Feng Shui your bathroom

You can also 'hide' the bathroom by keeping the door closed at all times. If you have an en-suite bathroom with no door, either add a door or, if this is not possible, hang a curtain over the entrance to separate the bathroom from the bedroom.

Controlling energy loss
It has often been said that flushing the toilet equals 'flushing away wealth'. More accurately, the flow of dirty water down a toilet pulls the chi away from the rest of the home. To stop this energy drain, close the toilet lid before you flush, and keep the lid down at all other times. For extra protection, a traditional feng shui method to suppress the draining effect of a toilet is to hang a small, unobtrusive wind chime with five solid metal bars above it.

The bars push energy down into the toilet. If this remedy is not to your taste, simply use earth colours as described on previous pages, and place a bowl or pot of decorative pebbles close to the toilet, to reduce this downward pull of energy.

Doctor's orders

Problem: You have a bathroom in a bad location, such as beside or opposite the front door or facing the back door.

Remedy: Block the draining effect of the water immediately by using warm, rich earth colours in the bathroom. Keep the door closed. If your bathroom is on the left-hand side of the front door (as you face the door from inside), hang a mirror on the bathroom door to 'hide' the room.

Enhancing bathrooms in any pa kua sector
Bathrooms can easily drain the energies of any pa kua location. For a bathroom in any sector, the solution is to add earth colours to block the drainage of energy. You can also use metal, but avoid fire, wood and, in particular, adding more water symbols.

Location, location, location

North: You need to be especially careful with a bathroom in the north, because this location is already governed by water, so the water energy is likely to be overpowering.

Northeast: This is one of the best possible locations for a bathroom, because it is governed by earth, which will help to control the energy of the water.

East, southeast: These two sectors are governed by wood, which supports water and will actually increase the draining energy.

South: This sector is ruled by fire, which clashes with water. Using earth symbols will help to control both of these elements.

Southwest: Like the northeast, this sector is ruled by earth, so is one of the better choices for a bathroom.

West, northwest: These two sectors, whose ruling element is metal, are also among the 'least worst' choices for bathrooms.

• Feng Shui your living room
• Feng Shui your garden
• Feng Shui your kitchen

Extract from The Feng Shui Doctor by Paul Darby, priced £9.99, published by Duncan Baird Publishers.