6 Things a Feng Shui Expert Wants You to Stop Storing in the Kitchen

A cheerful paint color isn’t the only way to turn your kitchen into a more positive and welcoming space. Implementing simple feng shui principles is a great way to improve the room’s overall energy.

“Feng shui is all about improving harmony and flow throughout a home, and the kitchen is a particularly important area because it’s the place where nutritious food is prepared and people come together,” says Suzanne Roynon, a feng shui practitioner and interiors therapy expert.

When it comes to implementing feng shui principles in your kitchen, it’s not just about what you invite in; what you remove matters just as much. To help you out, Roynon shares 6 things you shouldn't keep in the kitchen to promote positive energy.

1. Knives on the Countertop

Knives on the countertop are a big no for Roynon. While it may seem practical to keep a knife block out for easy access, the expert advises against it if you want your kitchen to be a harmonious space.

“Knives cut into the energy of the space and this can cause frustration, irritation, and harsh words, and make spending time in the kitchen less enjoyable,” Roynon says. Instead of storing them in a knife block that collects dust, dirt, and grease on the countertop, she recommends placing knives in a drawer.

2. Dead or Dried Flowers and Spiky Plants

Potted plants and cut flowers are a great way to liven up your kitchen, but Roynon advises against certain types if you want to maintain good energy. She says a feng shui expert never keeps dead or dried flowers in the kitchen because they are effectively dead energy. “They attract insects, cobwebs, and energetic stagnation that prevents the positive chi—life force energy—from circulating effectively,” Roynon explains.

As for potted plants, Roynon recommends staying away from any spiky plants. “Rather like knives, they cut into the energy around them and cause prickly conversations and excess tiredness,” she says. She makes an exception for aloe vera plants, saying you can have a small one available in the kitchen if you use it to treat burns. If that’s not something you use, she suggests you avoid it.

3. Broken Items

A kitchen is a hard-working space, and broken items not only take up unnecessary room, but they also mess with the kitchen’s feng shui. “Anything that is damaged or unusable is not fulfilling its purpose and becomes clutter,” Roynon says. If a broken item can be fixed for a reasonable cost, she advises doing so, but if not, it’s time to let it go.

4. Items Stored on Top of Kitchen Cabinets

Storing things on top of kitchen cabinets is another feng shui no-no, according to Roynon. “These items inevitably attract dust and kitchen grease, and their location makes them difficult to use,” she says. Whether placed there for decorative or storage purposes, items that sit on top of kitchen cabinets are typically left there for years, rarely cleaned, and often forgotten about. “Anything stored overhead exerts a downward pressure on the area beneath it and can contribute to headaches and back and neck pain for the people who spend a lot of time nearby,” Roynon warns.

5. Overflowing Trash Cans and Recycling Bins

Overflowing trash cans and recycling bins are a cause of stagnant energy, which Roynon explains creates emotional and practical blockages in the home and in other areas of life. “Each part of the home will relate to a certain aspect of lifestyle depending on the compass direction it sits in. For example, the center of the home relates to health and wellbeing, and the north relates to your career,” she explains. If you feel like life isn’t going your way, Roynon suggests emptying the trash.

6. Cluttered Countertops

Whether feng shui is involved or not, cluttered countertops are an issue—they look messy and limit your workspace. “They look and feel chaotic. Walking into a jumbled room first thing in the morning will create chaos and confusion in the brain,” Roynon says. She recommends putting rarely used appliances away, donating unused items, and storing medications and vitamins, which are often left out on the countertop, away from natural light. “Essentially if you have clear countertops, every day starts in a more positive way,” Roynon concludes.

How to Invite Good Energy into Your Kitchen

Roynon says the key to inviting good energy into your kitchen is to create a light and bright environment that’s clean and practically organized so it serves the needs of the home’s occupants. She shares the following tips to feng shui your kitchen and turn it into a positive, harmonious space:

• Hang artwork that inspires healthy living and supports a positive attitude.
• Incorporate colors that liven up the kitchen without feeling overwhelming. Roynon explains that color can lift good feng shui energy and mute any negative energy that may be lurking around. When it comes to strong colors, the expert says less is more.
• Check that all your kitchen appliances and gadgets work properly and are used regularly.
• Declutter the kitchen regularly and keep surfaces free from clutter.
• Choose healthy plants, preferably ones with round leaves, such as jade plants.