How to Become a Feng Shui Consultant: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough - The Focal Point Skip to main content

Do you want to know how to become a Feng Shui consultant? Then look no further, because you’ve come to the right place!

You probably have a ton of unanswered questions about this new, exciting career path. Luckily, we’ve answered ALL of them for you in this article!

In less time than it would take for you to watch your favorite Netflix show, you’re going to learn everything you need to do to start your dream career!

What is Feng Shui?

In order to start a career as a Feng Shui consultant, you first need to understand what Feng Shui is. 

Feng Shui is a pseudoscientific practice that dates all the way back to ancient China. The literal translation of “Feng” is wind, while “Shui” means water. According to Crane & Canopy, in traditional Chinese culture, both of these elements are “associated with good health”.

The 4 Central Concepts of Feng Shui

So, what’s the ultimate goal of Feng Shui?

Simply put, it’s to create balanced, positive energy. Feng Shui does this through the use of the Bagua map, as well as through the implementation of 4 central concepts:

1. Ch’i

This is that balanced, positive energy we just talked about! Ch’i is considered to be the universal, life-giving force that permeates all things. This includes the energy inside of our bodies.

When there’s a healthy flow of ch’i within a home, one is more likely to experience happiness, prosperity, fulfilment, and peace.

Your job as a Feng Shui consultant is to help clients create better ch’i flow in their living spaces. This way, they can live the fruitful, positive life they’ve always wanted to live!

2. Yin and Yang

Secondly, Feng Shui is all about balance. If one area of our lives is suffering, it will create a ripple affect that may negatively impact other aspects of our lives. Similarly, when certain areas of our life are thriving, they can positively impact other parts of our lives, as well.

If you want to know how to work as a Feng Shui consultant, then you’ll need to understand the value of Yin and Yang.

You’re probably already familiar with this concept – or at least, with the symbol that represents it (the Taiji). Yin and Yang are the balance of energies that make up the universe. When in perfect balance, they promote a harmonious life that supports one’s growth and betterment.

3. The 5 Elements

Drawing back on the importance of balance within the home, the third central concept of Feng Shui focuses on balancing these 5 elements:

  1. Fire
  2. Wood
  3. Metal
  4. Earth
  5. Water

Importantly, as a Feng Shui consultant, you aren’t approaching these elements literally. For instance, you don’t need to actually incorporate fire or water within your client’s home. Rather, it’s about incorporating the essence of these elements. This can be done through the use of color, qualities, and shapes.

4. The Celestial Animals

In Feng Shui, there are 4 celestial animals:

  1. Black Tortoise
  2. Green Dragon
  3. White Tiger
  4. Red Phoenix

Importantly, the celestial animals energetically support the healthy, balanced flow of ch’i. Much like the 5 elements, these are not literal animals. Instead, they’re a relative measure of landforms that surround our home and/or office.

Each one represents one of the four main compass directions outside of the home (North, South, East, and West).

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Why Is Feng Shui It So Popular in Home Design?

Although Feng Shui has been around for thousands of years, it’s only gained overwhelming popularity within Western society over the last several decades.

Now that the rest of the world sees its remarkable benefits, it’s definitely not going anywhere! In fact, its popularity will likely only continue to grow.

But why is this?

Think of it this way: at the end of the day, what is the one thing we all want as human beings?

To be happy.

Furthermore, there’s the aesthetic appeal that Feng Shui brings with it as well.

For example, there tends to be a heavy focus placed on minimalism, as well as the incorporation of natural greenery. Both of these have become massively popular design trends in recent years – especially since the rise of Marie Kondo’s “KonMari” method, which marries professional organizing with Feng Shui design.

So, what should YOU be taking away from this?

Feng Shui has made its mark all across the globe – and it’s not going anywhere. If you’ve been looking for a sign to start a career as a Feng Shui consultant, consider this it!

Is Feng Shui Decorating a Good Career?

Absolutely!

Firstly, if you’re passionate about Feng Shui, then it goes without saying that you were born for this profession.

Secondly, the best career paths are those that allow you to tap into your creativity, while also making a genuine change in your clients’ lives. In that sense, being a Feng Shui consultant will definitely check these boxes for you!

Furthermore, as we examined above, there are NO shortages of work opportunities. Once you get started as a Feng Shui consultant, you’ll be amazed at how many clients you can consistently book. This is especially the case in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the last year and a half, the majority of us had to be confined within our homes. As a result, the importance of our living spaces – and how we feel when in them – has become more prominent than ever before!

Over the course of endless lockdowns, we as a society had the chance to stop and think about how we’d change and/or elevate our homes, if given the chance.

Now that the world is finally starting to slowly return to normal again, everyone’s jumping at the chance to put those plans into action.

The design industry is absolutely BOOMING right now, with no signs of slowing down.

