‘Witch doctor’, challenges and general doubt characterize the interior design market when it comes to feng shui: Does it work?
We know it works. It has done so for 3000 years, approximately. Naturally, as regulations to ventilation and water valves. Applied geography, biology, and psychology in a holistic way concerning each unique composition of the individual and the built environment on site.
If you want to be able to market your advice and implementation of feng shui projects with evidence, please help our professional community, and the interior design industry, in a broader sense, by using the questionnaire below.
We aim for statistical significance to contribute to our common knowledge about the common use of feng shui in our built environment.
Our Feng Shui Questionnaire
Evidence based on statistical significance determines whether the results observed in a study are likely to be real and not simply due to chance. When we process the collected data, it is assessed whether there is enough evidence to draw conclusions in accordance with the empirical observations on which feng shui is based. Hence, it is a stronger argument when used in marketing.
The below questionnaire is designed to follow up on the use of the interior design ruler used by professional feng shui practitioners in relation to their clients and students. That is, the questionnaire cannot be used for space or land clearing practices.
The purpose is to collect data that provides insight into the users’ reactions to their individual and immediate environment, to the interior design. This can be the effect of, for example, the structuring and organization of the area, the interior design, the experience of the distribution of the rooms, the importance of daylight, and other parameters.
The questionnaire is designed to be able to assess patterns in respondents’ reactions when they spend a longer time in a feng shui environment. By asking open-ended questions in a questionnaire analysis, feng shui practitioners obtain qualitative data that is often rich and detailed. Respondents are given the opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in their own words, which provides deeper insight than closed questions.
It can be difficult to compare qualitative data directly between respondents since not all respondents provide complete or relevant answers. Therefore, the questions are combined with Likert scale answers.
The questionnaire section has not been categorized to corners of the world, as the built environment equivalent to the perfect feng shui analysis is probably not represented by the client’s current building. The questionnaire categorizes the areas headings that represent the human elements present in a holistic interior design environment.
It is a prerequisite for answering that the respondent has stayed in the area for a longer time: for example, as when you sit in the same place and work, study, have social gatherings, polish your silverware, care for your passion, sleep, watch television or the like, every day.
The questionnaire begins with background questions that enable a segmentation of the data processing, after which we ask how open the respondent is to intangible experiences. The questions are inspired by the Spiritual Well Being Scale (SWBS)1.
The comprehensive questionnaire is inspired by DSM and PSS questionnaires, designed to evaluate the following parameters:
- Tidiness and Cleanliness
o Career
o Education
o Existential Goals
o Communication
- Development
o Stability
o Curiosity
o Knowledge
o Self-development
- Grounding
o Communities
o Activity
o Role Models
o Community
- Profitability
o Ventilation
o Money
o Material goods
o Profitable luck
- Enlightenment
o Lighting
o Pride
o Innovation
o Satisfaction
- Humaneness
o Openness
o Mood
o Individual control
o Attention
- Creativity
o Ideas
o Initiatives
o Expansion
o Cheerfulness
- Kindness
o Asking for help
o Giving help
o Enrichment
o Philanthropy
- General
o Focus
o Failure
o Satisfaction
o Harmonious balance
Background information / Demographics
- What is the date and year of birth?
- What is your gender?
- What corner of the world does your front door open onto?
Background information / Feng shui related
- Do you practice feng shui or have you had, or do you want to have, feng shui implemented? (which)
- What environment does this evaluation focus on?
- Home
- Work
- Outdoor space
- Other (Please elaborate)
- How would you describe your current living or working environment?
- How long has it been since your last Feng Shui adjustments were implemented?
- Less than 6 months
- 6-12 months
- More than 1 year
- With what goal did you have feng shui consulting done in the area?
- Have you (the client)/company implemented the advice from the feng shui consultation?
- Are there specific areas in your home or workplace that still feel disharmonious or uncomfortable? If so, please describe.
Background information/your relationship to the intangible
- Which of the following best describes you? (Multiple choices possible)
- Religious
- Spirituel, but not religious
- Atheist/agnostic
- Other (Please elaborate)
- How often do you participate in activities that promote inner peace (e.g., meditation, prayer, or mindfulness)?
