I don't have a particular problem but I would like to improve certain areas of my life. What can I do?

Perhaps you'd like to meet someone special, get a raise in your job, or improve your child's performance at school? The principles of Feng Shui can be used at all times to increase success in the different areas of your life. Place the Bagua over your floorplan and follow our simple guidelines to boost certain aspects of your personal life.

• Marriage/Relationship/Partnership

Fresh flowers, particularly pink ones, will attract new romance. If you are already in a relationship, however, hanging a pink crystal ball in the right hand corner of your home, and bedroom, will harmonise any problems you may be having. Round mirrors hung over a bed also reflect harmful energy flowing towards you both while you sleep but never hang a mirror opposite your bedframe - this encourages a third party into your relationship!

• Fame/Reputation

This area of your home should make you see red – literally! Red is the colour of the fire element which is the most powerful force for success. Hang a red crystal in this area of your office to boost your reputation at work, or put red flowers and red candles in this area of your home.

• Family/New Beginnings

The best energy to introduce to this area of your life is that of growth. Placing family photos and green plants will encourage harmony and development. If you are starting a new business venture, or a new job, or even if you just want to make a fresh start with something in your life, run a table top water fountain here to encourage the flow of energy into your project.

• Career

The career space is associated with the water element and the color black, so many of the recommended Feng Shui cures include water. Things like crystals, mirrors, an indoor water fountain, a fish tank, or decorative black ornaments will all boost your career. But it's worth noting that a metal wind chime placed over your kitchen stove activates your career as well!

• Benefactor/Travel

Everyone wants to meet helpful people in their lives. Surrounding yourself with productive relationships can make for a long and happy life. The color most closely associated with this area is grey. You could paint the walls grey or put grey cushions in the room.

• Wealth

The most important principle here is receptiveness. What you want here is to encourage the flow of success into your life. This can be enhanced by using a tabletop fountain, or a fish tank, to stimulate the flow of money into your life.

• Knowledge/Self-Cultivation

The Knowledge area of the Bagua is associated with the earth element, which is associated with solidness and the colours black, blue and green. You should also put your bookcases, papers, and files in this section of your home or office.

• Children/Completion

The Children's section is about completion and the future. Our children are most likely our hope for the future, but even if you don't have children you can use this area to help activate any plans you may have. The colour associated with this section if white. Use white or metal in this room to harmonise whatever energy you want to attract into your future.

Is there anything else I should know?

The above tips will improve balance in specific areas but there are several general principles that will maintain harmony in all aspects of your life.

The main thing to remember is if any part of your life is in disarray then your corresponding space needs to be examined. Clutter in your property causes blockages or problems with the corresponding area of your work or home life.

There should be no television sets in your bedrooms. But if you must have one then cover it with a plastic table cloth afterwards to trap its electric energy.

Place an indoor water fountain in your home in a favourable area to attract whatever you want in your life. Water encourages that energy to stay but be careful where you put it as it can also encourage bad energy to linger. If you notice bad results in an aspect of your life after placing the fish tank for approximately four months, shift your fish tank to another location.

Be careful with a red sofa set. Red is the element of fire which is the most powerful force. But too much red in the living room can give rise to heavy work pressure for you, and disruptive or misbehaved children.

Always open your bedroom windows at least once a day to allow fresh qi to come in. If not you will be sleeping with stale energy every night and therefore no new luck will come your way.