How Much Do Feng Shui Consultants Make?

In terms of salary, it’s important to be realistic and keep a few key factors in mind. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” salary for a Feng Shui consultant. This is because your income will depend on:

  • Where you live;
  • The demand in your area;
  • If you offer e-design services and, subsequently, long-distance clients in addition to local clients;
  • Whether you’re booking clients part-time vs. full-time;
  • If you’re running your own business or working for an established company;
  • The efforts you’re putting into marketing, client acquisition/retention, social media, your business website, etc.;
  • The types of services your design business offers;
  • And much more.

That being said, I can give you some general figures. These should help you get a better idea of possible salary ranges!

  • United States:Approx. $67,778 USD per year for entry-level Feng Shui consultants (1-3 years’ experience) – SalaryExpert
  • Canada:Approx. $68,464 CAD per year for entry-level Feng Shui consultants (1-3 years’ experience) – SalaryExpert
  • United Kingdom:Approx. £35,959 per year for entry-level Feng Shui consultants (1-3 years’ experience) – SalaryExpert
  • Australia: Approx. $82,457 AUD per year for entry-level Feng Shui consultants (1-3 years’ experience) – SalaryExpert
  • New Zealand: Approx. $74,421 NZD per year for entry-level Feng Shui consultants (1-3 years’ experience) – SalaryExpert
Feng Shui consultant sitting in living room wooden floor using palette tool choosing color for design house interior.

The Added Value of a Feng Shui Certification

One of the most affective ways to boost your Feng Shui consultant salary is to get professionally trained. As a result of this training, you’ll be able to add a reputable, internationally-recognized certification to your resume!

Why is this critical?

Because potential clients will always prefer to work with a consultant who’s taken the time to earn their stripes. After all, try putting yourself in their shoes: would YOU rather hire someone with a certification, or someone without one?

Secondly, getting properly trained requires an investment in your time, money, and effort. Once you graduate, you’ll be able to price your Feng Shui consulting services in order to properly reflect that.

And if your design business offers any other types of services, you can increase those rates too!

Thirdly, having a credible Feng Shui certification will be one of the BEST ways to help you stand out from the competition. Setting yourself apart from the crowd will help you elevate your business and better your bottom line at the same time!

Did you know that QC Design School offers an online, self-paced Feng Shui Design Course? Learn all about it here and earn your Advanced Feng Shui Design Professional (AFDP) certification in as little as 3-6 months!

Where Can You Study Feng Shui?

If you want to know how to become a Feng Shui consultant, the key lies in proper education. Luckily, there are all sorts of design schools – both online and in-person – that offer programs entirely dedicated to Feng Shui training.

Start by figuring out whether you’d prefer distance learning or training at a brick-and-mortar institution.

(Insider tip: If you decide to pursue your schooling online, there will be a LOT more Feng Shui certification courses to choose from!)

Just remember that the right Feng Shui course, regardless of whether it’s online or in-person, will need to meet the same criteria. After all, you want to get your money’s worth, right?

If you want to ensure that you receive the highest-quality education for your buck, I strongly recommend only considering Feng Shui courses that:

  • Are offered by legitimate, reputable design schools that have proper accreditation.
  • Provide a full course curriculum breakdown on the institution’s website.
  • Are offered by a school that has a comprehensive website, active social media presence, and communicative Student Support Team.
  • Provide some component of real-world, hands-on training.
  • Are tutored by real design industry experts.
  • Offer flexibility and convenience that best fit with your preferred learning style.
  • Fit your budget.
  • Set you up with high-quality, extensive course materials (included within the course tuition).
  • Give you an internationally-recognized certification upon completing.

Fun fact: QC Design School meets ALL of these criteria! Join our free Virtual Classroom on Facebook today. Here, you can connect with current students and grads, and see what they have to say about their QC experience!

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Let’s take a look at 6 vital steps that’ll help guide you get started!

At this point, the real question is: how do you to actually become a Feng Shui consultant? What will it take for you to master your skill-set, launch a successful career, and maintain that career for the long haul?

Now that we’ve gotten through all of the need-to-know prep work, you should have a solid idea of what this career path will look like for you.

Step One: Research Feng Shui in Home Decorating and Design

Demand

First thing’s first: you need to know what the demand is like for a Feng Shui consultant in your area, otherwise, you could be setting your career up at a disadvantage!

We’ve already covered why people are opting to incorporate Feng Shui into their homes. But how many people where YOU live fall into this category?

Do a little digging online to find out! See what some of the hottest, relevant inquiries are in your town or city when it comes to Feng Shui design.

Check to see if you have any local competition, as well as how their business appear to be thriving. For instance, do they have an extensive portfolio and/or lots of client testimonials? This could be a good indication of how much work they’ve been booking!

