Feng Shui that Makes Sense - Easy Ways to Create a Home that FEELS as Good as it Looks

by Cathleen McCandless

You don't need to be a professional designer or a feng shui expert in order to have a beautiful, comfortable home. Feng Shui That Makes Sense takes you step-by-step through the process of using feng shui principles to create a home that will please your eye, relax your body, inspire your mind, and lift your spirit. After reading this book, you will be able
- Easily create a home of beauty, harmony, and comfort
- Learn basic feng shui principles that work every time in every space
- Improve the look and feel of any room in your home
- Discover the origins of popular feng shui myths and misunderstandings
- Enhance the areas of your home relating to Love, Money, Health, Family, and more
- Apply feng shui principles to your landscape and garden
- Integrate nature and natural materials into your living space
- Clear your home of unwanted energy
- Create a home that nurtures and inspires you physically, mentally, and spiritually
- Understand how and why your environment affects you the way it does

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Psychology, Reference, How To

302 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2011

Reviews

[Kathrynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! The author did an excellent job of providing sensible information that I found to be enlightening, e.g. no mirrors in the bedroom, room layouts, home colors (did not include gray) for rooms and the moods those colors can inspire.

There are sketches of before and after room visuals that I found helpful in creating a Feng Shui home. The author includes breakout sections about some ridiculous and impractical Feng Shui recommendations made by others who profess to be experts.

What I got out of this book are great suggestions and tips to be used as a guide while creating and using my own decorating style and colors that work for me.

5 Stars!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how the author approaches Feng Shui in a very practical, logical way rather than making it about the folklore. While the author does discuss the folklore of Feng Shui, she does it in a way that helps explain it in more modern terms. The only part of the book I didn't like was when she went into complicated detail about Compass School Feng Shui, which wasn't as logical and appealing as what most of the book explained, which is Form School Feng Shui.

[Keesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first part of this book (the part dealing with form) was very good, and just what I hoped it would be: a simple explanation of how to arrange a house or space so that it "feels" right, along with commonsense reasons why. For example: use curves instead of corners and sharp angles. Why? Because corners and sharp angles hurt when you bump into them. (See what I mean? Super practical!) I kind of lost interest in the second part, when she started talking about activating energies, and I zoned out completely in the third part, when she started talking about numerology, but I knew I would, and I appreciated her dividing the book as she did and explaining clearly up front what I could expect from each section.

[Mandi Dryer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was way too simple and I felt that the author was talking to somebody she felt was a gullible idiot. I don't know how this got more than 2 stars to be honest. Yes, it's very simple, but wasn't anything I didn't already know about fend shui. Her biased suggestion that people who have kids, whose kids own toys, have unhappy marriages was around the part I had to put the book down before I did something terrible... Like burn it. And I didn't only because it's a library book. Please name one household who has kids who doesn't have toys in their home. I don't believe in the child free zones, it's selfish and stupid. Don't have kids then if all you plan on doing is being a dictator to them and want to spend all their life sterilizing them and sanitizing and keeping "order". They are KIDS. This author is a moron in my view. And to suggest couples have unhappy marriages because kids have a toy in a living room is absurd and even worse. I know MANY parents, our friends, myself and husband included, happily married with toys in the house and happy kids. I'm not running a concentration camp in my home. That's not what feng shui is.!your kids should come first, not second, third or fourth or even fifth. Get real. I wouldn't recommend this book even to a single, childless person either. Just because the author is so full of herself and comes off as very judgmental and strict, and a little egotistical. She makes fun of clients she has helped, which further made me wish I could burn the book.

[Aysi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always thought feng shui is some kind of religion difficult thing to understand without any logic. Then I stumbled upon this book and decided to read a part out of curiosity. I'm so glad I did! I love this book. Form school of feng shui which I'm planning to use in my home, makes perfect sense and finally I have a guideline I was looking for desperately for designing our new apartment. It became easier to decide how I want my place to look like. Also gave me confidence that layouts I plan now will work!

[Nancy A Faussett · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I was curious..... and now I'm not :-)

[K. M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed the book. But there was one thing that was a little “iffy” for me, where I thought the author might have mixed Feng Shui methods.

In the beginning of the book, the author explained the different types of feng shui - form, compass, black hat, and flying star. She states that Black Hat Feng Shui is the least scientific and that a lot of the techniques used aren’t used in traditional Feng Shui, so in not so many words, don’t bother.

Now if you know anything Western Feng Shui or Black Hat (BH), instead of taking a compass reading of your home (as she recommends per her method of Form & Compass) by standing in the center of your home to find north 0°, East 90° and so on, you would instead divide your home into 9ths. The bottom center box is always career north, the top left box is always wealth southeast... (do a Pinterest search, you’ll see what I mean)... but then on page 243 she tells a story about a client whose career was fizzling out. When she visited the client’s home she found the house was U-shaped, thus the Career quadrant of her home was missing.

This is the “iffy” or confusing part for me- what are the odds that the clients compass reading showed that her front door was not only North 0° but also bottom center (BH)? Not saying it can’t happen, but are the odds that your home is the perfect example of both Compass and BH Feng Shui? Could it be, that maybe the author used a little BH Feng Shui?

