Feng Shui Good Luck Tips for the New Year
Feng shui (風水) is the ancient Chinese art of arranging your environment to create harmony with the natural world and invite positive energy, or chi. As the New Year approaches, this practice provides a powerful framework not just for cleaning, but for symbolically resetting the energy of your home to support your hopes for the coming months.
This guide combines traditional feng shui adjustments for your space with supportive personal rituals for your mind. Think of it as a two-part process: first, we prepare the environment (the core of feng shui), and then we align our personal energy within it. Below, you’ll find a chronological plan that tells you exactly when to perform each step, from the week before to the moment the New Year begins.
The Week Before New Year’s: Preparation & Cleansing
Your work begins in the final days of the old year. This period is for the core feng shui practice of cleansing, repairing, and clearing out stagnant energy to make space for the new.
First, conduct a deep clean of your entire home. This isn’t just about dusting; it’s a symbolic act of clearing out any negative or stuck chi that has accumulated over the past twelve months. Focus on decluttering—clutter is considered a major blocker of energy flow. As you clean, fix anything that is broken, as broken items symbolize unfinished business and can disrupt harmony. If something is beyond repair, consider letting it go respectfully. Pay special attention to corners, behind furniture, and closets, where energy easily stagnates.
Next, perform a traditional space-clearing ritual. After cleaning, stand in the center of your home. Take several deep breaths to clear your mind, then ring a bell loudly several times, allowing the pure sound to vibrate into every room. Follow this by lighting sandalwood incense or a bundle of dried sage (a practice known as smudging) and walk mindfully through your space, focusing on the intention of purification and renewal.
Finally, address your financial energy. Before the year turns, pay any outstanding bills or debts, even if only a small amount. This act symbolically clears old financial obligations and makes energetic space for new abundance to flow in.
On New Year’s Eve (December 31st): The Release Ritual
The evening of the 31st is dedicated to consciously releasing the old year and making final physical preparations.
Begin by refreshing the “Mouth of Chi.” Your front door is where energy enters your home. Sweep the porch, clean the door and frame, and ensure it opens smoothly without squeaks. A bright, welcoming entry invites opportunity.
Prepare your bedroom sanctuary. Since we spend a third of our lives sleeping—a passive, receptive state—ensure this space supports restorative energy. Declutter nightstands and, crucially, remove everything from under the bed. Wash or replace your bed linens with fresh, natural-fabric sheets. This prepares you to receive new energy in your most vulnerable state.
Perform a final energy release. Open every window and exterior door in your home to let old, stagnant air circulate out. As you do this, you can state a simple intention of release and gratitude. This clears the way for fresh chi to enter at midnight.
On New Year’s Day (January 1st): The Welcome Ritual
This day is about attracting, not cleaning. Everything you do should be geared toward inviting prosperity, joy, and good luck. Important: Do not clean or sweep today, as you risk sweeping away the new good luck.
Start your day by cleansing your personal energy. Take a shower or bath first thing in the morning. Visualize the water washing away any lingering attachments to the past year, leaving you physically and energetically refreshed for the new beginning.
Set your tone with words and dress. The first words you speak should be positive and kind. Tell loved ones “I love you,” or voice wishes for health and happiness. Then, wear something red—a scarf, socks, or a full outfit. Red is the color of luck, vitality, and joy in many cultures. For a wealth-specific boost, place some cash in a new red wallet.
Now, welcome abundance into your home with traditional symbols.
• Fruit Bowl: Place a bowl of round fruits—like oranges, tangerines, or apples—on your kitchen or dining table. The round shape symbolizes unity and completeness. Read more about New Years Lucky Fruits. The gold color of oranges is specifically associated with wealth.
• Prosperity Plants: In the South-East corner of your living room (the classic feng shui wealth sector), place a plant like a Jade Plant or Lucky Bamboo. This living symbol attracts growth and fresh, positive energy. Check out our post on New Years lucky plants.
• Wealth Bowl: Find a beautiful bowl (red, purple, gold, or green are ideal) and place it in your wealth corner or near your entryway. Drop in your first few coins to begin a year-long habit of attracting abundance.
Mind your money flows. Keep all toilet lids closed and, for today, consider plugging sink and bathtub drains. This prevents good fortune and wealth from symbolically “draining away.”
Pay Outstanding Bills. Bills can act as a weight that’s hanging over your head. Before going into the New Year, make sure you pay them to bring about some good luck. If you can’t pay them off in their entirety, at least pay a little bit towards them to bring about some positivity.
Host with auspicious cheer. Give Guests A Proper Greeting. If you will be having guests over on New Year’s Day, make sure you greet them properly. Loudly exclaim, “Gong Xi Fa Chai!” in a friendly voice. Translated this says, “Have a happy and prosperous new year.” You may also want to give your guests a gift of some sort that’s auspicious. A good choice is a few Chinese coins that are tied together with red thread. New Year’s Day is about celebrating and you really should spend the day being around people that you love.
What to Avoid: Put Away The Sharp Objects. Any knives, razors, or scissors should be put out of sight. The reason behind this is that they can shred luck. If you happen to have any of these items lying around, make sure you hide them on New Years Day and definitely don’t cut anything.
Understanding the Blend: Feng Shui vs. Personal Ritual
To practice this guide authentically, it’s helpful to distinguish between its two components:
• Core Feng Shui Adjustments: These are the direct, physical changes you make to your environment based on traditional principles.
• The Deep Clean & Declutter (removing stagnant chi).
• Fixing the "Mouth of Chi" (your front door).
• Placing Auspicious Symbols (fruit bowl, wealth bowl, plants in the SE corner).
• Applying Color Theory (wearing red).
• Managing Energy Flow (keeping lids down, putting sharp objects away).
• Supportive Personal Rituals: These are mindful practices that prepare you to receive the benefits of your harmonized space. They enhance the feng shui work but are not feng shui itself.
• The Visualization during your shower.
• Setting positive first words and intentions.
• The mindful sharing of a meal with gratitude.By combining both, you create a holistic approach: your space is cleared and charged to attract good fortune, and your mind is focused and open to receive it.
Bringing It All Together
This guide transforms traditional principles into a purposeful ritual journey. By moving from release to welcome, you actively participate in shaping the energy of your coming year. Remember, the core of feng shui is harmony between you and your space. Approach each step with a clear, positive mind, and you’ll have done the most important thing: set a powerful, purposeful foundation for the New Year.
We’d love to hear from you! Will you follow this guide this year? What are your own New Year’s traditions? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Ready to dive deeper? Explore our related guides to build your knowledge and practice:
- [New Year’s Lucky Fruits: Symbolism and Global Traditions]
- [The Best Feng Shui Plants for Prosperity: A Care Guide]
Lucky Foods
There are different types of foods that should be part of your evening feast. This includes the lucky fruits mentioned above, a tray of togetherness, fish, uncut noodles & sweets. We have an entire blog post dedicated to Chinese New Years lucky foods.
You may also be interested in reading our posts New Years lucky soups, New Years lucky flowers, New years lucky food recipes, New Years Lucky colors & New Years lucky scents.
