The bagua, pictured here, is a feng shui "map" that designers refer to frequently. Phree Bartley, a feng shui consultant, recommends keeping water near your home's entrance to encourage the flow of money. Bartley's bedroom encourages feng shui, with no singular-depicting images and a bed in the right position. Bartley keeps photos of her late mother on her East wall, where the ancestors are honored. Photos by Christine H. Wetzel.

When purchasing a home, the standard rule of thumb that has been ingrained in a buyer's mind is "location, location, location." And it seems this same philosophy applies when styling a home -- at least when following the East-Asian home design style known as feng shui.

Originating more than 5,000 years ago in China, feng shui, which literally means wind water, made its debut in the United States in the early '80s. The design form has since been responsible for the onslaught of wind chimes, water fountains and mirrors that have graced the south, east, west and north corners of homes to many a feng shui follower.

The premise of feng shui is simple: the space one lives in and everything that occupies it, determines the space's energy. The energy, in turn, has a direct effect on its owner.

"You have an interactive relationship with the space around you," said Mary Swick, a local feng shui consultant who offers her services online at http://www.thefenghsuilady.com/.

"(Your space) affects you, what's going on in your head and how you view life. The concept of feng shui then, is that maybe you can change your view and your life by changing your space," Swick said.

The idea seems simple enough: good space equals good energy. But creating the "goodness" of it all -- while simultaneously ridding your space of bad energy -- can get a little tricky.

To completely feng shui a home, you should have a few items handy. Other than the aforementioned wind chimes, water structures and mirrors, a ba gua -- the octagon-shaped energy map (ba = eight, gua = areas) -- will act as Confucius to the feng shui beginner.

According to Phree Bartley, whose feng shui services can be accessed at http://www.borntofengshui.com/, this map is crucial to "creating a beautifully balanced home with precious harmony."

Each space or gua, of which there are nine -- including the center -- represents its own energy or chi. The energy forms are represented not only by a location, but also by a color and element. (See "Flowing Planes" sidebar for a breakdown of each energy form with all its representations. North, regardless of its direction on an actual compass, is placed at the front door.)

Keeping with the ba gua, both the placement and displacement of furniture and belongings can work to maximize the chi of a living space.

For Swick, the feng shui process begins with the front door -- otherwise known as the yin (female influence) part of the house.

"This is where first impressions are made so I pay a lot of attention to the entrance, the front door and the foyer," she said.

In doing so, Swick makes sure there is a clear pathway and nothing blocking the door from touching its perpendicular wall. The goal here is to ensure the owner is free from obstacles and can walk about freely. The same, per the feng shui beliefs, will be reflected in their life.

"Most people who come to me don't know what exactly the problem is, they just know something isn't right," Swick said. "It usually isn't with the floor plan. It's usually how they've arranged things."

For instance, a web of power cords represents drained energy. Dying plants reflect stunted growth. A bed facing the doorway symbolizes the morgue position. Sharp edges, similar to the pointed disciplinary finger, represent trouble. On the upside, mirrors illustrate a wide perspective. Wind chimes are for new beginnings. Water fountains move and refresh. And sunlight brings about the most positive chi possible.

With the front of the house representing the yin, the back yard naturally symbolizes the yang, or male influence. Swick said an underdeveloped back yard speaks to "a man who is not performing well."

With all these considerations, you may be happy to hear that -- unlike most design concepts involving big bucks -- feng shui is actually a huge cost saver. Rather than buy new things, the owner is merely rearranging existing items or disposing of useless ones.

And for those still having trouble understanding the ideas behind feng shui, Bartley provides the following example: "You know when you go to a new place and immediately get a certain feeling about it? When you leave you either have a warm or a cold, not-so-good feeling? Yeah, that's feng shui."