- Daily
- Weekly
- Seldom
- Never
- Have you ever had an experience that felt deeply meaningful or transcendent (e.g., a strong sense of calm, harmony, or togetherness)?
- Yes
- No
- I am not sure
Questionnaire
Tidiness and Cleanliness
- How well organized do you perceive the area?
- Have you determined what goals are existential for you to achieve?
- How do you influence achieving these goals at your workplace or in your educational process?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (please tick):
- I don’t have a job.
- My work doesn’t satisfy me.
- I keep a low profile at work, but there are some good experiences every now and then.
- My work satisfies me and I am productive.
- On a scale of 1-7, how much do you find that the environment hinders communication and interaction?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Development
- How stable do you perceive the area?
- What is it about the area that piques your curiosity?
- How does the area foster the immersion you need to achieve the knowledge you desire?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (please tick):
- I only believe in what I can see with my own eyes.
- There may well be ‘more between heaven and earth’
- I sense a calling, I am searching and have tried different paths
- I actively work with spiritual contributions to improve life for myself and for the people around me.
- On a scale of 1-7, how much do you find it easier to accept everyday events and the course of life now than before the area’s feng shui measures?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Grounding
- How is the area designed for activities that may require sound, movement or that objects or materials are in the area for a period of time?
- What images or other symbols of role models are visible around you?
- How does the area create a sense of belonging and community?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (Please tick):
- I have written off my immediate family
- My superiors are terrible people
- I have a great relationship with both of my parents and I had a special relationship with one of my grandparents.
- I am grateful for what my ancestors have done for me
- On a scale of 1-7, how much do you feel there is room for an active community in the area now, compared to the area’s feng shui initiatives?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Profitability
- Do you find the area well-ventilating a good air-quality?
- What material goods lack in your life?
- Do you have the cash you need?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (please tick):
- I am in debt
- It’s hard to make money stretch to pay all the bills
- I earn well and have a good income
- The things I need appear in due time
- On a scale of 1-7, how much luckier in terms of material goods do you feel now than before the area’s feng shui measures?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Enlightenment
- How much is the area illuminated with natural light, with up-lights, and is the light shielded so that it is not glaring?
- How do you or the company use images, symbols, materials or anything else that makes you or the company proud?
- How does the structure and layout of the area promote your innovative work?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (please tick):
- I don’t get any recognition for my work.
- It is important to me what others think of me; I am often insecure.
- I have a good sense of myself and don’t live to please others.
- I am very clear about my direction in life and others see me as a source of inspiration.
- On a scale of 1-7, how much more satisfying is your life now than before the area’s feng shui measures?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Humaneness
- What makes the area open, receptive and accepting?
- What is the atmosphere like between you and your fellow humans when you are in the area?
- How does the area allow for individual control of lighting, heating, ventilation?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (please tick):
- I prefer to live in isolation
- I can make appointments with people, but they don’t come.
- I live an active social life with my spouse, family, colleagues and friends
- My relationships are characterized by genuine attention
- On a scale of 1-7, how much more do you experience that conditions for self-care and stability apply than before the area’s feng shui measures?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Creativity
- How does the area allow creative ideas to flow together and enable ideas and projects?
- How do you experience the area’s expanding energy?
- How often do you experience a rich and cheerful relationship with fellow people in the area when you stay there for a longer period of time?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (please tick):
- I don’t get ideas or visions. I must see things as they are finished.
- I’ve been a little creative, but have blocks
- I am always full of ideas and plans
- I am very creative and initiate initiatives, create beauty and solve problems.
- On a scale of 1-7, how much more do you actively experience creative beauty and joy springing from within you now than before the area’s feng shui implementation?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Kindness
- How can the roof or ceiling be described in the area or in general?
- How is the area designed to support philanthropic work?
- How is your experience of asking for and receiving help when you are in the area?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (please tick):
- People don’t expect help from me.
- Not many people volunteer their time to help our group
- I am generous to those in need.
- I notice that you get more in return than you give.
- On a scale of 1-7, how much more enriched do you feel now than before the area’s feng shui implementation?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
General
- Where is the gathering area or focal point of the built structure and how is it arranged?
