Feng Shui is more than just a simple technique for organizing spaces. It is an ancient art that aims to create balanced environments where energy flows harmoniously, directly influencing our well-being and quality of life. For Alexandre Gama, a national reference in this field, Feng Shui is “an art of organizing and creating spaces so that we can live in them with the greatest efficiency, comfort, and safety.” His integrative approach goes beyond furniture arrangement or color choices, seeking to understand the deep connection between the energy of spaces and the people who inhabit them.

With a keen eye and a rare sensitivity to perceive energy nuances, Alexandre Gama has become a true catalyst for spaces. More than simply reorganizing environments, he creates places where people truly feel good, balanced, and in tune with their essence. His journey into Feng Shui was born from curiosity and a desire to better understand the link between spaces and emotions, leading him to deepen his knowledge not only in classical Feng Shui but also in the Japanese astrological branch known as Nine Star Ki. This approach allows him to interpret the energy of each space and its inhabitants, helping people transform their homes into havens of harmony.

In this interview, we explore with Alexandre Gama how Feng Shui can be practically applied to organizing a home and choosing the ideal place to live. Whether you’re looking for a new space or simply want to make your home more harmonious, this conversation will help you understand how small adjustments can have a big impact on your life.

What is the difference between Integrative Feng Shui and traditional Feng Shui?

Integrative Feng Shui is a name I chose to represent my approach. It’s not something I invented, but a concept I identified with. Feng Shui came to me as a decoration or space organization technique, but at the school where I studied – the Macrobiotic Institute of Portugal – I understood that it’s interconnected with other disciplines. Macrobiotics is better known for its focus on diet, but it also teaches Feng Shui, as well as Shiatsu (a physical therapy) and traditional Chinese medicine, which treats the body through herbal therapy or acupuncture. All these disciplines share the same pillars: the balance between Yin and Yang, the five transformations, and the nine numbers that represent the eight directions.

Over time, I realized that Feng Shui couldn’t be seen as an isolated discipline. In consultations, many people asked whether they could choose foods based on Feng Shui, or if there was a connection between the house and health. The answer is yes. That’s why I used the term “Integrative,” because Feng Shui is linked to a more holistic and global lifestyle.

How does Feng Shui work in practice?

Feng Shui is based on the principle that everything we experience in a space is influenced by how it is organized. Colors, materials, and the arrangement of furniture give off a certain energy, influencing how we feel. However, we also influence the space with our own energy.

For example, if we come home feeling joyful, it seems like the plants look more vibrant. If we arrive feeling sad or tired, we feel that the house has lost energy. This also applies to the people we live with. If someone is very positive, the house gains that energy. If it’s the opposite, we feel the heaviness in the environment. One of the first lessons I learned was that a perfect office is worthless if you work beside a colleague you don’t get along with. It’s not the desk, the wall color, or the window that makes the difference, but the dynamic between people and the space.

How can Integrative Feng Shui help those looking to buy, sell, or renovate a home?

The first thing to keep in mind is that what works for one person may not work for another. In the real estate market, we don’t always connect with a property, but it might sell quickly because it fits the needs of a particular client profile. A good professional in the field should know their clients’ habits and needs.

For example, someone who spends the whole day outside needs a different kind of space from someone who works from home or is retired. For people who are at home a lot, the quality of the house becomes essential. For those who are only home to sleep, factors like location may be more relevant.

When remodeling or selling a house, it’s essential to create a balanced environment. Overly personalized spaces can make it hard to sell because others can't imagine themselves living there. On the other hand, a well-organized and neutral environment can speed up the sale. Feng Shui is a flexible tool that can be strategically applied to make spaces more harmonious and appealing. Still, more than Feng Shui, it is life that teaches us how to understand and evaluate these needs.

How does Feng Shui influence the distribution of spaces in a home?

There are universal principles that Feng Shui helps us understand. For example, just like restaurants have clean and dirty circuits, homes also have distinct energy circuits.

