I always find that September is a transitional month. The burning heat of summer is fading, but it’s still not quite cold enough to curl up with a blanket and a pumpkin spice latte.
There's a name for this in-between season, explains leading expert on creating good Feng Shui in your home, Cliff Tan. 'What the West calls the Indian Summer is the fifth season, late summer or early autumn [in Feng Shui], representing Earth. This is the equinox between the yang and yin seasons; a moment to pause and recharge.'
'Without Earth’s stability, we risk entering fall feeling scattered or depleted,' continues Feng Shui practitioner Helen Ye Plehn. 'By anchoring your home and body now, you step into the next season nourished, centered, and supported.'
6 ways to Feng Shui your kitchen & dining space for the Fifth Season
The experts shared a few simple tips to help me bring grounding ‘Earth’ energy into my home this September, with a focus on the kitchen and dining room, which are the key areas to harmonize during this transitional period.
1. Create a tablescape with color and texture
When it comes to fall table decor ideas, 'colors should draw from the Earth palette,' advises Cliff Tan. 'Soft yellows, pale oranges, and warm earthen tones, echoing the green leaves of summer slowly yellowing and drying out. Complement these with tactile, warm textures such as clay, ceramics, or natural linens, so the table feels inviting, nourishing, and perfectly in tune with the grounding energy of the season.'
I've been inspired by the earthy tones featured in Crate & Barrel's latest fall tableware collection, which naturally celebrates colorful stoneware and table linens.
2. Add nourishing centrepieces
'It’s a time to keep your tables full and abundant think bowls of seasonal fruit, fresh bread, or other simple symbols of nourishment and a good harvest,' continues Cliff Tan. 'These elements don’t just decorate your space; they make the dining table the heart of the home, a place that invites gathering, sharing, and celebration.'
Feng Shui practitioner, Helen Ye Plehn, advises placing your seasonal fruits and farmers market staples into tactile clay, ceramic, stone, or porcelain bowls. I've chosen a simple, accessible terracotta fruit bowl from Pottery Barn, filled with figs for my family and friends to take from.
3. Choose sturdy, square shapes
To frame this energy, Cliff advises leaning into 'stable, grounding shapes like squares or wide horizontal rectangles.' You may want to choose these shapes for your tablescapes. 'Think a sturdy wooden block, a low, generous bowl, or anything that feels solid and anchored,' explains Cliff.
Cliff's advice reminded me of my favorite Dutch oven alternatives: the rectangular casserole dish. As a kitchen appliances editor, I've seen this shape re-emerge as a trend recently, with stylish picks like Joanna Gaines' new Hand & Hearth Dutch oven. I love the low, angular shape and gorgeous deep burgundy color, bringing ripening harvest colors that are so celebrated in the Fifth Season straight to your stovetop or dining table.
4. Declutter your kitchen countertops and cupboards
In Feng Shui, clutter in the kitchen reflects stagnation in digestion. Helen Ye Plehn urged me to perform a Feng Shui energy cleanse by clearing my countertops and pantry to make 'space' in my physical and emotional digestive system. 'Keep only what is nourishing and functional,' she says.
I am a kitchen appliance tester, constantly testing the best non-toxic cookware, so you can imagine that my kitchen is jam-packed with pots, pans, and boxes. I am slowly but surely organizing my kitchen cabinets – donating items I no longer use, disposing of old herbs and spices at the back of my pantry, and refreshing my kitchen with fresh, seasonal herbs to create a more Feng Shui kitchen that aligns with Earth’s rhythm instead.
5. Gather around nourishing, one-pot dinners
Acupuncturist, Chinese Medicine and Feng Shui practitioner, Tsao-Lin Moy, tells me that the Earth element also relates to the stomach and digestion. 'Focus on eating foods that are in season, and are nourishing, and vegetables that are cooked well,' she explains. 'Avoid fried foods, or meat-heavy meals, or too many raw vegetables; they can be harder to digest.'
The experts suggest one-pot, warming dishes: think: fennel and bean soup, stews, and sides of roasted vegetables. For slow-simmered recipes, I either turn to my favorite slow cooker ideas or my trusty Le Creuset Dutch Oven. It has an enamel-coated cast iron surface that gives food those golden, caramelized edges, while the tight-fitting lid locks in steam for tender vegetables.
Tsao-Lin Moy suggests choosing a red or orange dish, explaining, 'You can create a 'campfire' effect by placing the Fire Element as a center piece, drawing people around the table.' If you don’t already have a Dutch oven, you might want to choose a Le Creuset's 100-year anniversary 'Flame Doree' colorway to bring that ‘campfire energy’ into your kitchen. Helen Ye Plehn also suggests lighting a candle for a more grounding, mindful dining experience.
My picks for a nourishing fifth season
As a kitchen appliances editor, I'm constantly on the lookout for high-quality tableware and cookware. I think these pieces are not only gorgeous and grounding, but timeless classics you can turn to time and time again.
These ochre napkins remind me of ripening fields, creating a sense of nourishment and seasonal abundance. Made from flax, these napkins also bring a natural, organic texture to the table.
Terracotta is made from Earth itself, making this bowl a direct expression of the Earth element. It will be perfect for serving simple, nourishing fruits at the centre of your space during the transitional season.
The rectangular shape of this Dutch oven alternative provides structure and stability. You can trust Le Creuset's enamel cast iron to hold heat, creating grounding, slow-simmered meals that support will digestion and stability.
Serve your seasonal soups and vegetable dishes in this hand-crafted bowl. It was designed by Michelin-starred chef, Daniel Humm, and made in Portugal using recycled stoneware, which has a tactile and bespoke feel.
One of the best slow cookers can create richly flavored, easy stews and casseroles to feed you for an entire week, with little effort at all. This one is totally free from PFAS, PFOA, lead and cadmium that could corrupt the taste of your cooking.
The woven texture of this charger plate adds warm textures that echo the harvest and the richness of late summer. It will create a strong base layer on your dining table.
I hope these tips help you to integrate the busy days of summer into a calmer, nourishing space for your fall routine. If you are interested in bringing more balance into the rest of your home, you can follow Feng Shui energy mapping, strategically position a plants and furniture in your areas of your home associated with wealth, vitality, and luck.