Pro Tip: If the demand isn’t quite as high as you want it to be, consider offering VIRTUAL Feng Shui consultant services in addition to your in-person ones. QC Design School’s Virtual Design Training Course will teach you everything you need to know to take your services online, so you can book clients from all around the world!

Feng Shui for Specific Rooms

Once you start to work as a Feng Shui consultant, you’ll quickly discover that what works for one room might not necessarily work for another. There are a wide variety of factors that need to be considered for each individual room, such as:

  • Its location on the Bagua map;
  • The Celestial Animal associated with it;
  • Relevant elements that should be incorporated;
  • The purpose and functionality of the room itself (i.e. a kitchen and a home office will serve two completely different functions);
  • And more.

It’s never too early to begin learning more about the industry and Feng Shui as a whole. So, do some reading! Devour anything and everything you can find online (from credible sources, of course).

In order to become a Feng Shui consultant and have a legitimately successful career, it’s imperative that you understand not only how to properly execute Feng Shui principles, but how to execute them within specific rooms throughout the home.

Start Brainstorming Your Business

Don’t worry, you don’t actually have to start your business at this point. This is simply the time for you to begin thinking about what you want your future business to look like.

Look around online and see what the most successful Feng Shui consultant business are currently doing. What are they called? How would you describe their brand? How do they stand out? Do they have a strong social media presence (and if so, what are they doing to make it so strong)?

Understanding your competition will give you a good foundation. By seeing what others are doing, you can better understand what it is YOU’D like to do – and how you’d need to go about achieving your goals.

When brainstorming your business, here are some questions to keep in the back of your mind:

  • What would you want to call it?
  • What steps would you need to take to legally register your business?
  • Will you need a license in order to operate your business?
  • Who will be your target clientele?
  • Do you want to strictly offer local services, e-services, or both?
  • What do you want your brand to look like?
  • Which social media platforms would you like to maximize?
  • Do you want to offer a broad range of Feng Shui consultant services, or specialize specifically in certain areas?
  • Where do you want to see your career in 5 years?
  • What goals can you map out for yourself – and what will you need to do in order to successfully achieve them?
Woman on remote work or online education, using laptop computer, making notes, indoors at office or home at daytime. Online business, young professional at workplace. Working from home.

Step Two: Don’t Be Afraid to Niche Down!

Often times, you might hear that your business will do better if you add additional design services to it. Similarly, you may also be told that if you provide EVERY Feng Shui consultant service imaginable, you’ll be more likely to book clients.

While offering additional design services and/or a large array of Feng Shui services can undoubtedly be beneficial, it’s not a requirement. On the contrary, you can be just as successful by niching down and focusing on a handful of areas where you positively excel!

By narrowing your sights on a few Feng Shui specializations, you can ensure that you’re ALWAYS providing clients with a service that will produce nothing short of the highest-quality results.

Sometimes, it’s better to be exceptional at a smaller number of things rather than attempting to be a Jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.

So, explore where your passions and interests are! For example, are there certain rooms of the home that you’d prefer to predominantly work in? Would you rather apply Feng Shui in and around the home’s exterior only?

Don’t forget to also factor in the areas of Feng Shui where you naturally thrive. All of this combined will make your business really memorable, as well as strengthen your subject-matter expertise AND deliverables for clients!

Step Three: Take a Course on How to Become a Feng Shui Consultant and Get Certified

Earlier, we touched upon the importance of a proper education and why arming yourself with a Feng Shui certification will set you up for ultimate success. Now it’s time to put that step into action and actually enroll in a course!

When it comes to getting a high-quality education at an affordable price, there’s really nowhere better to train than with QC Design School! Their 6-unit Feng Shui Design Course will teach you everything you need to start a career as a Feng Shui consultant, such as:

  • The role of a Feng Shui consultant;
  • Fundamental concepts and misconceptions;
  • The types of clients you’ll regularly work with;
  • How to read, interpret, layer, and apply the Bagua map;
  • The Eight Trigrams (or “Guas”);
  • Working with floorplans;
  • Feng Shui cures and symbols;
  • Space cleansing ceremonies;
  • How to declutter with Feng Shui;
  • Color theory, popular color associations, and traditional Feng Shui colors;
  • Lighting and accessorizing;
  • Feng Shui for specific rooms, as well as outdoors;
  • How to start (and run) your own business;
  • Best marketing strategies;
  • How to deliver excellent customer service every time;
  • And SO much more!

One of the biggest perks of QC Design School’s distance learning is that your Feng Shui training can be done entirely from the comfort of your own home (and yes, this includes your hands-on training, too!).

Moreover, since all of QC’s courses are 100% self-paced, you’ll have the freedom to focus on your studies whenever your schedule allows it!

