Front door aligned with a window or back door

Open the door and look straight through the room to a window or back door? Feng shui calls this energy “rushing through”: it arrives and leaves before it can settle.

Short answer

Slow the straight line. A tall plant, a screen, a console or a round rug placed between the two openings makes energy (and people) meander instead of shooting straight through.

Take the 30-second check ↓

✕ Common layout · Harmony 58
SofaCoffee tableIN3.60 m · 11.8 ft5.00 m · 16.4 ft
Door and window line up with nothing in between.
✓ Better layout · Harmony 74
SofaCoffee tableFloor plantIN3.60 m · 11.8 ft5.00 m · 16.4 ft
A tall plant breaks the straight run.

Both plans are scored live by the same rules engine we use on your own room. “Harmony” is a 0–100 layout score.

Why a straight line is a problem

Feng shui likes energy to move the way water moves through a garden: gently, curving, pooling. A door aimed straight at a window or back door creates a corridor where it rushes through. In everyday terms, rooms with a straight sight-line from entry to exit tend to feel like pass-throughs rather than places to settle, and they’re often draughty.

Fixes that work

  1. A tall, leafy plant part-way along the line. The classic cure.
  2. A folding screen or open shelving that doesn’t block the view entirely.
  3. A round rug and furniture arranged to create a gentle detour.
  4. Sheer curtains on the window to soften the exit point.
30-second check

Does energy rush through your room?

1. Standing in your front door, can you see straight through to a window or back door?
2. Is there anything between them: a plant, screen, sofa or console?

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Questions people ask

Does it matter which door, the front door or a room door?

The main front door is traditionally the most important. The same principle applies, more mildly, to room doors lining up with windows.

Should I block the window?

No. The aim is to slow the line, not block light. Semi-transparent remedies work best.

Want the exact answer for your room?

Upload two or three photos or a floor plan. We rebuild your room in 3D, score it against 22 layout principles and show the single biggest fix, free.

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