A house has social zones and intimate zones. Bedrooms and bathrooms have different energy from the kitchen or living room. A bathroom inside a kitchen isn’t functional. In older houses, where bathrooms were added later, it’s common to find impractical situations like installations adjacent to the kitchen. While someone is cooking, another person might need to use the bathroom, creating an inadequate energy flow.

Nowadays, the bathroom should not be seen as a latrine, as it was a hundred years ago. With the evolution of plumbing and modern infrastructure, the bathroom has become a space of comfort and well-being — but it still needs to be located appropriately within the home.

Does lifestyle influence the choice of a home?

Lifestyle is key in choosing a property. A house for a young single person will have different features than one for a retiree. Similarly, a house designed for a family with young children will have other needs, like open and functional spaces. The most important thing is to understand the target audience well and adapt the home to those who will live in it.

What is most important when choosing a home?

A home is a reflection of the energy of the person who inhabits it. Often, we fall in love with a house that needs work because we can imagine ourselves living there. Other times, a brand-new house with luxurious finishes might not appeal to us.

The layout of the house is fundamental. Even before decoration, Feng Shui should be applied at the architectural level, ensuring that the spaces are well distributed and that each room supports the well-being of its inhabitants.

What materials do people often overlook for their homes?

The term “Feng Shui” means “wind and water” and refers to energy flows within a space. However, there are no specific Feng Shui materials. Natural materials are always preferable because they offer superior vibration and comfort. Examples include stone, cement, porcelain, clay, terracotta, cotton, linen, wood, and cork. Wood, for example, is a noble material that brings comfort and quality to a space.

Synthetic materials like acrylic and plastic serve their purpose but don’t provide the same comfort or energetic quality. However, there are hybrid solutions that mix natural fibers with high-quality synthetics, ensuring a balance between comfort and practicality.

What influences a home's Feng Shui?

A home's Feng Shui depends first on its location and its integration with the land. Ideally, a home should have its back protected (by a mountain, trees, or even a neighboring building) and face an open space, like a valley or a wide view. This principle also applies to furniture, such as placing a sofa with its back to the wall and facing the movement area.

Low, wide buildings promote a more family-oriented and human energy, encouraging interaction among neighbors, like in housing neighborhoods. High-rises and skyscrapers promote a more individualistic energy, where often people don’t even know their neighbors. The shape of the building directly affects how spaces are lived in.

How does a home's orientation affect well-being?

The orientation of the home directly affects lighting and thermal comfort. A north-facing house, for instance, tends to be less comfortable because it receives less direct sunlight, making it colder and more exposed to wind. In school, we learned that all mountains have a rich side facing south, and a poorer side facing north, precisely because the north has harsher temperatures, less protection, and less favorable conditions for crop growth.

Similarly, in flat areas, the home’s orientation makes all the difference. In a building with apartments in all directions: east-facing units get morning light but lose it by afternoon; south-facing ones receive light from late morning to early afternoon; west-facing units get afternoon light but are shaded in the morning; and north-facing homes never get direct light, making them more peaceful zones.

How should orientation be chosen based on lifestyle?

It depends greatly on a person’s needs. If someone is looking for a calm, quiet space for retreat, a north-facing apartment might be ideal. If they value a bright, energetic home, a south-facing property is the best option. Those who enjoy morning sunlight, especially for breakfast, should choose east-facing. For people who only arrive home in the late afternoon and want to enjoy the sunset, west-facing is ideal. Different solar orientations create different experiences within a home, even influencing color choices.

How does light influence the best colors for a home?

Sunlight affects how we perceive colors and can be used to create more harmonious spaces. East-facing homes receive bluish morning light and go well with green and blue tones, along with plenty of plants. South-facing homes are brighter and more vibrant, pairing well with intense colors and flowers. West-facing homes receive more yellow light in the late afternoon and harmonize with orange, red, and golden tones, along with shiny, sophisticated elements like mirrors and glass. These are simple but effective rules. Of course, it’s not necessary to change everything, but if in doubt about decoration, following this logic helps create a more balanced environment.