I think Laura Cerrano can do it better than anyone here.  check out her blog.

You should read Laura Cerrano posts where she clearly explains it. I interpret it to be ways to improve and invite positive energy into a home. Positioning and orientation are just a part of it. 

Feng Shui means wind and water. Feng shui is the practice of creating balance of energies through placements of objects in one's abode (home, office, building, community, situations, country, etc.) and even our bodies to help attract good health, fortune, love, knowledge and more. Simply stated, it is a practical methodology of arranging one's environment to allow the smooth flow of energy. Example, big furniture may be good for bigger homes and will feel tight and look awkward in a small home. This creates discomfort and may affect negative emotions which eventually can cause poor health, and a distubed mind. Another example, is an ill fitting shoes that will eventually cause blisters on one's feet resulting in the lack of ability to move freely and may cause poor health, poor performance, etc. There are a lot more information to achieve good feng shui and it requires determination of one's date and time of birth, location e.g. North, South, East, West. The proximity to water, mountain, etc. The practice of Feng Shui must be done carefully and correctly to achieve the goals of acquiring good fortune and good health. 

Ginger,

It is about how and were one places their furniture, entry way, to allow for maximum good energy to come in to a home or work place.  I agree Laura can enlighten you.  There are wonderful simple books on the subject also.  A

I don't even understand it!

i cant, but there is a great member here who talks about it.

Hi Ginger:

                  During my time in Vietnam,I spent the majority of my time in the Vietnamese village. The Vietnamese use Feng Shui in building homes. Phong thuy, better known by its Chinese name, feng shui, plays an important part in Vietnamese lives. They will consult a fortune teller to determine the proper orientation of their house. Depending on the astrological reading of the owner, the fortune teller will decide if the house should be built facing south or southeast. The doors of houses should not face each other. If they do, mirrors must be hung above them to fend off evil spirits. If I trecall the evil spirits came from the west,so if a house windows allowed an evil spirit entry from the west, the home owner would place a mirror in that window. This would cause the evil spirit to see itself and run away.The location of the stove is connected to wealth and a bad location can mean that one’s wealth will be drained away. Similarly, the location of the bed is linked to feelings, emotions and health. This was all done by compass locations and of course the fortune teller. Some Vietnameses will not ever consider building ahome without this approval. Sorry for the long reply,but it is somewhat complicated. chúc may mắn (good luck)

I like the response provided by Tina Comstock. 

i cannot explain something that is such a big deal here but not in Vietnam, North Korea or China.

I would not explain Feng Shui to a novice. They need to have a functional understanding, THEN we can talk. 

More often than not I would suggest that trimming the leaves on the tree does not fix what is caused at the root. So I would ask, "What do you think Feng Shui will solve for you?"

With full understanding, I know things have the power we give it. If you want to give power to the placement of objects to harmonize energy, who am I to deny you the benefit of the assignment of that power? So, let's make sure nothing blocks the view of the door.

It's a fad... Like all other fads, this too shall pass. :)

 Good morning Ginger. I'm not sure it can be explained in a short paragraph. It has to do with energy flow and creating a peaceful envireonment.

I was going to suggest you contact Laura Cerrano , but two other people have already beat me to it.