- What recurring problems, errors, or damage are experienced in a specific area, and which area is it?
- Which characteristics, of the eight above, do you generally experience satisfaction in when you stay there?
- How much do you agree with the following statements (please tick):
- I am anxious and my mood is heavy.
- I experience mental fatigue, forgetfulness and lack of concentration
- I find that the structure and layout of the building support me in handling the demands of daily life.
- I have good health and experience harmonious balance in all areas of my life.
- Have you noticed any changes in your physical health from spending longer in the area, such as less tension, improved energy, or better breathing?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Final Questions
- What areas feel monotonous, uninteresting or stressful?
- Do you find the environment flexible and adaptable to your needs?
- Are there any additional benefits or challenges you have experienced that were not covered in this questionnaire?
- On a scale of 1-7, how natural does your interior design seem to you?
| 1: Not at all | 2: Very little | 3: Little | 4: Moderately | 5: Somewhat | 6: Quite a bit | 7: Very much |
Processing the Questionnaire
Return the completed form to contact@blissbode.live Completed forms are processed annually and answers are returned.
We expect personal and nuanced answers that may reveal themes and patterns and perhaps new topics that the survey may not have originally considered. Therefore, the form is re-evaluated annually. If you are a feng shui professional, we invite you to write to us with suggestions for improving the questionnaire during the year at contact@blissbode.live.
General Questionnaire Design
For example, data collection can be quantitative or qualitative. The purpose is to gain insight into human behavior, attitudes, experiences, and more. Quantitative research focuses on collecting numerical data that can be analyzed statistically to measure and quantify trends, patterns, or relationships, while qualitative research focuses on collecting descriptive data that provides in-depth understanding of experiences and perspectives to explore complex or subjective topics where detailed information is needed.
This can be done in a questionnaire where the respondent can respond to a Likert scale. It is a type of scale used in questionnaire surveys to measure attitudes, opinions, or experiences by asking respondents to indicate their degree of agreement or disagreement with a series of statements, such as 1 = not at all and 7 = very much.
The Likert scale is popular because it allows researchers to quantify subjective attitudes or feelings and analyze data numerically. It is often used in psychology, education, market research and social sciences. The individual questions on the scale can also be linked to adjectives with opposite meanings (‘attractive’ vs. ‘unwanted’).
In addition to Likert scale questions, there are open-, closed-, multiple-choice questions, etc. The answers can also be open-, closed-, on scales or intervals or of a narrative nature, etc.
The answers can be analyzed, for example, in relation to correlation, which is a statistical measure that describes how strongly two variables are connected to each other, and how changes in one variable relate to changes in the other. It is often used to analyze and understand the relationships between data. It is about determining whether one variable directly causes a change in another.
The data from the answers can also be analyzed in relation to qualitative data. Qualitative data is analyzed to identify patterns, themes and insights in the collected data. It is often based on text, observations or interviews, and the process requires a systematic approach to ensure reliable and meaningful results. The typical steps in qualitative data analysis include data preparation, data coding, where coding is the process of organizing data by identifying key words, phrases or themes. In addition, identifying themes, data interpretation, validation and reporting. Qualitative data analysis often requires time and an in-depth approach, but it allows for a rich understanding of complex human experiences and perspectives.
Depending on what the data collection is to be used for, there are different types of questionnaires, for example:
Unstructured questionnaires with narrative responses, where respondents can share stories or descriptions of their experiences, providing in-depth insight into how the design affects them.
Diagnostic questionnaires, where Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are used to assess how a design affects the health and well-being of users. For example, they can measure stress levels, sleep quality or physical activity in a specific environment.
Questionnaire Design
A typical design uses introductory questions to understand the background of the respondents, which can help analyze and segment data, for example.
- Demographic information
- Assessment of own condition
- Work-related information
The study can be combined with other methods such as observations and interviews to create a holistic understanding of how design affects users. These can be, for example:
- Interviews
- Photo questionnaires
- Kinesiological measurements, where you can test preferences, physiological effects, emotional conditions, structural and electrical effects from the immediate environment.
