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A Q+A with Amanda Gibby Peters of Simple Shui
Amanda Gibby Peters of Simple Shui
When you meet someone whose presence feels like a perfectly curated playlist—calm, inspiring, and just a touch bold—you take notice. Amanda Gibby Peters is that person. Founder of Simple Shui and all-around feng shui guru, Amanda is a modern-day philosopher of home energy. She’s also a mother, a business owner, and (if her Instagram @amandagibbypeters is any indication) a woman with impeccable taste.
We first crossed paths on the 'gram, introduced by a mutual friend, and I couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly she styles Lacson Ravello pieces. Bold. Colorful. Happy. They’re practically a metaphor for her approach to life—simple, yet deeply impactful. Naturally, I had to ask her all the questions about feng shui, family life, and how she makes her wardrobe work as hard as she does.
So, grab your matcha, settle in, and get ready to reimagine your space, style, and maybe even your to-do list.
Name:
Amanda Gibby Peters
Name:
Founder of Simple Shui and House Therapy | Professional feng shui consultant, author, educator
Currently residing in:
Dallas, Texas
Feng shui is one of those things we hear about all the time but may not totally get—so, what is feng shui really, and why should we be paying attention?
I have a story that, I believe, helps illustrate why this wisdom is worth our attention: In ancient China, where Feng Shui originates, emperors employed sage thinkers and wise philosophers to plunge into a lifelong inquiry—to carefully notice how life and the cosmos cooperated.
These philosophers (over time) realized the natural environment plays to patterns.
One of their observations noted that when a seed lands in fertile soil and that patch of land has the luck of sunshine, water, and protection, it grows and thrives. But if that seed happens to land where any of those necessary elements are missing or overwhelming, if the seed grows, it will likely struggle.
Jump ahead into present day: When you have a plant that is showing signs of distress, do you blame the plant? Probably not. Instead, you consider its environment—is it getting too much sun or water; not enough fertilizer; do I need to move it to another location?
This is something often referred to now as the ‘art of placement’—and what this notion suggests is that our well-being shares a direct correlation to our environment.
And when you understand how those energetic patterns—already existing in your space—affect you, you realize your environment is an opportunity to influence what is happening in your life right now.
Tell us about Simple Shui! What inspired you to start it, and what part of your work brings you the most joy?
Interestingly enough, I walked into Feng Shui as a full-time skeptic. Eventually, after trying my best to debunk it (haha!), I accepted that the shifts we were experiencing were real enough that I ought to adopt a curious approach. So, that is how I ended up on the path that has led me here today.
However, the story of Simple Shui is an interesting one. After completing my first certification program, I eagerly put myself “out there.” I contributed an article to an online wellness site, and it happened to go viral over the weekend it posted. And while it initially felt like an overnight success situation, by Monday, I was being ‘called out’ in its comments section by some practitioners in my field.
At the time, I didn’t realize there were different approaches to this practice, so my humiliation and desire to ‘make it right’ sent me back to shui school, and I learned ‘their’ approach to this wisdom.
Somewhere in that mix, I realized two things:
One, there are many paths up the same mountain—and they all get you there! Every practice is rich with wisdom and, therefore, has something to offer. So, for me, I relinquished this idea that one school/thought/approach is superior.
Two, despite some of the nuances among Feng Shui approaches (like BTB, Compass, Classical), they all share a thread of commonality—and from that, Simple Shui was born.
This awareness (that the *simple* shui is significant) brings me such joy. I have the pleasure of opening people’s minds about their homes. I get to show them how much potential for success is already within their reach. This opportunity to motivate, inspire and change the way people see and live in their homes is the absolute best
As a mother, businesswoman, and feng shui expert, how do you balance work life, family life, and everything in between without losing your zen?
There was one piece of advice that I heard when our girls were really young, and it has served me well:
“When you’re at home/with your family, be at home and with your family. When you’re at work, focus on work.”
It was somewhere in there I started recognizing the costs of decision fatigue—especially trying to mentally juggle it all. However, it has only been with age that I don’t feel the grip of meeting all the expectations anymore. Experience and reflection have shown me that very few things are as urgent, important and “right now” as they seem.
