You'll often hear about the concept of "bad luck" in feng shui, which can make this art sound like superstition. However, it's important to understand that what "bad luck" refers to are conditions creating energy that is negative (sha chi), stagnant, unbalanced, or flows poorly for optimal feng shui. Many things can create these conditions which dis-allow optimal flow of positive energy and may lead to undesirable circumstances.
Several issues associated with how your front door is aligned may cause negative energy.
A front door directly aligned with the back door causes energy, luck, and prosperity to run in the front door and immediately out the back.
Having a bathroom facing the front door can cause negative energy.
A staircase directly facing the front door deprives the main floor of chi as it comes through the front door and rushes up or down the staircase.
A mirror within five feet of the front door (especially facing it) causes chi to bounce right back out the door.
A black colored front door facing any direction but north is bad luck.
A front door that opens outward pushes positive energy out the door before it can enter.
Many elements of décor are associated with bad luck.
Art depicting disasters (particularly shipwrecks), wars, or other negative scenes bring bad energy.
Cacti and other spikey or thorny plants (such as mother-in-law's tongue/snake plant) create negative energy.
Mirrors facing the bed may invite relationship difficulties.
Hanging a calendar on the front door is believed to shorten the lives of the people inhabiting the home.
Water in the bedroom (water elements, fish tanks, or depictions of water such as paintings) is said to cool the fire of passion, which is bad luck for a marriage.
Dead plants indoors or out invite bad energy.
Placing furniture under a beam, especially a bed, can invite illness and bad luck.
The goal with feng shui is to create conditions favorable to the balance of yin and yang energy and the circulation of chi. However, if you do have some of these elements in your home or workspace, the negative energy they generate is never insurmountable. Instead, you can implement feng shui cures to rebalance energy and invite positivity into your home and life.