If you want to understand Feng Shui and how to apply it to your space, one of the first things you need to understand is the feng shui bagua map.

What is the feng shui bagua map?
The bagua is a feng shui energy map that you can place over your space so that you can accurately apply feng shui cures.
Each part of the bagua reflects an area of your life, such as health, creativity, family, and money.
When you use the bagua map, you can easily understand which areas of your space need to change in order to make your life better.
How does the bagua map work?
The bagua map shows you which areas of your home relate to the different areas of your life.
Once you know where the different feng shui areas of your home are, you can then apply feng shui tips to enhance those areas.
So if you want more abundance in your life, you’d apply feng shui money enhancing cures to that area of your home. If you want more love in your life, you’d apply feng shui tips to your love area.

How do I apply the bagua map to my house?
I study and practice Western feng shui, so I use the Western feng shui bagua map. There are other schools of feng shui, so if you study one of those, you’ll use a different bagua map.
But if you are new to feng shui or don’t really know which bagua to use, I recommend starting with the Western bagua map because it’s the easiest to understand and apply.
Here’s a picture of the Western bagua map:

As you can see, the Western feng shui bagua map divides your space into 9 equal areas.
To apply the feng shui energy map, you line the bottom 3 areas of the bagua to align with your front door (or the door you use to enter your home the most, which could be somewhere else!)
This means the front door will always be in the knowledge/self-cultivation area, the career area, or the helpful people/travel area.
For my home, we use the front door the most, so our entrance is in the career area of our home.
You then divide your home into 9 equal areas based on the map. So when you stand at the front door, looking inside your home:
- The front door (or other entrance) always lines up with either knowledge/self-cultivation, career, or helpful people/travel.
- The middle sections of your home are always: family/legacy, health, and children/creativity.
- The far back sections of your home are always: money, fame, and love/relationships.
If your home isn’t perfectly square, you still divide your home into 9 equal(ish) areas.
My home is a wide rectangle, so my sections are rectangular.
If your home is a narrow rectangle, your sections will be narrow rectangles.

The feng shui bagua map also applies to individual rooms in your home.
The bagua can apply to your whole home, but it can also apply to each individual room in your home.
So each room has it’s own career area, money area, love area, etc. Orient the door of the room to the bottom of the map.
Applying the bagua to individual rooms is extremely helpful when you live with others, because you can feng shui your own space and not worry as much about everyone else’s.
Feng shui is all about intention, so if you try to feng shui your significant other’s office, for example, and they don’t care as much about what you want, the intention won’t work as well.
Instead, use feng shui in the whole home or in your own room to strengthen your intentions!
The bagua map also applies to your whole property.
Not only does the bagua apply to your home and its individual rooms, but it applies to your whole property as well!
To apply the bagua map to your property, orient the map in the same way – wherever you enter the property aligns with the bottom of the map.
This means your yard has a health area, money area, love area, etc!
When you first learn of feng shui it can be overwhelming to think of not only using tips in your whole home, but each individual room, and then the whole lot.
Just know that wherever you start, it is good enough and a little goes a long way!
You don’t have to feng shui everything in order to see results.
Start with one intention and one or two feng shui cures and then take a break and see what happens!
You can see a powerful change with just ONE intention, so don’t get overwhelmed!

What do the colors mean on the feng shui map?
The colors on the map represent the colors most associated with that area. So purple is associated with wealth, yellow is associated with health, etc.
That doesn’t mean that you have to paint those areas those colors or that other colors will ruin those areas!
The colors apply more to feng shui cures and tips for those areas, so don’t worry too much about the colors in your overall decor.
Always have the colors that you LOVE in your home and don’t just use colors because the map tells you to!
How do you apply the bagua to an irregular space?
In Western feng shui, the bagua is applied equally, no matter the shape of the home.
You break the entire floor plan into 9 equal spaces. If your home is a rectangle, for example, your “squares” might be more like rectangles.
This is okay and is exactly how it should look if you’re doing it correctly!

