Front Gate Designs

To have optimal good chi flowing into your house it is extremely important that the front of the house and the path a visitor takes to the door be as well-cared for and clear as possible. These areas, sometimes collectively called the "mouth of chi", is where the energy starts and optimizing here will deliver more results than anywhere else.

While there are a number of feng shui cures for the front of your house, really the best start is to get and keep everything in repair and make the front of your house user-friendly. Here are the most important parts of getting that done.

The Mailbox

In feng shui your mailbox represents your communication with the outside world. Having it in disrepair can affect your opportunities and your relationships. The most important part of your mailbox is how well it opens. Do you have to tug at it? Does it squeak? Is the door loose, so it falls open easily? Does the red flag stay up? Even something as simple as a mailbox needs to get a lot of things right for you to be able to say it is working well.

The mailbox also needs to be clean. That probably means once a month taking a damp rag with you when you to pick up the mail so you can wash what the birds left off. Finally, your mailbox post should not be loose or tilt, and your house number and family name should be easy to read.

The Front Gate

Your front gate should open and close easily. It is extremely important that there be nothing blocking how it swings. The bottom of the gate should not rub against the ground at any point. The locking and opening mechanism should also be easy to understand, so no one (even someone tired and having a dumb moment) has to think for even a half second about how to open the gate. At night, the front gate should be illuminated by either path lights on either side, or by a spotlight from above.

The Front Path

Take a hard look at the path that goes to your front door. Do people always go to the right door at your house, and do delivery people always leave packages where you want them to? If they do not, you need to work on the front path to the main entrance. It is also very important that the path be well-lit at night, so set out some solar path lights so your visitors do not have to furrow their brows getting in or out of your house.

The wider the path is, the better. If your path is too narrow, but you do not want to tear up the front pathway just to make it a bit wider, then add a row of pavers on either side. This can do wonders for a narrow path, or even for a wide path if you have a vigorous garden in the front and visitors have to pass by tall bushes. The extra six inches on either side makes it so people do not have to worry about brushing against anything, and somehow the wider the path is, the more likely people are to continue down it. So if your front door is not visible from the front gate, just widening the path may help more delivery people bring the packages all the way to your front door.

The fence is altogether useless without a gate. This fixture secures your property. It also adds value and style to the home. One of the most popular choices for front gates is the electric variety. It is an effective deterrent against intruders especially if combined with tall and sturdy fences. The electric gate also ensures that your kids and pets remain in the yard.

Traditional manual entryways required keys to make sure that unauthorized persons cannot enter the property. Only the homeowner, immediate family members and household help are given keys for access. Nowadays, modern sliding or swing gates can be opened or closed by remote control even from your car. This automatic system is very convenient and cost-effective since you do not need to hire an extra hand to man the gates. Besides, it is safer than getting out of the vehicle especially at night just to unlock the gate.