In the end, I appreciate not only the author’s easy way of writing, making reading a pleasure but I love the fact that she’s not a tchotchke monger (sleeping under a window? Hang a bunch of crystals from the window. Your kitchen stove facing the front door? Hang a flute over the grill). If your not sure where to start in your journey with Feng Shui, this book is a good place to start.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better feng shui books I've read. At no point does the author suggest anything idiotic like construction paper shapes on the wall, or hanging crystals (unless you actually LIKE crystals), or painting the house in ridiculous colors, or drawing lines on doorways or your bed frame with red marker to "block bad energy." (I have read about all of these things in "bestselling" feng shui books.) Basically, this is real feng shui.
The first part of the book is a good introduction to "Form School" feng shui. The second part is a discussion of "Compass School" feng shui. Both contain solid and helpful information.
Best of all are the sections the author calls "Reality Check." These debunk some of the dumber feng shui myths that are out there.
I have to agree, this book is Feng Shui that Makes Sense. It is practical, commonsense, and no-nonsense.
There was one thing that annoyed me about this book. There are many referrals to see the appendix for more information. However, there is no appendix to the book other than a single page with the author's website. No additional information. No details. Just a web address.

[Stormie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this really helpful. Living in Asia, many perspectives of feng shui are interlaced with superstitions. This book gave a fresh take and offered more than just feng shui but ideas on how to make a room feel better, maximize space, and feel more comfortable/secure. All of the instructions/explanations are very easy to follow and I found that implementing these techniques made a huge difference in our home and how we felt because there was this one area of the house that no matter what I did I couldn't figure out why it didnt look and feel right. Now I know why and made the adjustments and it finally looks the way I want it to.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It didn't have many visuals, but presented the information well with simple diagrams. The first step is to get rid of clutter -- so I'll start on that and incorporate the principles as I make progress.

The one thing that annoyed me in the book is that it often made references to an index for additional information. The books index page only listed a web address as a resource. The website includes a few items for sale that are mentioned in the book, but I expected a comprehensive index and I didn't find that online.

[Alexandria Blaelock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a practical and useful guide to feng shui, with common sense historical explanations for seemingly random fixes. As McCandless says, it’s all about increasing your health and happiness - not by buying fans etc, but by calming your survivor instinct and allowing you to relax.

I would be grateful for no other reason than that she included a specific fix for properties that back onto a sharp drop - build a small fence; just large enough to provide a psychological safety barrier. Consider it my weekend project.

[Hannah R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first parts of the book about "Form School" Feng Shui. I was not really looking for the in depth information beyond that such as "Compass" Feng Shui. I appreciated the author's practical tone and couldn't agree more that our environments affect us deeply. Her anecdotes may have been a bit self promoting, but I found them so interesting!

[Leah Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good resource material

This book is a common sense, no nonsense approach to the topic of Feng Shui. Honestly, it's one of the best, most interesting books that I have ever read on it. My husband bought me this book years ago and I was thrilled to get an e book version! It addresses just about every question you might have on the subject of Feng Shui.

[Mel Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad that I didn’t find this book sooner! It is practical, make sense & believable!
There are too many feng shui crooks out there that driven by greeds & full of non sense. Also as this book pointed out, many of us become victims of purchasing junks from these conmen shifu. Following these conmen feng shui gurus are really bad feng shui for us.
This is the only feng shui book I keep & follow.

[Jason Baldauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I was looking for as an introduction to the subject. I finished feeling like I have a good basic understanding of feng shui. McCandless does an excellent job of giving practical and pragmatic approaches to initiating the concepts covered, and application is covered in detail.

[Yea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the info, the insights stories to better understand the context of the concept. I also love how she debunked fake "Feng Shui Myths" and everything else in between.

I recommend this book if you are looking to know the basics and to understand why Feng Shui works and how to make it work!

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

a lot of one off anecdotes that made me feel vaguely uncomfortable. I also didn't really appreciate "easy" and "budget-conscious" tips like "get a solid wood bed frame." ... yeah, that's probably about where she lost me. 😂

[Mary K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things got a little kooky towards the end, but the first half felt like very practical and logical ways to make a home feel homier. Definitely plan on using some of these concepts as we furnish our new home.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and practical. Not the nonsense you'd expect with a book like this. Some common sense stuff in there, some i wouldn't have thought of, useful to have in one place when planning out a whole house.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This book makes you feel that you can decorate however you'd like, have good taste and still apply good feng shui.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. No nonsense ideas to make a home feel better. Feng Shui origins explained and demystified. Easy to understand.

[David Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking to research the five element theory of Chinese feng shui, but this book would be a very practical tool for home owners.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

First few chapters were interesting. Didn't finish when it got weird :)

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview with simple, pragmatic advise. CM gives her reader enough knowledge to conduct a basic FS overview of the reader's own home. Excellent explanations of Form & Compass Schools.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the chapters on furniture placement and color schemes, but I skipped those on enhancing the chi of the home.

[Erin Kirkpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half is practical and psychologically based. The other part is what I thought Feng Shui was. Not without benefits.

[Glenda Sandosham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feng Shui that makes sense!

Easy to read and understand. Best book I’ve read so far! Easy to understand principles and examples. Will read more from Cathleen McCandless.

[Sabina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave me a new way of thinking about my house.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simplicity and order

Love the simplicity of how the author guides us through the feng shui process. Not pushy, not every complicated. You don't feel that is un attaineble

[Anna Boldyreva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! A pleasure for people with common sense and love to logic.