Downsizing your living space isn’t just practical—it’s a trend. People are realizing that living in smaller spaces can be great for the wallet, beneficial to their mental well-being, and save time on cleaning and maintenance. If you live in a small apartment, you’re aware of all the benefits. Even so, keeping the apartment uncluttered and organized can be challenging. Living in an apartment that’s constantly in disarray can seriously disrupt the flow and throw off your feng shui.
If you’re struggling with how to make your small apartment feel more calming, organized, and in line with your feng shui goals, then we’ve got the ideal tips to help.
It May Be Time to Change the Color Palette
Jumping into a redesign project can be intimidating, so we suggest you start with a simple step. Changing the color palette is one of the easiest yet most impactful decisions you can make. If you crave a calm and inviting space, neutral colors are the way to go. These should be carried through all the rooms in your apartment, not just the common spaces.
Depending on your preferences, you can approach color selection in several ways—especially if you’re inspired by feng shui principles. To bring positive feng shui to your home, you can choose earth tone colors, which are said to keep chi in your home. Warm, earthy tones such as yellow, red, and brown are excellent examples. If you aren’t a fan of these colors, you can tap into the spiritual and calming side of feng shui instead. This means using gentle, restful colors like lavender, blue, grey, and soft green.
To keep the flow throughout your apartment, stick to the same tonal family on the paint chip and vary the shade or saturation.
Decluttering Brings Big Benefits
Here’s a tip that will cost you no money but will completely transform your apartment: decluttering. This is something every person can and should embrace. You don’t have to do it multiple times per year, but aiming for a yearly declutter means the volume of stuff in your apartment never gets out of hand.
The decluttering process is relatively simple. You take a room-by-room approach and go through everything you own. Experts recommend creating three distinct piles: keep, toss, and give away. Every item in your apartment needs to fit in one of those piles.
While organizing may seem easy in theory, emotions often complicate the process. There are bound to be items you have an emotional attachment to. They can be extremely difficult to part with. Then there are items you convince yourself you might need or use someday. A declutter requires you to be honest and even a bit ruthless. Keeping some items for sentimental value is perfectly acceptable, but the fact is that you probably don’t have enough room to keep them all.
A helpful tip for decluttering is to ask yourself if you have used or worn the item in the last year. If the answer is “no,” then you likely won’t miss it.
Invest in Smart Storage Solutions
Now that you’ve thoroughly decluttered your apartment, it’s time to think about storage solutions. A big mistake homeowners can make is not investing in enough organizing systems. The goal should be that every item has a place. Nothing should be sitting out on countertops, the floor, tables, and so forth.
Smart storage solutions come in all sizes and configurations nowadays, allowing you to customize your space based on your needs. You can even create a custom closet system that looks professionally installed. Consider flipping through design magazines and browsing online for inspiration. Finally, the golden rule is to measure twice, so you don’t accidentally purchase storage that doesn’t fit properly.
Specific Zones and Nooks Bring Purpose to the Space
Open floor plans have become all the rage, but they aren’t necessarily cohesive and practical. If there are no specific rooms, how do you divide the spaces? How do you know what each area is intended for? Creating specific zones and nooks gives design purpose. It makes it clear to everyone what that zone is intended for.
We suggest designating specific zones for sleeping, working, and relaxing, even if you have a compact or studio apartment. The relaxing zone is where you can also enjoy entertainment such as binge-watching shows on the television or exploring a selection of the most popular games on your smart device or computer.
The goal of having specific zones is to keep the apartment balanced and harmonious. It also ensures you make the most use of the space.
Use the Design Hack of Strategically Placed Mirrors
This is a design hack straight from the experts. Strategically placing mirrors in your living space can give the illusion of added space. In feng shui, mirrors are also used to adjust energy and flow, but it all comes down to proper placement.
When hanging the mirror, it should reflect “good” things. One tip is to have it reflect nature, such as the outside greenery or indoor plants. Next, it’s important to consider the shape of the mirror. Triangle mirrors are said to bring fire and style, round mirrors bring joy and clarity, tall rectangular mirrors can bring love and kindness, and smaller square mirrors can aid in self-care and stability.
Furniture Should Be Thoughtfully Placed
The furniture in your apartment will also affect the flow and feng shui. One common mistake is purchasing oversized pieces that make it difficult to navigate through your home. If you’re always dodging furniture when you walk around, the flow is being interrupted.
Helpful tips include placing large items against the wall, finding the commanding position in the room, and avoiding placing furniture in direct alignment with doors. It’s best to do a little research on proper furniture placement according to feng shui principles.
Positive Feng Shui Can Be Achieved No Matter the Size of Your Apartment
The big takeaway is that positive feng shui can be achieved in any living space. It isn’t determined by the size of your home or apartment. Instead, it’s about tapping into the principles that make a space calm, grounded, balanced, and harmonious. It will require looking closely at each room in your living space and likely making changes ranging from subtle touches to major overhauls, but it’s well worth the effort.