It also doesn’t hurt that my favorite quote is “This, too, shall pass.” So, whenever it feels “too much”, here’s my template:
• No. 1: What can I do (today) to put myself back at the top of my TO DO list?
• No. 2: I identify what is actually necessary on the TO DO list—and I limit myself to 3-5 tasks a day. (If you run a long list every day, it takes some time to weed out the busy work and get to the essentials.)
Ryan Holiday (of the Daily Stoic) asks a question that helps with this one, too: “There are professional habits and amateur ones. Which one are you practicing?”
• No. 3: Gratitude. This ‘rights’ my ship better than anything else. By focusing on what feels good, my energy aligns with what is relevant and important, and in that re-centering, the ‘noise’ loses its spotlight.
How can we apply feng shui principles to style and getting dressed? Is there a “feng shui” way to choose what we wear each day?
The ‘dopamine dressing’ trend definitely held my attention—it felt so shui adjacent. For anyone not familiar with that trend, the premise is the way you dress influences your mood—and certain colors, style or even textures/fabrics can activate the release of dopamine.
Similarly, the colors, patterns, fabrics and the actual cut of any clothing (or accessory) can influence our energy—specifically, the energy we want to embody for the day or evening, an event or an evolution! Based on the energy profiles of the 5 elements, we can essentially dress ourselves to be under their influence and powers of persuasion.
For instance, if I have been feeling more dull than dazzling, I know the element Fire can rev up my courage and confidence—the kind that gets noticed! So, in my closet, this might have me reaching for cashmere, a bold animal print, or your fabulously red Cora Sweatshirt!
There’s so much potential with this approach, so head over to this episode of House Therapy, if you want to learn more!
If there’s one myth about feng shui that you’re thrilled to debunk—please spill it!
I hopefully have dispelled one already—and that is this idea that there is ‘one true approach’ over all the other interpretations of Feng Shui. Again, there are many paths up the same mountain, and they all get you to the top!
The other myth is that Feng Shui deals in the physicality only—like, *move your furniture, change your life.* And while that’s true sometimes, Feng Shui’s wisdom is much deeper and profound than design alone. A client might reach out for room arrangement advice on their first foray into Feng Shui, but it is the divorce; trouble with kids; job frustrations; or another overwhelming life event that has them coming back. And for those consults, it is rarely about the furniture.
Feng Shui translated means ‘wind water’, so consider this: Wind is energy we don’t see, but we see its effects, right? Water is typically energy we do see.
When we work with Feng Shui, sometimes we are addressing what you see around you; other times, though, we are working to improve (or mitigate) the energy around you that—whether you know it or not—is always having a conversation with you.
Do you have a favorite Lacson Ravello piece? How does it complement your feng shui lifestyle, and where do you love wearing it?
I adore the Cora sweatshirts so much, I have it in three colors: Gold, Tomato Red, and Twilight Blue.
Here’s what I appreciate most (and why I have so many!) – I love the versatility of them. I can dress them up, hop on camera or into a consultation, and they wear beautifully! I can also be at a consult and, if the need arises, push my sleeves up to move furniture around or help a client rearrange a space. I need my clothes to be able to work with me, and the Cora is a superstar! I also LOVE that they’re available in bold colors, so I can ‘borrow’ that energy whenever I need it.
The Takeaway
In chatting with Amanda, I couldn’t help but marvel at how feng shui feels like this attainable roadmap for life—aligning the space (physical and/or mental) around us to support the best version of us. It’s not about perfection (thank goodness, because who has time for that?) but about creating harmony so that our homes feel less like a to-do list and more like a hug at the end of a long day.
I’ll admit, I’ve already started eyeing my furniture with a “let’s talk about your vibe” kind of curiosity—and don’t even get me started on my closet. If a bold red sweatshirt can shift my energy from "meh" to "marvelous," done!
So, here’s my question for you: What’s one small shift you could make in your space today that might just change everything? Send me a message or drop them on social media—I'd love to know!
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