Every home needs a place where the family gathers together and shares their time ? where the human energy or ren qi ( rem chi) can be focused and vitally nourished. These days it is often the family room ? attached to the kitchen and opening onto the back garden, As well it may well be the dining room, eat in kitchen. In the winter time it may even be living room if there is a warm welcome and especially if there is a raging fire in the fireplace. Giving your home a happy and healthy heart will bring harmony and prosperity to your family life.

For the hub of the modern home it is essential that the qi flows freely in your family room and has access to the rest of your house. With its central location it is associated with the earth element and the color yellow, and because of it lively function the family room is yang.

The best orientation is where the room can capture the sun's warmth for the better part of the day- toward the south or southeast in the northern hemisphere or the north or northeast in the southern hemisphere. If your family room lies on the less sunny side of the house, make sure that you have plenty of light- hooded windows or skylight will help- but if your family room is affected by the strong western sun, protect it with awnings, blinds or pretty pergola.

If possible, have your family room open out onto a garden or courtyard- this will increase the flow of qi and allows the family to easily flow outside in the warm weather.

In terms of the dining room and dining rooms area the Chinese believe that you should never be distracted during a meal because eating feeds both the body and spirit. Indeed a classic Chinese greeting is ?Have you eaten yet?? It is thus best not to make your dining room d'cor too startling and eye catching. Better to be on lie on the more conservative side.

If the dining room and kitchen are too near the front door it is said that the family will be preoccupied with eating and also the guests will tend to eat and run. If attached to the family room or kitchen make your dining room a separate space simply by using plants or screens to block distractions. Two doorways will let qi flow in and out but if there is only one doorway allow enough space around it for easy access.

Lastly the arranging of tables and chairs can be done in a way to bring great health and happiness. Chairs should be comfortable so that diners can take their time to eat and not be harried. Ideally chairs should have good back rests and arms- this is the ?: armchair? shape of the four animal spirits.

It is best to place chairs with their backs to the wall rather than tot windows and doors. Ensure that the count of the number of dining room chairs is even in number. Even numbers represent luck where single chairs aloneness and loneliness. If you do have odd chairs simply add on extra chair or remove the solitary chair from the settings.

A round table is always best. Next in line in choice is an octagonal table. If your only choice is a square or rectangular table ensures that no one gets a corner. The negative sha qi can well cause digestive problems or even a bad temper. Feng Shui!