Three Things the Front Door Should Not Face Directly

  In all aspects of feng shui, people pay the most attention to the feng shui of their homes, particularly the layout of the house. The front door is a highly significant position, as the area directly facing it is the first thing people notice upon entering—what meets the eye immediately draws attention. So, what are the three things the front door should never face directly?

1. The Bathroom
The front door should not face the bathroom, a consideration that must be addressed from the initial stages of home renovation. The bathroom is the dirtiest space in the house, filled with unclean energy. As a place with heavy water flow (representing the water element in the five elements theory) and a yin-cold zone, it should not affect the positive energy of the front door, which requires ample yang energy (associated with brightness and vitality).
If the bathroom faces the front door directly, the foul air and negative energy from the bathroom will spread throughout the house every time the door is opened, gradually deteriorating the family’s fortune and even risking financial loss and misfortune. From a practical perspective, the unpleasant odor from the bathroom can also negatively impact the mood upon entering the home.

2. The Kitchen
The kitchen should also not be positioned directly facing the front door. In Chinese culture, the kitchen has been highly regarded since ancient times, overseen by the Kitchen God (Zao Wang Ye), a revered deity whom people worship and honor during festivals. This reflects the kitchen’s symbolic role as a source of blessing and prosperity in the home.
Traditionally, the kitchen is also seen as a place where wealth and financial luck reside. If the kitchen faces the front door directly, it is believed that the "wealth" within the kitchen will leak out, leading to financial losses, difficulty accumulating wealth, and overall decline in the family’s fortune.

3. Mirrors
Mirrors should not be placed directly facing the front door, as they are believed to disrupt the family’s overall luck and even drive away good fortune. Instead, mirrors can be positioned on the left or right side of the door for practical use without interfering with daily life.

This belief stems from traditional Chinese customs. For example, people often paste door gods, couplets, lucky characters ("Fu"), and New Year paintings on the front door for protection and blessing. A mirror facing the door is said to scare away these protective deities, diminishing their ability to safeguard the family. Without the gods’ blessing, the household may face continuous misfortune, and good luck will not endure.