In feng shui teachings the kitchen represents nourishment and prosperity. This makes sense, considering that it's human nature to associate food and nutrition with nurturing and sustenance. This is why feng shui training teaches students that the way you design and decorate your kitchen can affect the way you and your family receive nourishment, influencing your prosperity and health.

Feng shui is a complex practice and practitioners who received their feng shui certification from different schools may have different ideas about the best design for your kitchen, but there are basics that are consistent across the different feng shui training spectrum, which are the tips we'll discuss in this article.

If you're working with an architect on designing a new home, the ideal feng shui placement of a kitchen is in the rear of the house. This is because it's best if the kitchen isn't the first thing residents and visitors to the house see when entering it because this can lead to digestive and nutritional problems. For example, a kitchen at the front of the house could encourage guests to eat and leave soon after, or for residents of your home to eat too often. If your kitchen is at the front of the house, however, there are feng shui remedies that can help. A consultant with a feng shui certification will be able to determine the bagua of your home and offer some specific, individualized feng shui cures, but some general ideas are hanging a sheer or beaded curtain in the doorway of the kitchen or a piece of art across from the kitchen that distracts attention away from the kitchen.

As far as the layout of your home's kitchen is concerned, the contemporary kitchen design trend that supports group cooking tends to be feng shui friendly, too. A cooking island in the center of the kitchen, for example, allows the person cooking to be able to see the whole room, while guests and family members can comfortably participate in the preparation of the meal. A center island is especially helpful if the kitchen is open to the living room or family room, allowing you to cook dinner while you talk with your spouse about their day or moderate squabbles between your children as they work on their homework.

If you're not designing a new home or willing to seriously renovate your kitchen, a consultant with a feng shui certification can advise you on the best ways to make your kitchen more feng shui friendly. You can also take some feng shui classes to learn more about making these shifts yourself. These changes can be as simple as installing a mirror or a piece of reflective aluminum above the stove to allow you to see the doorway in the reflection as you cook.