A bookshelf is a good addition to any space. The bookshelf is one of the vital pieces of furniture in the home that can contribute to the energy flow in the house.
One good way to get inspiration from your books and ultimately your bookshelf is through through the practice of ancient Chinese art, known as Feng Shui.
Feng Shui is an old Chinese art that centers on the placement of furniture and objects to create harmony and balance in your space.
Feng Shui emphasizes the proper placement of furniture in the home. You can create an attractive, pleasing, and harmonious atmosphere in your home with just a few changes to your bookshelf.
From color selection to placement, applying a few Feng Shui rules will help you get the best out of your bookshelf and draw positive energy into your home.
Therefore, it is important to know 11 Rules: How to Feng Shui Bookshelf for Inspiration.
So, how do you use your feng shui bookshelf for inspiration? In this article, we provide useful tips that will help you use your Feng Shui bookshelf for inspiration.
11 Rules: How to Feng Shui Bookshelf for Inspiration
There are different feng shui thump rules for bookshelves, which are listed below.
1. Pick The Right Location For Feng Shui Bookshelf Placement
You must understand that bookshelves are an important part of any house, meant not only for keeping books but something that reflects our creativity and thinking.
A well-positioned bookshelf can be a medium for creativity, motivation, and insight, helping us explore ideas that might be hard to come by.
2. Well-arranged and Organized Bookshelf
Ensure your bookshelf is properly arranged and organized to attract positive energy into your home.
And a well-placed bookshelf in a well-ventilated room will help the creative energy to thrive and bloom. This will also allow you to create a suitable environment for reading.
3. Carefully Choose The Titles Of Your Books
One of the feng shui thump rules for bookshelf is painstakingly choosing the titles of books that describe more of who you are.
4. De-Clutter And Remove Unused Or Old Books
Having a bookshelf full of old books, you never read can become a burden. It is a good option to eliminate these books to give room for new, thrilling ones.
Removing unused objects gives room for positive energy to circulate within your room and blocks stagnant energy from gathering.
Furthermore, it also lowers the level of clutter, which can assist you in staying more organized and being in charge of your life. On the other hand, these books can be
Alternatively, you can give these old books as gifts to those around you or even non-governmental organizations. This act of benevolence can help you create a better environment for yourself and assist others in need.
5. Don’t Use Open Bookshelves
In feng shui, open bookshelves are considered one of the sources of “poison arrows” or negative chi energy. Poison arrows have sharp edges and points, as you can find them on open shelves.
You can use shelves with traditional wooden or modern glass doors to keep your books to take full advantage of the positive energy in your environment.
These types of shelves will not only assist in lessening the effects of negative chi energy, but they also give an aesthetic look to any room.
6. Check The Condition Of The Bookshelf
One of the essential parts of Feng Shui is to ensure your bookshelves are in good condition, as it also plays an important role in the overall energy of your space.
Hence, taking care of your bookshelves daily is vital, which comprises dusting them off, organizing them properly, and replacing any damaged parts of shelves or objects on them when needed.
7. Take Cognizant Of What You Put Inside The Bookshelf
It is necessary to be cognizant of what you place inside your bookshelf to attain good Feng Shui.
For instance, you should never place any sharp objects like scissors or knives on your shelves as they attract negative energy and upset the balance of positive energy.
Alternatively, put indoor plants with soft leaves such as money plants to create a serene atmosphere.
8. Avoid Sleeping Under A Hanging Bookshelf
One of the Feng Shui thumb rules for bookshelf is to avoid sleeping under a hanging bookshelf. Placing a bed under a hanging bookshelf is not advisable. It is a bad Feng Shui and can prevent good sleep.
In addition, you’re afraid that heavy items may fall on your head while sleeping, which can make you not have the finest night’s sleep because of the disturbance by the movement of the bookshelf during the night.
Hence, you should never place your bed in this risky position and choose a secure and more cozy sleeping arrangement.

9. No Bookshelf In The Bedroom
According to Feng Shui tips, the bedroom is a place of resting and rejuvenation. As a result, it’s good to stay away from having bookshelves in the bedroom, as this can result in cluttering, disruption, and discrepancy.
By bringing out bookshelves from your bedroom and positioning them in another place in the house, you will enjoy the serenity and calmness needed for quality sleep and relaxation.
10. Add Nature For Good Feng Shui Bookshelf
Do you know that adding indoor plants is a good way to bring positive energy into the home?
According to Feng Shui, succulents are the correct kind of plants to grace your bookshelf because of their adaptability in terms of limited watering, which is unique to most indoor plants.
For instance, by adding a money plant to your bookshelf, you can enhance the energy flow in your home and create a more harmonious environment.
With its blooming flora, this well-accepted houseplant will make a good addition to your bookshelf and attract positive Feng Shui energy into the house.
11. Choose The Color You Like
Selecting the appropriate color for your bookshelves is crucial to good feng shui.
The color of your bookshelves can influence the overall energy flow in your home, impacting your physical and mental health.
By selecting a Feng Shui color that aligns with your theme, you can bring about a feeling of balance and harmony in your space while also giving expression to yourself.
How Can I Use The Five Elements Of Feng Shui To Improve My Bookshelf?
The five elements of Feng Shui are metal, wood, water, earth, and fire. These elements can be introduced in the home to improve your bookshelf.
