After a long year, has your home become uninspiring? Rearranging furniture is the oldest spring-cleaning trick in the book to make a space feel clean and new…after sweeping things under the rug, that is!
Switching around the position of furniture in your home will refresh your space and, according to the ancient Chinese science of Feng Shui, will encourage harmony and positive energy in your living space. Sounds good, right?
In a nutshell, Feng Shui is about surrounding you and your family with positive energy. This sense of well-being is achieved by allowing the life energy ‘chi’ to flow freely through your home. One way to achieve this is by reorganizing the furniture in your home.
Spiritual or not, this idea can be helpful when deciding on the layout of your furniture. You want to create flowing and uncluttered pathways between furniture and rooms. This encourages good chi and makes your home feel less cluttered. You’ll probably stub your toe less, too! Make sure doorways are clear, leave space between furniture and soften sharp corners with lamps so the chi doesn’t stagnate there.
There are a lot of home-decluttering trends out there and for good reason! An uncluttered home is one of the best ways to promote well-being. Say goodbye to the stuff you don’t need. Remember, not every inch of wall space or corner needs to be filled! Less is more.
Body language is key to communicating. As is the position of our furniture! Arrange your couch and armchairs to face each other around a circular coffee table to promote friendly conversations. Avoid chairs directly facing each other, as that can encourage arguments.
The five elements of Feng Shui are earth, metal, water, wood and fire. Bring auspicious Feng Shui in by incorporating each element into your living space. When switching around your furniture, think about balance—don’t have all your plants in one corner and one décor material, such as wood, shouldn’t overpower everything else. If a room is metal heavy, make it cozy by adding soft furnishings like a cushion and quilt.
Whatever the main function of your space is, you want to create for yourself a commanding position. For example, place the couch—the main piece of furniture—somewhere with a good vantage point of who is entering the space. A position of command increases the sense of security and calm.
If your shelves have been gathering ornaments and knickknacks for many years, consider decluttering. Organize your space by only displaying accessories and objects that are meaningful to you. In Feng Shui, these work as ‘energy anchors,’ promoting a sense of accomplishment, happiness or adventure.
Mirrors reflect light and have the ability to make a room feel bigger and brighter. When rearranging furniture, think about hanging a mirror in a strategic way. As it doubles the energy of what it reflects, make sure it’s reflecting something pleasant like light or a vase of fresh flowers.
Encourage as much natural light as possible into your home. Move furniture that is blocking windows. What can’t be touched by natural light can be made brighter with artificial light. Energy-saving lightbulbs mimic daylight and are a greener option for the home. Illuminate dark corners with lamps or candles.
There is no better way to add the life-force energy ‘chi’ to your home than by adding plants. They liven up a room by adding texture and color, and can purify the air. Varieties to include are peace lily (Spathiphyllum), rubber plant (Ficus elastica), snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) and bamboo (Bambusoideae) give especially good vibes. Just make sure to keep these plans out of reach of children and pets.
Bring positive energy into your home by using these nine tips—not coincidentally, the most auspicious number in Feng Shui! Because, even when we don’t realize it, our environment is influencing the way we feel. So make sure your home makes you feel good!