To put this into perspective: many of our graduates found that by devoting a mere 1-2 hours per week to their program, they were able to graduate and earn their internationally-recognized Advanced Feng Shui Design Professional (AFDP) certification in just a few short months.

This is DEFINITELY possible for practically every lifestyle – even the busiest ones!

Want to see just how successful QC’s students and graduates have been since completing their certification training? Check out their Spotlight Features on our blog, The Focal Point!

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Step Four: Test Your Feng Shui Design on Family and Friends

Practice really does make perfect!

This is why it’s critical to get as much of that practice as possible – especially as you first begin your career, before booking paying clients.

After all, paying clients will expect nothing short of the very best from you. In order to give them this, as well as make the best possible impression for your business, you’ll need to know exactly what you’re doing.

Ultimately, the best way to master your skills is to put them to good, real-world use!

Here are a few ways you can gain hands-on experience:

  • Offer complimentary Feng Shui consultant services to your closest friends and family;
  • Use your own home to test out different Feng Shui styles and techniques you acquired during your training;
  • Take part in a stylized photoshoot;
  • Lend your expertise to a not-for-profit and/or charitable cause.

Check out this awesome blog article by QC Design School tutor, Ivy Ellerby, for even MORE ways to gain feng shui experience!

It’s worth noting that you probably won’t get paid for the majority of the above services. But that’s okay, because the knowledge and skills you’ll gain will more than make up for any amount of money! In the world of professional Feng Shui consulting, hands-on experience is just as valuable as money – especially at the very start of your career!

Step Five: Build a Portfolio or Resume of Your Designs

In the world of home design, visual aids are everything!

Chances are, your portfolio will be the very thing that creates a strong, favorable first impression for your business on more than a few occasions. As such, if you want to become a Feng Shui consultant, you’re going to need a high-quality portfolio of your past work.

When prospective clients are thinking of working with a Feng Shui consultant, they’ll likely turn to Google first. From there, they’ll come across your website.

If they’re able to clearly find and view your design portfolio, and all of your photos are of impressive quality, they’ll reach out to you to book a consultation!

Want to be able to develop the ultimate Feng Shui design portfolio? Learn more about QC’s Accelerate Your Business Workshop and enroll today!

Step Six: Find Other Designers Who Specialize in Feng Shui

Networking will be your BEST FRIEND as you become a Feng Shui consultant. I cannot stress enough how much it’ll help you advance your career!

Earlier, you’ll recall that I mentioned how the design industry can be pretty cutthroat at times. Well, it also happens to be an extremely tight-knit community, too.

As a result, it won’t take long for you to meet and/or become acquainted with other Feng Shui experts. Additionally, you’ll also meet contractors, suppliers, and other types of designers.

Now, you might be thinking, “Wait, are you saying I should become FRIENDS with other Feng Shui consultants? I thought you said they were my competition!”

True, but in no way does this mean they aren’t also your alliesYou’ll be doing your career a favor if you establish positive connections with others in the community – and that includes your competition.

This is because when you network, you’re increasing your chances of getting referrals, booking projects, and taking part in collaborations. You’ll quickly realize that others in the industry (even other Feng Shui consultants) will be happy to scratch your back if they know you’ll scratch theirs, should the roles ever be reversed.

Ultimately, you’ll have a longer, more fruitful career if you network with other Feng Shui consultants and designers.

Man and woman shaking hands, collaboration and networking concept.

Step Seven: Stay Up-to-Date with Feng Shui Decorating Trends

Staying current on new Feng Shui trends is, ultimately, the very thing that will keep your career successful in the long run. In order to start a career as a Feng Shui consultant, you absolutely MUST get properly trained and certified. Only then can you truly be a subject-matter expert.

However, the truth is that taking just ONE course at the beginning of your career won’t be enough.

In reality, your educational journey will be a lifelong one – and it’s important that you recognize and embrace this fact sooner rather than later. After all, the world of design is ever-changing. Although many of the core Feng Shui principles will be forever timeless, there are new practices and techniques constantly emerging.

As such, there’ll always be new trends to try, new lessons to learn, and new skills to master!

If you limit your Feng Shui training, you’ll be limiting your career’s potential. It’s that simple. Consequently, you and your business will become stagnant… And trust me, your clients will notice.

So, continue to proactively build upon your training! Take more courses and add additional Feng Shui and/or design certifications to your repertoire. Additionally, you can also browse social media during your downtime, or read various Feng Shui publications.

This will all help ensure that you stay on top of the newest, hottest trends whenever they arise. And, of course, when you keep your subject-matter expertise current and fresh, you’ll be able to make your mark on the Feng Shui world for that much longer!

Now that you know how to become a Feng Shui consultant, it’s time to make that dream a reality! Enroll with QC Design School today and book your first client in as little as 3-6 months!

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