Metal Element: Place items that represent metal elements on your bookshelf, such as a wind chime or metal sculpture that depicts happiness and peace.
Water Element: Bring objects that represent water elements around your shelves, such as a water feature or a black object
Wood Element: Consider placing a wood element representative on your bookshelf to improve its Feng Shui, such as some pot plants, and wood artwork.
Fire Element: You can also enhance the energy of your home by placing items that represent fire elements on your bookshelf, such as more bright lights.
Earth Element: Using earth elements can help attract positive energy into your home. In order to improve the bookshelf, you can place earthen items such as ceramic pots or crystals on it.
How To Feng Shui Bookshelf For Bedroom
According to Feng Shui, keeping a bookshelf in the bedroom is not ideal. The bedroom is for resting, sleeping, and rejuvenating, as well as bonding with your partner.
In Feng Shui, bookshelves and books possess active energy which can disturb your sleep and relaxation.
Feng shui focuses on balance, so if your bedroom is commonly a place where you rest, you can bring a few books into the space and not experience difficulties.
For the Feng Shui bookshelf for the bedroom, do the following:
- Ensure the books indicate what you love.
- Ensure you like every book you put in your bedroom
- Ensure you use a closed bookcase to keep your books.
- Ensure you clean and dust your bookcase every day to prevent stagnant energy from accumulating on it.
- Ensure the shelf is decluttered.
How To Feng Shui Shelves In Living Room
The best place to keep bookshelves in the house is the living room, and dining room. These rooms are more active spaces, hence helping the energy to circulate properly. To Feng Shui shelves in the living room, do the following:
- Because books are active items (they carry yang energy, which is active and moving) they work best in areas of your home that are also active.
- Ensure your books are moved to one area to allow easy energy flow.
- Organize your books properly.
- Place the shelf in a position that allows the positive flow of energy.
- Consider putting artwork that promotes peace and joy on the shelf
- Put plants on the shelf because living green plants can draw life energy into your house. This is an easy way to draw good feng shui into your living room.
- Declutter the shelves of old books and objects to allow fresh breath.
- Keep your shelves neat.
How To Feng Shui Shelf Above Bed
As earlier mentioned, having a shelf above the bed is not advisable as it makes you fear having it collapse on you during sleep, and also disrupt your sleep.
When you have a shelf above the bed, the best option is to move your bed away from under the shelf. And if you cannot, find a way in which the shelf can be supported.
How To Feng Shui Bookcase Behind Desk
To the Feng Shui bookcase behind a desk, you can
- Place indoor plants on the bookcase.
- Move your desk a little away from the bookcase.
- Keep the bookcase neat and dusted.
Are Open Shelves Good Feng Shui?
Open bookshelves are bad for Feng Shui as they are tagged root of “poison arrows” or negative chi energy. It is preferable to use closed bookshelves.
Are Feng Shui Floating Shelves A Good Or Bad?
Floating shelves are bad for Feng Shui. Although they help to add more storage and are suitable for small spaces.
Which Direction Should the Book Shelf Face?
The best directions for bookshelves to face are the South, West, or Southwest direction of a room.
Feng Shui Bookshelf Placement: Bedroom, Living Room
Books possess active energy; therefore, they are best placed in the living room. According to Feng Shui, the living room is an active space compared to the bedroom which is designed for resting and sleeping.
Placing your bookshelf in the living room will enhance energy flow in your home.
What Does Feng Shui Say Is The Best Place For A Bookshelf?
According to Feng Shui, the best place for a bookshelf include:
- Living room
- Dining room
- A room dedicated as a library.
- The wisdom zone of your home. According to the Bagua map, the wisdom zone is usually the far-left corner of your house that aligns with the main door. So staying at the main entrance can help you to locate this area. This place is suitable for bookshelf.
Should I Put My Books In Order By Color, According To Feng Shui?
It is recommended to put your books in order by color. Feng Shui appreciates color and is seen as a tool that can attract positive energy and also change the vibes of any space.
Organizing your books based on books will help you to get more inspiration, creativity, and eagerness to read the books. To place your books in order by color, you can use a rainbow-like design.
How Can I Make Sure That My Desk Doesn’t Become A “Feng Shui Poison Arrow”?
To make sure your desk does not become a Feng Shui “poison arrow”, you can use these tips below:
- Obstruct the route in which the poison arrow energy is passing using living indoor plants or a lush, green bush.
- Fit a wall or a barrier to hinder the path of the energy, given the fact that the barricade is not tall or close to the window. Don’t forget, we still want the circulation of positive energy within the office or room space.
- Hang a multi-faceted crystal ball to help disband negative energy along the route.
Can I Use My Bookshelf To Improve Certain Parts Of The Feng Shui Bagua?
Yes! You can use your bookshelf to improve the bagua map of your home, especially the wisdom area, as mentioned above.
Enhancing the wisdom and knowledge area of your house can promote creativity, thoughtfulness, and innovation.
In Conclusion
You can gain more from or take advantage of your bookshelves using the various Feng Shui tips mentioned in this article.
Feng Shui is a well-researched combination of art and science based on neuroscience principles. Bhawana Rathore is a passionate Feng Shui practitioner. She writes at FengShuitricks.com and helps people to enhance and balance their lives by sharing Feng Shui-related information on FengshuiTricks and YouTube Channel. Check out more. If you find the information useful, you can buy me a coffee here.