Generic Academic Questionnaires
Recognized academic questionnaires are interesting and valuable because they have been developed and validated through extensive research. They are relevant because:
- Validity and reliability: These questionnaires are designed to deliver precise and consistent results. They ensure that the measurement of the subject in question is both credible and accurate.
- Generalizability: Academically accepted questionnaires are often used in large studies, making the results generalizable and comparable across populations and studies.
- Contextualization: They provide the opportunity to place study results in a larger scientific context, which can contribute to a deeper understanding of the topics in question.
- Interdisciplinary use: Many academic questionnaires are applicable across disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, architecture, and health sciences, making them flexible and relevant in multiple contexts.
- Efficiency in analysis: Since many of these questionnaires have well-established methods of analysis and interpretation, they can be effectively used to generate meaningful results.
If we want to ensure that the study maintains high quality and academic standards, it is worth using recognized academic questionnaires. However, no such questionnaire has been created specifically for the purpose we are investigating. Therefore, we are inspired.
Examples
Academically recognized unstructured diagnostic questionnaires are often used in research and clinical contexts to collect in-depth and qualitative data.
- Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ): Used to evaluate patients’ experiences with healthcare services. It is flexible and allows for open-ended responses.
- Narrative Interview Guides: These are often used in psychological and sociological research to understand individuals’ experiences and perspectives. They are unstructured and allow respondents the freedom to share their stories.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-baserede interviews: Although the DSM is often used in structured formats, unstructured interviews based on DSM criteria can be used to explore complex diagnostic questions.
These tools are designed to give researchers and practitioners the flexibility to explore topics in depth.
Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is used to measure and assess the degree of work-related burnout in individuals. It is one of the most widely used tools in research and practice to understand how stress and strain at work affect employees. The MBI focuses on three key dimensions of burnout:
- Emotional exhaustion: Measures the feeling of being emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted by work.
- Depersonalization: Assesses the degree of cynicism or emotional distance from colleagues, clients, or patients.
- Personal performance: Measures the feeling of effectiveness and success at work.
MBI is often used in professions such as healthcare, education and other high-stress areas, but it can also be applied broadly in different work environments. The results can help organizations and individuals identify stressors and develop strategies to improve well-being and prevent burnout.
Work-Related Strain Inventory (WRSI) is used to measure the level of work-related strain and stress in employees. It is a tool that helps identify how various factors in the workplace affect employee well-being, both physically and mentally. The WRSI focuses on the following aspects:
- Physical strain: Assesses how working conditions affect the body, such as fatigue, pain or other physical symptoms.
- Psychological strain: Measures emotional stress, anxiety or burnout caused by the work environment.
- Social factors: Examines relationships with colleagues and management, and how these affect the employee’s well-being.
- Job demands: Evaluates whether the workload and expectations are realistic and manageable.
WRSI is often used in research and by organizations to identify stressors and develop strategies to improve the work environment. It can also help prevent burnout and promote employee health and productivity.
The Work Satisfaction Questionnaire (WSQ) is used to measure employee satisfaction with their work and work environment. It is a tool that helps organizations understand how various factors in the workplace affect employee well-being and motivation. The WSQ typically focuses on the following areas:
- Working environment: How employees experience their physical and social working environment.
- Job content: Satisfaction with work tasks, responsibility and variety in the work.
- Management and support: How employees evaluate management support and communication.
- Career opportunities: Opportunities for development, learning and advancement.
- Workload: The balance between workload and resources.
- Relationships: Collaboration and relationships with colleagues.
By using WSQ, organizations can identify areas that require improvement and develop strategies to increase employee satisfaction and productivity.
The Relevant Questionnaires
What Academically Accepted Questionnaires Examine the Respondent’s Spirituality?
Since we work under the assumption that the different representatives of nature contribute different types of frequencies that are professionally matched to the individual’s resonances, we work with the environment’s intangible contribution to well-being.
It works regardless of whether the individual consciously notices nature in the interior design or not. If the individual does not notice matching resonances in the interior design, the person unconsciously benefits from the interior design. When the individual is aware of the interior design’s match with their own/family’s/colleagues’ resonances, they have the advantages of consciously relating to and talking about the interior design and the well-being and welfare the interior design creates. If individuals are aware of the intangible in general, then the likelihood is also greater that they can consciously answer the subsequent questions of the questionnaire.
