YOUR LIVING SPACE

Your home should be somewhere you want to be and not somewhere you want to avoid. Your living space is your retreat from the busy world. A place where you can relax, think and feel comfortable. Sometimes, because of circumstances, we’re forced to live somewhere that’s not ideal. It may be noisy, cramped, shared or dilapidated, but even in that situation it’s possible to make improvements and changes that will help you feel happier.

If you have clutter then you probably have more than you need. Most of us collect far too much stuff around us and eventually it begins to weigh us down and trap us. Getting rid of the clutter gives you a wonderful sense of freedom. Do you hoard? Do you possess too many things? If so, it’s time to declutter and reorganise.

It’s not the major task it may sound. Set aside a small amount of time once a week to focus on clearing out a room or an area in your home. Do it at your own pace. Anything you haven’t used, haven’t worn, don’t like or is broken should go.

Divide all the above into three piles: to be thrown out, to be recycled and ‘not sure’. Ask yourself ‘Do I need this?’ and ‘Does it make me happy?’ There are millions of people who can make use of the things you don’t want or need. Donate them to a charity or give them to someone you know who needs them. When you know your old belongings will benefit someone else it becomes easier to part with them.

Once you’ve thrown out and given away, go through your ‘not sure’ pile. If you really can’t bring yourself to part with something, pack it away in a box. If, after six months or so you haven’t missed it or used it, you don’t need it.

Clear up your paperwork. Buy a filing cabinet/box (or make one out of a cardboard box if necessary) and file away everything you can. Clear out cupboards and reorganise them to suit your needs and daily habits. Remember, there’s no point in keeping anything ‘just in case’. You’re just using it like a security blanket and you don’t need it. Clear it out.

Feng shui, the Chinese philosophy of arranging your surroundings to best advantage, is largely based on how our living and working environments consciously and subconsciously impact on our minds. There’s nothing weird and wonderful about it. Most of it is common sense. For example, a photograph of someone you love will give you comforting positive feelings, while something else may rake up hurtful or sad memories. Don’t keep anything in your living space that gives you negative feelings. If you have to keep it for any reason, then store it away, out of sight.

Other feng shui recommendations involve keeping your home well-maintained. A bundle of wires under your computer will conjure up a subconscious image of worms or snakes and might also be dangerous. Find a way to hide them or box them in. A damp patch on the wall reminds us of rot and mould, so seal it and paint over it. Often we put off these tasks, not realising how they affect our subconscious on an everyday basis.

Once you’ve decluttered and done a bit of fixing and mending it’s time to start on the decor. There’s no right or wrong way to decorate. It depends entirely on the individual, but choose elements of vision, hearing, touch and smell to boost positive feelings and a happy atmosphere. Certain textures or patterns may make you irritable for example. Choose what you like and what pleases your senses.

The psychology of colour in the home is very important to your sense of wellbeing. I’ve talked about the use of colour in my previous postings, which you can find in the ‘colour me happy’ category.

Psychological comfort depends on being surrounded by things that stimulate your senses in a positive way, together with meaningful objects that give you pleasure. Your surroundings should not be based on fashion, but suit your daily habits and your personality. You might go for wild and wacky, cool and funky, antique bric-a-brac or simply neutral. It doesn’t matter as long as it feels right to you.

By creating a home you’re happy in you will automatically place your own unique stamp on it and it will reflect who you are. It’s far more pleasing to the eye and a lot more interesting than something that looks as though it’s straight out of ‘Homes and Gardens’. It will also feel more comfortable and relaxing and become a place you can retreat to and enjoy.