Those who use feng shui principles when designing or decorating a home believe that the manner in which the rooms are arranged and decorated has a large impact on the energy flow, or chi, of the home. The idea behind feng shui is to encourage good energy flow, and to bring positive energy into one's life while ridding oneself of negative energy. This can have a positive impact on many areas of one's life, such as career, relationships, and health. Because living in an apartment generally means living in a smaller space, it is important to practice good feng shui for an apartment to make it an enjoyable place to live.
When trying to practice good feng shui for an apartment, one of the best first steps is to clear out clutter. Go through belongings and determine what should be kept and what should go, and then have a yard sale, give items to friends, or donate items to charity. Try to clear out junk drawers and find a place for everything. Organization can be one of the best ways to practice good feng shui for an apartment.
If looking for a new apartment, it is best to look for one with a lot of windows and bright light. The windows should not be directly across from each other, but the entryway should be wide open and welcoming. Apartments near water are often believed to be auspicious. Select calming paint colors and vibrant decorations that are enjoyable to look at. Mirrors can be used in feng shui for an apartment to redirect energy, and to make a small space appear larger; in a small studio apartment, it is important to separate each area used for sleeping, eating, and working using mirrors, dividers, or curtains.
Arranging furniture is one of the more important steps when attempting good feng shui for an apartment. One might choose to search for what is known as Bagua diagrams; these diagrams help one to create an energy map of the apartment, and may be done using a compass or a grid. For instance, the area directly to the left of the front door may be considered the wealth area, and might be a great choice for a dining room, whereas the right of the front door might be the relationship section and a good location for a bedroom.
There are many specific things that can be done in feng shui for an apartment to bring about the desired goal. One example is to place a small dish of coins in the wealth section of the home, or to never place a bed under a window, because all the chi will escape and make one even more tired. If one area of your life appears to be particularly unlucky, doing some research into the feng shui of an area might reveal a solution.