it blocks the Chi from entering the house. Having a winding walkway rather than a straight walkway heading to the entrance of the house is also favourable because it is believed that the Chi is "gentler" when it enters the house.

Another good practice when buying a house is to talk to the owner or the realtor to learn the purpose of the sale because it may affect your fortune in the future. You would prefer to buy a house from someone selling to move to a bigger home, than from an owner who is forced to sell because of bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Most of the time, a renovation is required when the family moves into a new house. Colors and shapes play an important role in determining the Feng Shui of the house. Different colors and shapes will evoke different feelings or emotions in different people. By replacing protruding shapes with sharp ends to something circular, existing relationship problems may go away.

Another useful tip to promote a good and prosperous living for the entire family, is the "pa-gua" positions. Use the "pa-gua" to tackle shortages or imperfect area in your home by literally dividing the layuout into 9 sections.

Finding a house with the perfect Feng Shui is certainly no easy task. However with such a long history and hordes of staunch believers, it is probably wise to spend a little more effort to incorporate Feng Shui into the home for the well-being for its occupants.