Mastering the Feng Shui Bagua: How to Map Your Floor Plan Correctly

In our previous post, we explored what the Feng Shui Bagua map is—the energetic grid used to analyze the energy flow in your space. We discussed the nine life areas (or guas) ranging from Wealth to Relationships. But understanding the theory is only half the battle. The most common question I receive from clients is: "How do I actually put this map on my house?"

If you have ever stood at your front door holding a printed Bagua chart, turning it in circles and feeling confused, you are not alone.

In this second installment of our Bagua series, we are moving from theory to practice. We will walk through the step-by-step process of overlaying the Bagua map on your floor plan so you can accurately identify where your life areas are located—and start making changes that matter.

The Great Debate: Compass vs. Front Door

Before we draw anything, we must address the two main schools of Feng Shui used today, as they apply the Bagua differently:

1. Classical (Compass) School: This method relies on the cardinal directions (North, South, East, West). You need an accurate compass reading to orient the map.
2. BTB (Black Sect/Western) School: This method aligns the Bagua based on the flow of energy (Chi) entering through the main mouth of the house—the front door.

For this guide, we will focus on the BTB (Western) method. Why? Because it focuses on the architectural flow of energy relative to how you enter the space, making it highly effective for modern living and accessible for DIY enthusiasts.

Step-by-Step: Overlaying the Bagua

To map your home correctly, you will need a rough sketch of your floor plan, a pencil, and a ruler. Follow these steps:

1. Draw Your Floor Plan

Ideally, you should have the architectural blueprint of your home. If you don't, walk through your house and sketch the outer perimeter.

• Include: All interior rooms, the front door, back doors, and attached garages (if you use the garage as a primary entry point).
• Exclude: Porches, patios, or detached sheds (unless they are enclosed living spaces).

2. The Square Rule

Feng Shui seeks balance, and the Bagua is fundamentally a square (or rectangle).

• Draw a large square or rectangle that encompasses the entire footprint of your home.
• If your house is L-shaped or has indentations, your box will include some empty space outside the walls. This is normal (we will discuss "missing areas" shortly).

3. Align the Bottom Row

In Western Feng Shui, the bottom row of the Bagua map always aligns with the wall containing your front door.

Stand at your front door looking into your house. The wall your door is on is the bottom of the map.

4. Divide into Nine Sectors

Divide your large rectangle into a $3\times3$ grid (like a Tic-Tac-Toe board). You now have nine equal sections overlaid on your house.

5. Locate Your Front Door

Look at where your front door falls within that bottom row of three squares. It will fall into one of these three positions:

• Left: Knowledge & Wisdom
• Center: Career & Life Path
• Right: Travel & Helpful People

Once you have anchored the bottom row based on your door, the rest of the map falls into place naturally.

The Nine Areas Mapped Out

Once your grid is drawn, here is where the rooms in your house likely fall. Remember, looking into the house from the front door:

The Bottom Row (Front of House)

• Left: Knowledge & Self-Cultivation (Blue/Black)
• Center: Career (Black/Dark Blue)
• Right: Helpful People & Travel (Gray/White)

The Middle Row (Center of House)

• Left: Family & New Beginnings (Green/Wood)
• Center: Health (Tai Chi) (Earth/Yellow)
• Right: Children & Creativity (White/Metal)

The Top Row (Back of House)

• Left: Wealth & Abundance (Purple/Gold)
• Center: Fame & Reputation (Red/Fire)
• Right: Love & Relationships (Pink/Earth)

Troubleshooting Tricky Floor Plans

Rarely is a modern home a perfect square. Here is how to handle common irregularities.

1. Extensions vs. Missing Corners

When a part of your house sticks out or cuts in, you need to determine if it is an extension (good luck!) or a missing corner (needs a cure).

• Extension: If the protruding area is less than 50% of the width of the house, it is considered an extension. For example, a sunroom sticking out of the "Wealth" corner means you have extra energy in the Wealth sector. This is a bonus!
• Missing Corner: If the indented area (the empty space inside your rectangle but outside your walls) is less than 50%, that area is considered "missing." For example, if your home is L-shaped, you might be completely missing the "Love & Relationships" corner.

2. How to Fix a Missing Corner

Don't panic if you are missing a corner. In Feng Shui, we can energetically complete the shape.

• Inside: Place a mirror on the wall nearest the missing corner to energetically "push" the wall out.
• Outside: If you have a yard, place a flag pole, a heavy statue, or a spotlight in the garden where the corner would be if the house were a square. This anchors the energy.

3. Stairs and Bathrooms

Sometimes, you map your house and realize your toilet is directly in your Wealth corner, or your stairs rush out the Career door.

• Bathrooms: Keep the toilet lid down, the door closed, and add a plant to soak up the water energy so your wealth doesn't "flush away."
• Stairs: If stairs face the front door, energy rushes out too fast. Place a round rug at the base or hang a crystal halfway between the door and the stairs to disperse the Chi.

Applying the Map to Individual Rooms

Here is a pro-tip that makes Feng Shui incredibly versatile: ** The Bagua is fractal.**

This means you can apply the Bagua map to the whole house, but you can also apply it to a single room.

If you have roommates, or if your "Relationship" corner falls in the garage (which isn't very romantic), you can go to your bedroom. Align the Bagua with your bedroom door. The far right corner of your bedroom becomes your "Micro-Relationship" area. You can activate the energy there with the same effectiveness.

Your Homework

This week, your task is simple but powerful: Draw your map.

1. Sketch your floor plan.
2. Overlay the grid.
3. Identify which rooms correspond to which life areas.

Don't try to fix everything at once. Just observe. Is your Wealth area cluttered? Is your Relationship area dark and dusty? Awareness is the first step toward shifting the energy.

In the next post of this series, we will dive deep into "The Power of the Wealth Corner" and specific cures you can use to invite abundance into your home.