Does the bagua apply to your garage?
YES! Every space, even the garage and closets, count. Feng shui includes every area, even if you’d rather it didn’t.😉
What do you do if you apply the feng shui bagua map to your home and you are missing a space?
Let’s say your home is a “u” shape with patio area that is technically “missing” from the enclosed space of your home.
The Western bagua would include that space, even though it’s technically outside. And you would apply cures to that area to balance it out and include it in your home.
You might also have an area that “bumps out” and extends past the bagua squares.
Those areas would be included as well, and would be considered an extension of whichever area is closest.
For example, if your dining area is in your wealth area, and extends past the square of the bagua, that area would be considered the wealth area.
It just gives you extra space to boost that area!

How do you apply the bagua to an upper level?
You apply the bagua to your upstairs spaces by again, orienting the entrance to the upper level to the bottom of the map.
BUT, a lot of times the upper levels contain mostly bedrooms and bathrooms.
In that case, it might be more helpful to apply the bagua to individual rooms instead of treating the whole upper level as one.
Think of the bedrooms as personal rooms containing the feng shui intentions of whoever sleeps there.
In other words, don’t worry too much about your kids’ bedrooms being perfectly feng-shuied.
You can definitely help them arrange their rooms according to feng shui principles, but you can’t feng shui for someone else.
And their rooms won’t affect your over-all intentions for your home, so don’t worry!
How do you apply the feng shui map to the basement?
The same way you apply the map to an upstairs level also applies to the downstairs level.
You would orient the map so the bottom of the map aligns to the entrance.
But again, it might be more helpful to apply the bagua map to the individual rooms.
When it comes to applying the bagua, it’s really more of an art than a science in the Western school of feng shui.
What’s important is that you should just pick one way of applying it and stick to it.
This means that you can’t really get it wrong, because your intention is to raise the chi of your entire home, so everything counts.

How do you apply the bagua if you have roommates or don’t control areas of your home?
What happens if you have roommates and their bedrooms are off limits to you? How do you apply the bagua?
These areas do count towards the chi of your living space, but since you can’t control them, just don’t count them in your bagua.
Each person is responsible for their own chi, and it could affect you, but YOUR chi will also affect them!
You can only raise the chi of the areas you control, so don’t get too caught up in feeling responsible for their space.
What if you only live in one room? How do you apply the bagua?
Again, even though the whole home “counts” in feng shui, your feng shui cures WILL work if you apply them only to your personal space.
Use feng shui in the rooms you control and don’t worry too much about the rest!
How do you apply the feng shui bagua map to an apartment?
The same rules apply – you orient the bagua to the entrance of your apartment.
The same way you don’t pay rent for other people in the complex, you should treat your apartment as your home and don’t worry about the other people in the building.
Treat your individual space as yours. Don’t worry about the shared spaces.
Can you apply the bagua wrong?
When it comes to feng shui, your intention matters more than anything else.
And sure, the different areas of your home are IMPORTANT, but you can’t really do it wrong.
If your home seems complicated (maybe it’s a weird shape so the bagua doesn’t seem to apply “correctly”) then start by using the map in individual rooms instead!
Each individual area of the bagua affects every other area.
Each area also “bleeds” into every other area.
So look at your home as a whole and decide which areas need energetic attention.
If you’d like more abundance, cleaning up that far left corner of your home (and each individual room) counts more than worrying about whether your feng shui money bowl is directly in the money area or if it’s technically in your home’s fame area.
Your intention matters the most and the Universe WILL respond.
Don’t get too hung up on the technical aspects of each individual area and just get started!
In conclusion, when it comes to applying the feng shui bagua map, it’s really more of an art than a science in the Western school of feng shui.
What’s important is that you should just pick one way of applying it and stick to it.
This means that you can’t really get it wrong, because your intention is to raise the chi of your entire home, so everything counts.
Now that you know about the feng shui bagua map, you might want to learn about the individual areas and how they work:
- feng shui bagua series: feng shui travel and helpful people area
- feng shui bagua series: your home’s feng shui career area
- feng shui bagua series: feng shui knowledge and wisdom area
- feng shui bagua series: the feng shui family area of your home
- feng shui bagua series: the feng shui health area
- feng shui bagua series: your home’s feng shui money area
- feng shui bagua series: the feng shui creativity area
- feng shui bagua series: feng shui fame and reputation area
Or you might also want to know:
- simple feng shui tips for creating a home you love (7 basic feng shui tips that work for anyone!)
- feng shui tips for good luck (9 ways to attract luck to your door with feng shui)
- creating a feng shui wealth bowl – must use tips to manifest more money and abundance!
- feng shui tips for good energy – 8 ways to increase the happiness in your home with feng shui!

