Is It Worth It To Hire A Feng Shui Expert During A Home Renovation?

Whether you've lived in your home for 20 years or just moved in last month, you likely keep a wishlist of changes in mind, just waiting for the right time. The average cost of a home renovation can range anywhere between $25,000 to $76,000 and up, according to Realtor.com, but redesigning your home's interior is about much more than the money. A home renovation is a massive undertaking that requires you to temporarily uproot your life. Ideally, everything will settle back down into a new and improved normal when the renovations are complete, but what if your new surroundings set up an avalanche of negative energy? According to feng shui, they could. 

In some cases, a home renovation isn't just a simple facelift but a spiritual upgrade. Bathrooms and kitchens are some of the most commonly renovated spaces in a home, but they also have some of the strongest elemental aspects, like water and fire, making them precarious places for feng shui. It can be tempting to skip the consultation and come up with your own solutions, but here's why you should really hire an expert if you want feng shui to guide your renovation. 

Trying to feng shui your own home is like trying to diagnose an illness through internet searches. You might be able to gain some understanding of the problem, but you won't get the full diagnosis, scope, and solutions until you talk to a specialist. Every person's situation is unique, so the feng shui advice that works for one person's home may not apply to another person. For example, adding water features to the living room could help someone else open up family communication, but on your floor plan, they could lead to energetic chaos and loss of stability. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to tell an item's exact effect unless you're an expert, so attempting to do feng shui yourself is risky. 

An expert feng shui consultation is infinitely more accurate — and faster — than trying to DIY. An expert will look at your home objectively and offer you straight, unbiased advice that isn't influenced by current trends or personal taste. They'll be able to apply the complex bagua map to interpret the five elements in your home, along with other factors that you may not realize are important. These could include the direction, elevation, architecture, and surroundings of your home, wind and water patterns, sources of negative "Sha" energy, and more. They may even incorporate your personal Kua number or take the time of year into consideration!

Not just anyone can call themselves a feng shui expert. There are several ways in which someone can become an expert feng shui consultant, with plenty of online schools, tutors, and pathways to obtain certification. While the steps to certification may vary between schools, feng shui experts must follow some rigorous training and perform a lot of in-field research and studying. Look for a consultant who can prove their expertise and has gained experience with at least a few clients before coming into your space.  

Of course, another factor to consider is cost. Some experts will charge for their consultation depending on the square footage of your space, while others will charge hourly or per consultation. Consultations can range between $600 and $1,500. When you're already dishing out a lot of dough for the renovation, you may be hesitant to pay for a feng shui consultant. If you're determined to cut costs but still want to promote healthy feng shui, be sure to take time on the renovation and do your research. When in doubt, turn to expert advice!