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How to prepare your home for the Year of the Snake and bring positive feng shui energy

Feng shui designer Thierry Chow shares top tips for arranging your personal space in time for the Lunar New Year

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2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, as celebrated in this limited edition plaque by Royal Selangor. Photo: Royal Selangor

Published: 3:15pm, 25 Jan 2025Updated: 10:51am, 27 Jan 2025

In the Chinese zodiac, each year is linked to an animal, influenced further by the five fundamental elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The Lunar New Year, which falls on January 29 this year, marks the start of the Year of the Wood Snake.

What to expect

Feng shui expert Thierry Chow reveals how to prepare your home for the Year of the Wood Snake. Photo: Courtesy of Thierry Chow

The essence of the Snake can signify transformation, while the yin wood can embody growth and a deep-rooted connection with the natural world.

“We know the way the snake behaves – it usually hunts things,” says feng shui designer Thierry Chow. “But [this year] it is actually a grass snake, so it’s not a very scary snake.

“The year also represents wood and fire, which means industries like culture, art, design, medicine and technology will thrive.”

Purge the home ahead of the Lunar New Year

Declutter and choose warm hues and round shapes for your home in the Year of the Snake. Photo: Courtesy of Ellison Studios

For a good start to the year, make room for new things. Take stock of your belongings and let go of items that have been left untouched and no longer serve you.

“During Chinese New Year we love telling people to purge because you do tend to accumulate a lot of stuff, which can come to represent your inner side,” says Chow.

“It’s important for us to look at things that have been there for a long time. Perhaps it’s something from an ex [partner], or from five years ago, and you haven’t dealt with that. It’s a good time to face those things and get rid of them.”

Manifest positive energy

Living things such as plants, flowers and pets can uplift a home’s positive energy in the Year of the Wood Snake. Photo: Shutterstock

According to the principles of feng shui, understanding the interplay of elements, colours and symbols is key to maximising luck and harmony.