The living room is an essential space in any home. It’s the one room that’s dedicated to recreational activities and socializing with guests and loved ones.
In fact, when you invite guests over, it’s probably the first room they’ll see after you’ve invited them inside your house.
That being said, you’ll want to make sure that your lounge space offers a cozy and welcoming environment for everyone. One way of doing so is by applying the Chinese art of feng shui to your home.
Feng shui is the art of arranging elements within a space to promote better energy (chi) flow. In feng shui, the types of objects we surround ourselves with and how they’re situated have an impact on the energy of a space.
In turn, this energy can affect the way we perceive and interact with our surroundings.
For example, a living room that’s dark and filled with large objects can feel smaller and may look hostile to visitors. On the other hand, a spacious and well-lit living room creates a bright and comfortable atmosphere for recreation.
When it comes to practicing good feng shui, every space has its own needs. This is why it’s best to consult with a feng shui expert.
For instance, if you reside in a sunny city like San Diego, you might want your living room to let in more natural light. Before making any renovations, you can seek the advice of a feng shui consultant San Diego residents can depend on for reliable guidance.
Although feng shui is a specific art, you can still use some of its more universal principles to make the most out of your living room area. If you want to start optimizing your home, below are five tips for creating a beautiful and bright living room space with feng shui:
Create an Accommodating Space for Everyone
Since your living room is a communal area, it should properly accommodate your family and guests. To start off, make sure to declutter the space.
Scattered clutter can make your living room feel less inviting and harder to relax in. It’s difficult to sit down and chat with clothes hanging on the couch or food wrappers strewn on the coffee table.
It’s also good to provide enough seats for everyone in your home—or any visitors you might invite so that each person has their own personal space.
It’s also recommended that you let chairs or couches face one another to encourage more conversation between people. This way, your living room can feel more welcoming and conducive to meaningful interaction.
Position Your Furniture Facing the Entrance
Do make sure that any couches or seats have a good view of the entrance or entryway of your living room.
This is what’s called a “commanding” position in feng shui, and it is one way of inviting positive chi into your space.
Placing your furniture in a commanding position gives your guests a better view of who’s entering or exiting the room without requiring them to turn around.
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Surround Yourself with Objects That Inspire Happiness
It’s best to decorate your living room with objects that inspire joy. For example, you can choose to place awards like trophies and medals in a display cabinet, which symbolize success and accomplishment. Do try to avoid displaying items that induce negative emotions like sadness.
While including photos of your family and friends is a great way to liven up your space, hanging a portrait of a deceased pet or an ex-partner may not be a good idea.
Remember, your living room is dedicated to entertaining guests and loved ones, so its decorations should match these happy occasions.
Include Lots of Greenery to Keep Things Lively
Plants symbolize energy and life, which is why they make great additions to your living room. In feng shui, plants are known to absorb the negative energy in a room.
This is ideal, as your living room is supposed to be a cheerful space. Besides their feng shui benefits, plants also provide more oxygen and clean air.
You can select a variety of plants, from large potted plants to smaller succulents. For larger plants, you may want to consider positioning them near couches and chairs, as they can promote livelier conversation.
Light Up Your Room
Your living room is the center of activity within your home, so keeping it well-lit is a must. Plus, a bright space can greatly uplift the mood.
You want to make sure that your living room has an adequate amount of both natural and artificial light. If your living room has any dark or shadowy corners, do add some additional light sources like lamps to help brighten them up.
During the day, you can opt to pull back the blinds or curtains on your windows, allowing more natural light to enter your lounge space.
Whether you’re entertaining friends over drinks or hosting family movie nights, your living room is the perfect place to kick back and relax with those nearest and dearest to you.
Applying good feng shui can ensure that every moment spent in this special space is filled with merriment and great conversation.
