Living room feng shui: sofa, TV, windows, mirror, plants, lamps

Feng shui is a traditional belief many people consult; this article gives common beliefs with the practical reasons that go with them, without claiming results. Updated 23/10/2026.

Arranging the living room is the easiest part of feng shui because you can move furniture yourself without altering the structure. The nice thing is that almost all the advice has a practical reason: easy to sit, less glare, enough light, airy. If you are a home buyer, this article helps you picture the living room when you view an apartment or townhouse.

Quick comparison table

Item	Common belief	Practical reason
Sofa	Back against a solid wall ("has support"), not turning its back to the main door	Sits steadily, you can see who comes in, fewer draughts
TV	Not placed facing the main door; avoid placing it against the window light	Avoids glare, reflections and noise from outside
Windows	Open and airy towards the wind and light; not blocked	Ventilation, less damp and mould, saves electricity
Mirror	Not facing the main door; not shining straight at the bed or kitchen	Avoids glare, unpleasant reflections, protects privacy
Plants	Round, fresh green leaves; avoid thorny plants on walkways	Safe for children; need enough light to live
Lamps	A bright, warm living room; avoid dark corners	Enough light to live, read and reduce eye strain

1. Sofa

The belief: the sofa should lean against a solid, firm wall, like "a mountain for support"; it should not turn its back to the main door or a large window. People also usually avoid placing a sofa right under a cross beam.

Practical angle: sitting against a wall is comfortable and saves walking space. A sofa with its back to a large door often makes the person sitting feel uneasy and exposed to draughts. For a small living room in an apartment, an L-shaped sofa in the corner makes use of the area; leave a walkway at least wide enough for two people to pass comfortably.

2. TV

The belief: do not place the TV facing the main door, nor right beside a large window. People also avoid placing the TV too high or too low for eye level.

Practical angle: a screen placed against the window light will glare and reflect. The TV should be at eye level when seated, at a distance from the seat that suits the screen size (see the maker's guide). Use double-layer curtains to adjust daylight.

3. Windows

The belief: the living room needs to be airy and bright so that "good qi enters the home". Windows should not be blocked by heavy objects or look straight at a sharp edge of another building.

Practical angle: the condominium regulation QCVN 04:2021/BXD (Circular 03/2021/TT-BXD) requires apartments to have natural lighting; the living room is where plenty of daylight is needed. If the window faces West, the afternoon is hot and glaring; use curtains, heat-insulating glass, shading louvres or a deep balcony. A house on VnExpress (07/06/2023) used wide eaves and large glass doors that open flexibly to catch the wind while limiting draughts and dust.

4. Mirror

The belief: a mirror should not face the main door directly because "qi is reflected back out"; it should not shine straight at the bed or kitchen. A living room mirror is usually placed to the side, or opposite a window to double the light.

Practical angle: a mirror facing the main door reflects lights and people coming in, easily startling and glaring. A mirror placed at right angles to the window makes the room brighter without glare. Hang a mirror firmly and safely.

5. Plants

The belief: plants with round leaves and fresh green colour, placed in a corner or by a window, are preferred; avoid thorny plants and withered ones. See also the article Feng shui plants.

Practical angle: plants only do well with enough light; choose plants that suit the room's conditions. Potted plants need drainage so the floor does not get damp, and avoid toxic plants if the home has small children or pets; ask the plant seller.

6. Lamps

The belief: the living room should be bright and warm; avoid dark corners, and avoid a hanging lamp right above the seating or pressing directly on the sofa.

Practical angle: combine a ceiling lamp with a floor or table lamp for several layers of light. Warm light suits relaxing in the evening; whiter light suits reading. Choose energy-saving lamps that don't glare.

A small living room in an apartment: quick tips

1. Keep the main walkway clear from the entrance to the living room.
2. Use one solid wall for the sofa; place the TV at right angles to the window.
3. Use double-layer curtains to adjust the sun.
4. Choose light furniture in light colours to keep the room airy; for colours see the article Interior colours for your element.
5. Don't stuff the room with feng shui items; keep it tidy and clean.

When viewing a home, what to look at in the living room?

• Windows and balcony: which way they face, how the afternoon sun is, whether the wind causes draughts.
• The number of sockets, the TV position and the air conditioner.
• Noise from the corridor or the street.
• Whether the area is enough for a sofa set and a dining table if the living room is joined to the kitchen. For a ready-made home, see also what to check when viewing a ready-made home.

Note: feng shui is for reference only and does not guarantee luck, wealth or profit. Put clear legal status, the quality of the home, light and ventilation, safety and a price that fits your finances first.

• Supreme People's Procuracy (vksndtc.gov.vn) — National technical regulation on condominiums (QCVN 04:2021/BXD, Circular 03/2021/TT-BXD: apartments must have natural lighting), accessed 23 October 2026.
• VnExpress — A house "warm in winter, cool in summer" (eaves, flexibly opening glass doors, limiting draughts), 7 June 2023.
• Beliefs about the position of the sofa, TV, mirror, plants and lamps: common folk beliefs, with no source attached; the "practical angle" parts are commonly used furniture-arrangement experience, not figures.