Sally says
Can I make my entrance hall my money area?
Rachel says
Yes!! The entryway is actually a strong money area in feng shui, so you can definitely add more money attracting things there!
Kim says
Hi Rachel! Silly question…my far left corner of my house is the technically the garage. I don’t foresee putting my “prosperity ” corner next to my husband’s fishing boat ,tools and cob webs. The room between that and the front door is the livingroom. I could really use some help here please.
Rachel says
It’s not silly at all! I would use an area inside. Using the area of your living room sounds perfect!
Chrys says
Hi I have read your blog and I really want to transform my appartment according to feng shui to attract more abundance and money in our lives! According to the Bagua mop money corner is in my daughter’s room and next to it is the living room. Should I consider her room as the money corner or can I consider the living room corner right next to her room as money corner?
Rachel says
Hi! I would treat your daughter’s room as her own space (and not worry too much about her room) and then use the living room corner as your money area, like you said. I’d also really work on the front door and entryway as an extra boost to reinforce the money attraction! 🙂
Valeri says
So when u count ur child’s room as a separate area, would they use the entrance to their own room and apply a separate bagua?
Rachel says
Yes! the bagua can be applied to any individual room. 🙂
Wendy says
What do you mean by applying the bagua.? Do you mean to hang it up?
Rachel says
You CAN hang it up if you want, but you don’t have to! I just meant that you’re using it to figure out which areas of your home relate to the areas of your life. 🙂
Jodie says
Hi there,
I use my garage to “enter my house” and then use the internal door to enter my home. Should I use the garage door or internal door to effectively apply the Bagua map?
Rachel says
I would use the internal door and orient the bagua from there!
Tamisha Denson says
I don’t have an hallway at my front door so how would that work for me
Rachel says
You don’t have to have a hallway – just use your front door. 🙂
Ney says
My house is a bilevel the main entrance faces the stairs and the living room to the left, where should I use the money corner?
Jennifer says
Hi Rachel,
My front door is on the far left side of the house, my bedroom is in the wealth section of the house on the second floor. garage is on the right side and the kitchen is in the creativity section. The middle which is the health section i have stairs going into the basement. Its a very poorly designed home that i am renting. One day i wish to buy my own home and build it Feng shuily. Please help me to find cures or your advise i would greatly be greatfull for. I have been dealing with a lot of anxiety trying to feel my purpose here and for my family’s health and well being. Please help me…….
Marie says
Our home is an l shape where we done have history past or wealth. Do we work on these where they shld be or push them to the left and split the center and fame areas? Or, split the knowledge/ spirituality area into 3 horizontal layers to include them there? Thank you!
Rachel says
Hey Marie! You can split it whichever way feels right and makes sense to you! If one side happens to be all bedrooms, I’d probably leave that side as is and split the other side, but it depends on how it feels to you.
Cesaire says
I live in a mobile home that is 16×80 with an addition added on in the front that is 20×42, so how would I apply the diagram thanksCesaire
Rachel says
Hey Cesaire! Align the bagua so that the bottom is where your front door is. Whichever door you use most to enter your home is the entrance you use.
Rashida says
I have a big wall in front of my entry door so how I use the bagua map pls help.
Rachel says
Hey Rashida! The bagua goes over your whole home, so just ignore the wall and pretend it isn’t there. 🙂
Sandy Dean says
Still kinda
confusing
Sandy says
Hi Rachel. I rented a room at someone’s house and I’m living with the owners at the moment. Very OCD and not much I can do here not even plants are allowed. How can I use feng shui to make my life happier in my little room?
Thank you
Rachel says
Hey Sandy! You can apply any of the feng shui tips to your own room. You don’t have to move things in the rest of the house for it to work. Just do what YOU can and it will work great! You can also try these tips: simple feng shui tips for creating a home you love (7 basic feng shui tips that work for anyone!)
