There are many reasons for people choosing the wallpaper they do. It may be a favourite or fashionable colour, or perhaps to fit in with a particular theme that will match up to the furniture and décor through the rest of the room.

Some like to take things further, however. One way of doing so is Feng Shui, a philosophy based on Chinese Taoist beliefs concerning the movement of energy (chi) and creating a positive balance. 

Much of this is concerned with the position of objects in the room, including the creation of a commanding position, which should be the furthest point in a room from the door, but in direct line with it, with this being the position where you will spend the greatest amount of time. 

However, it’s not all about furniture. According to House Digest, expert wallpaper installation may help too. It stated that the flow of chi can be disrupted to the wrong wallpaper and aided by the right sort. This means synthetic materials like plastics can block the energy flow and natural fibres can enhance it.

“Because plant-based, natural fibers contain the best chi energy, the most suitable choice for good feng shui is organic wallpaper made from wood, bamboo, flax, fabric, or silk,” it advised, adding that synthetic dyes should also be avoided.

Even the position of wallpaper can be determined by Feng Shi principles, which are laid out in a Bagua map. This indicates that, for instance, wood-based wallpapers should be on the upper left side. Other favourable moves include brighter colours around the fire, “while romantic, creative, or childlike wallpapers work best in earth sectors.”

To Feng Shui your wallpaper takes a lot of learning about the philosophy, but if this is something you are serious about and determined to do, it will be heartening to learn that there is a way to achieve it.