The above questionnaire has been inspired by academically accepted questionnaires used to investigate spirituality. Here are some examples:
- Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS): This questionnaire measures two dimensions of spirituality: existential well-being and religious well-being. It is often used in research to assess how spirituality affects well-being.
- Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES): This tool focuses on daily experiences of spirituality, such as feelings of connection to something greater or experiences of peace and gratitude.
- Fetzer Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality: This questionnaire is designed to measure various aspects of religiousness and spirituality, including beliefs, practices, and experiences.
In the above questionnaire, we have specifically chosen to be inspired by the SWBS3. The scale typically contains statements that respondents rate on a scale from “Strongly agree” to “Strongly disagree”. It measures two main dimensions: Religious well-being (relationship with a higher power) and Existential well-being (sense of meaning and purpose in life).
This questionnaire provides a framework for exploring different dimensions of spirituality and helps to assess respondents’ attitudes, practices and experiences related to spirituality without being tied to a specific religion or belief.
Psychological Aspects of Interior Design.
A Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-based questionnaire is primarily used in psychology and psychiatry to diagnose mental disorders, but it can be adapted to investigate psychological aspects of interior design, such as well-being and stress in different environments in academic interior design research.
The above interview schedule is inspired by DSM-structured interviews adapted to investigate psychological and emotional responses to Feng Shui measures in the home or workplace, which include:
- Psychological well-being
- Perception of environmental factors
- Mental and emotional reactions
- Physical symptoms
- Social and work dimensions
Stress
Feng shui interior design promotes personal well-being. One of the most widely used methods for assessing long-term stress and arousal levels is the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The PSS scale measures how individuals perceive their stress levels over time and is often used in research and clinical settings. The PSS focuses on how stress affects a person’s feelings and thoughts in everyday life.
In a Perceived Environmental Quality Index (PEQI), the respondent assesses indoor environmental quality on parameters in relation to their perception of and well-being in the interior.
The questionnaire above is inspired by the PEQI and adapted to indoor environments so that it is used to measure perceptions of quality and well-being in both private and work contexts.
Reactions to the Built Environment
There are several questionnaire surveys used to assess how the built environment affects residents or employees. Here are some examples:
- Danes in the built environment: This annual survey, conducted by Realdania and the Bolius Knowledge Center, focuses on how housing and local areas affect quality of life, neighborhood and well-being.
- Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE): This is a method used to evaluate the performance of buildings and their impact on occupant well-being and productivity. POE questionnaires can cover topics such as indoor climate, lighting, acoustics and ergonomics.
- Workplace Environment Surveys: These surveys focus on the work environment and assess factors such as noise levels, lighting conditions, air quality, and employee satisfaction with their workplace.
- Indoor climate surveys: These questionnaires are used to assess how factors such as temperature, humidity, and ventilation affect the comfort and health of residents or employees.
- Quality of Life Surveys: These surveys assess how the built environment affects residents’ overall well-being, including their sense of safety, belonging, and access to green spaces.
Of these, the group of quality-of-life surveys is considered to include relevant questions when examining respondents’ reactions to a feng shui environment.
Interested parties can find an example of a quality-of-life survey in the Danish Centre for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes’ questionnaire on quality of life. It contains questions that assess various aspects of well-being, such as activity level, emotional states and daily activities6.
To Obtain the Questionnaire in a PDF
Please ask on contact@blissbode.live
1 © 1982, of Craig W. Ellison and Raymond F. Paloutzian
2 https://www.westmont.edu/sites/default/files/users/user401/English%20SWBS.pdf 18-03-2025
3 https://dd2.dk/media/1632/registreringsskema-livskvalitet.pdf 18-03-2025
4 https://www.westmont.edu/sites/default/files/users/user401/English%20SWBS.pdf 18-03-2025
5 https://dd2.dk/media/1632/registreringsskema-livskvalitet.pdf 18-03-2025
6ingsskema-livskvalitet.pdf 18-03-2025