Renee says
I have a couple questions…. when moving 27 things are they to stay there or just move and put back.
My husband and I are retired…. how does the career area work for us.
Rachel says
Hey Renee! The career area is also your life path and opportunities area, so it doesn’t have to be all about a job. You can use it to create new opportunities and find new passions in life too! And yes, you can put the 27 things back or just move them a tiny bit. 🙂
Patricia Araujo says
Hi, I live in an apartment. My entrance is south facing and I’m in a corner lot so I have westerly exposure in the living dinning room and northerly expose in the bedrooms. the entrance has a small walkway/ foyer that opens into my living room. It also opens to my kitchen to the left and flows into the dinning room and has windows facing west with a door to balcony.
There is a wall that my sofa backs up to which is adjacent to my bedroom to the left of the apt. Than to the right is my son’s bedroom and in front is. A bathroom in front sitting in the middle of bedroom and living room.
How do I use the Bahia map?
Rachel says
Hi Patricia! You apply the bagua map by aligning it with the front entrance of your actual apartment (not the whole building.) That way it applies only to your space! In Western feng shui it doesn’t matter which way your apartment faces, so just align it with the front door and go from there. 🙂 xoxo
geraldine vega says
hi…my entrance door is on the left afar..so when i enter..im facing a wall and a glass door with wood which divides my living room to our music room. So using the bagua map..my wealth corner is my music or entertainment room?
Rachel says
The wealth corner is the far left corner away from the entrance. You stand in the entrance, looking inside your home. The wealth area is the far left 1/3d of your home. So if that’s the music/entertainment room then yes!
Jaye says
Hello! My house is oddly shaped. We come through the garage,then through the main door to the house. Which is directly the kitchen. On the right is a family room, washer and dryer, bathroom and another door to the back patio and yard. If you go a few inches to the left and straight ahead threw a door way is the living room. the right of that is the front door. Then you go straight then right through another door way there is a bedroom on the right, a bathroom straight ahead, another bedroom on the upper left and our bedroom on the back left. So how would I build my Bagua?
Rachel says
Hey Jaye! You align the bagua with the entrance that makes the most sense to you. So if that’s the garage door, align the bagua when you’re standing at the garage door, looking into the home. If you really feel like the “entrance” to your home is your front door, then align the bagua with your front door.
Anushree says
Hi There ,
Very Interesting and simple to understand ! In The square if Fame , We have a gap as its an empty Shaft of the building which is a closed and covered and we have no access to it . So how should I treat that corner as fame ?
Please advice !
Rachel says
Use the walls around where the fame area would be as your fame area. You can also create a fame area in another room of your home if that works better for you! xoxo
Natalia says
Hi my name is Natalia, I have a question, we built an apartment in side the house, at the back of the house the have there own entrance how should I do it.
Rachel says
Hey Natalia! I would consider that apartment a separate space from the rest of the house. So you can feng shui the main part of the home separately from the apartment. The apartment bagua would start where the apartment front door is, but the main home bagua would start where the main home door is. Does that make sense? xoxo
Riza Laid says
Hi you article was very interesting, I do also have a question though, how can I apply this bagua map if my front door is located at the front left corner side of the house?
But if I would include my front porch area, veranda style, since I am living on the 2nd level (apartment type) that would also leave my entry way on the corner of left front side of the house
Rachel says
You’d still align the bagua with your front door. It might mean that the bagua is rotated 90 degrees – if it is, your entry is in the travel and helpful people area. 🙂