When people talk about feng shui colours for wealth, they usually mean a handful of shades: green, purple, gold and red. Each one has a reason behind it, rooted in the five elements and in Chinese colour symbolism, and each works best in particular places. Used thoughtfully, they’re a simple, inexpensive way to give the wealth area of a home some attention.
Below is what each wealth colour means, where to use it, and how to combine colour with the other parts of feng shui so it’s more than a paint chart.
Key takeaways
- The classic wealth colours are green (growth), purple (abundance and dignity), gold (prosperity) and red (luck).
- The wealth area is the far left corner from the front door in the door-based bagua, or the southeast in the compass bagua.
- That area belongs to the wood element, so greens and the water colours that feed wood (blue, black) support it; strong metal can be kept light there.
- Accents are usually enough: a plant, a cushion, a vase or a piece of art.
- Colour is a symbol and a reminder of your intentions, not a financial strategy.
Why colour and wealth are linked
Feng shui links each area of life to one of the five elements. In the compass bagua, wealth sits in the southeast, which is a wood direction: wood grows, and growth is the image feng shui uses for increasing prosperity. Colours that represent wood, or that feed it in the productive cycle, are therefore said to support wealth.
On top of that sits Chinese colour symbolism. Red has long been the colour of good fortune, and gold the colour of riches and imperial wealth. Purple, which was costly to produce in many cultures, is widely used in modern feng shui as a colour of abundance. For more on how the element cycles work, see my guide to the five elements.
The main wealth colours
| Colour | Element | What it represents | Easy ways to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Wood | Growth, new opportunities, steady increase | Healthy plants, green cushions or a painted feature wall |
| Purple | Fire/wood (varies by school) | Abundance, dignity, richness | An amethyst cluster, a purple throw, flowers |
| Gold | Metal (sometimes linked with earth) | Prosperity, value, success | A gold-framed picture, a bowl, coins |
| Red | Fire | Luck, celebration, energy | Red ribbon on coins, a small accent, red envelopes |
| Blue and black | Water | Flow; water feeds wood in the productive cycle | A dark blue vase, a picture of calm water |
Where to use wealth colours
The wealth corner
This is the most common place. Stand at your front door looking in: the far left corner is the wealth area in the door-based bagua. In the compass method, it’s the southeast of the home. If you’re not sure which method to use, my guide to finding your wealth corner explains both. Add green or purple accents there, ideally with something living, such as a plant.
The front door and entrance
Red is the traditional colour for a front door in Chinese homes, and many people use a red or gold accent near the entrance to welcome good fortune. In compass feng shui, though, the best door colour depends on the direction it faces, so check that before repainting.
A home office or desk
If your income comes from work you do at home, the far left corner of the desk or office can be treated as a mini wealth area, with a small plant or a green or purple object.
Wallets and cash boxes
Red and gold wallets and purses are popular in Chinese communities, especially around Lunar New Year. It’s a small, everyday way to carry the symbolism with you.
Combining colour with the rest of the wealth corner
Colour works best alongside the other things feng shui suggests for the wealth area: a healthy plant, good light, a clean and uncluttered space and one or two meaningful objects. My guide to what to put in your wealth corner covers the whole setup. A purple cushion in a dusty, cluttered corner won’t do much; a clear, bright corner with a thriving plant and a touch of purple is the classic picture.
Colours to use with care in the wealth area
- Lots of white, grey or metal: metal controls wood in the element cycle, so a wealth corner dominated by metal is sometimes said to work against growth. A gold accent is fine; a wall of chrome is less ideal.
- Large areas of earth colours: wood controls earth, so heavy earth tones aren’t harmful, but they don’t directly support the area either.
- Dull or faded colours: a tired, sun-bleached cushion sends the opposite message. Replace or refresh accents when they fade.
If metal is something you want to emphasise, the northwest, the area of helpful people and support, is its natural home. My guide to what to put in the northwest explains why.
Wealth colours room by room
- Living room: if the wealth corner falls here, a green plant and a purple or gold cushion on a nearby chair is enough.
- Kitchen: green works well; keep strong red accents near the stove rather than the sink, since fire and water clash.
- Bedroom: keep wealth colours soft. A muted green or a lilac throw suits a room for rest better than bright purple or red.
- Bathroom: if the wealth corner is a bathroom, green plants and earthy accents are the usual approach, along with keeping the toilet lid down and the door closed. My guide to a wealth corner in a bathroom, kitchen or missing area covers this in more detail.
A simple wealth colour plan
- Find your wealth area using one bagua method.
- Clear and clean it.
- Add one living green element, such as a healthy plant.
- Add one or two accents in purple, gold or red.
- Add a meaningful object, such as a bowl of coins or a picture that represents what you’re working toward.
- Keep it tidy, and refresh it once a year, often around Lunar New Year.
A realistic note
Colour won’t change your finances on its own, and no honest practitioner would claim it does. What a cared-for wealth corner can do is act as a daily reminder of your goals, which some people find useful. Pair it with real-world steps, such as a budget or a savings plan, and treat the colour as the symbolic part.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best feng shui colour for money?
Green and purple are the colours most often recommended for the wealth area, with gold and red as accents.
Is purple or green better for wealth?
Both are widely used. Green connects directly to the wood element of the wealth area; purple is a modern favourite for abundance. Many people use green as the main colour with a purple accent.
Should I paint my wealth corner purple?
You can, but you don’t need to. Accents are easier, cheaper and reversible.
Is a red wallet good feng shui?
Red and gold wallets are a popular symbol of good fortune in Chinese tradition. Keeping the wallet tidy, and not stuffed with old receipts, is the other half of the advice.