A guide to a home that feels right, and what to change if yours doesn’t.
You can usually tell whether a home has good energy by answering one honest question: do you feel happy in it? That sounds simple, but it goes deep. Beyond aesthetics and square footage, some homes genuinely support the people in them, and others quietly work against their well-being. The difference is rarely obvious because it lives in details most people overlook.
Here are six main areas that make a good and happy home.
A strong front door
Your front door is how your home receives energy. A door that opens easily, looks well-maintained, is proportionate to the house, and feels welcoming does more than just create a good first impression; it sets the tone for everything inside the space. A neglected, stuck, or hidden front door weakens the home from the very start. So does a front door that is fully made of glass, or one that opens outwards.
A main entry that settles your energy
The first space you see upon entering your home needs to feel welcoming and self-contained. It also needs to help you feel settled. The energy should feel grounded and not rush straight through. If there is a window or a back door directly aligned with the front door, the energy will quickly escape; it will pass through without stopping. Another detail that works against the feeling of a good home is a staircase facing the front door. The stairs can be going down, or going up, or even worse, you can face a split between the two levels as soon as you come in, which creates a rushed and anxious energy. A bathroom right by the front door brings a low quality of energy that is just not needed in a good home. So can a laundry room or a nearby garage door.
A well-designed main entry draws you in. It offers a sense of comfort, stability, warmth and protection. It invites you to stay. The main entry is also the space that establishes the overall tone for the whole home.
A nourishing kitchen with alive energy
The kitchen is directly connected to the health and vitality of people who live there, this is obvious. The more organized, clean and enjoyable is your kitchen, the better the food that is cooked there. But the role of the kitchen in a good home goes way beyond that. In nearly every culture around the world the kitchen is called the heart of the home. It is the space that holds and nourishes the spirit of the family, its togetherness, every single day, and it has to do it well. This means every little detail here matters. To be able to support you and your loved ones, the kitchen needs to feel vibrant, well-lit, well-cared for, with fresh and nourishing energy. We know that a neglected or chaotic kitchen drains us, but so does a cold kitchen full of sharp angles, even if it looks luxurious. Think of what makes a good heart, and see if this energy is expressed in your kitchen. Does it feel open, nourishing, and happy or is it cold, distant and arrogant? A good home needs a warm kitchen.
A bedroom that is truly loved
The bedroom is undoubtedly the most important room in the house. If the energy in the bedroom is weak, the home cannot be considered a good home. I know this might sound strange but trust me on that: no good energy in the bedroom, no good energy in the home. This is the ultra important space that holds you, taking care of your sleep, your health, your emotions, and your most intimate relationships. Instead of investing in grand living rooms and expensive kitchen appliances as a priority, it might be wise to focus on truly loving the bedroom. How that expresses itself will be unique to you, but the foundation of a good bedroom is always the same: order and beauty, fresh air, a well placed bed, beautiful natural bedding, colors that soothe you, soft lighting, art that makes you feel loved.
Clear rhythms of activity and stillness
A home that feels good has the rhythms of movement and rest built into its design. It has clear moments of inhale, and clear moments of exhale, just like the human body does. It is not confusing the two, or try to mix them together. It has areas that are active, bright, social, and full of light and sound. Then it has quiet areas which hold protective, soft and still energy. This contrast is essential. Without it, a home feels either chaotic or lifeless. Good energy knows when to be alive and moving, and when to rest and be still. Fresh flowers, vibrant art, natural light, beautiful sounds, active shapes and saturated colors all bring life. The quiet reflective corners, dimmed lights, soft textures and silence bring rest. A good home absolutely needs both in order to truly support you.
Well-taken care of utilitarian places
I am so often asked if the state of the garage matters for a good home. Or the laundry room, the closets or the basement. Well, of course they do, they are still parts of your home. We cannot ignore parts of a house and expect it to feel good just like we cannot neglect parts of our body. It is that deep of a connection we have with our living spaces. In a home that feels good every little detail matters, even if it is not often seen or used. Even if it is hidden, it still has a presence and a voice. Energetically there are no walls, so hiding things does not really work. Everything constantly influences everything else, no matter it is seen or not.
You know it when a space feels good; it is a sensation in your body that is either there, or not. And while It is impossible to force the feeling of a good home, it is possible to create it with practical and intentional decisions. When all items in your home are meaningful and treated with care, the whole home starts feeling good, generously sharing this feeling with you.
Related: How To Create A Peaceful Home
Image: My Nguyen
