Feng Shui in a Studio or Bachelor Apartment - How To Apply Feng Shui in a Small Apartment

By Rodika Tchi, About.com Guide



Even though feng shui of a small apartment or studio can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating experience, be sure you can have good feng shui and good energy in a small space.Photo: Digital Vision / Getty Images

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Applying feng shui in a small apartment or studio can be a challenge, as often there is little or no separation between your living, working and sleeping space. In other words, how do you apply feng shui if your bedroom is part of your living room, and the kitchen is right close to it, all areas with no walls to separate the different feng shui energies?

Even though this is a common situation in many big cities, it does not mean you can't have good feng shui in a small apartment or a studio.

Two main skills you absolutely have to master if you want to achievegood feng shui in a small apartment or studio are:
Clutter clearing and good organization skills

Subtle skill of creating a harmonious division between different open areas.Clutter clearing with feng shui, once you get to start practicing it, can become a really exciting and healing process. How about knowing how to create separations between areas with different activities, though? Wouldn't that make the space look even smaller? It might. But you have to keep trying until you find the perfect solution for your small living space. Basically, you need to create pathways of energy in your small space, and provide as much privacy as possible for your bedroom.

Each space will ask for specific solutions, you might be working from home, for example, thus you will need to deal with more space dividers / separations in your home. Some of the typical feng shui dividers for a small studio and apartment are: various screens (from rice paper ones to ornately painted screens), tall plants, a bookshelf or a row of curtains.

To help you decide the best type of space divider to use, first find out the feng shui energy / feng shui element needed in the area. Knowing which feng shui element is needed for good feng shui in your home will help you with your choice.

For example, if you need a divider for the South feng shui area of your small studio or apartment, some good feng shui choices will be: a tall plant, a wood screen, a wood bookshelf or a row of red curtains. Choices that are not recommended, feng shui-wise, for the South area, are colors blue and black, or mirrored screens.

Let's look at some of the main feng shui priorities in a small apartment or studio.

Main door & entryway. In feng shui, the main dooris called the mouth of Chi, or Universal energy. If your apartment is small, it becomes especially important to have a clear and open entryway, thus allowing more energy to enter and nourish your living space.

Space saving solutions, good lighting, uplifting art, vibrant or soothing colors and objects of beauty can be brought into any space independent of its size. Because your apartment is small, put an extra effort into having the entryway as clean as possible, with no shoes, clothing or unnecessary items lying around in plain view.

Sleeping Area / Bedroom. When you live in a small apartment, one of the biggest feng shui challenges is to create a bedroom space that feels (and functions) well as a bedroom. Be mindful of creating enough separation between your living and sleeping areas.

Feng Shui-wise, focus on the place you see first as you wake up and last before you go to sleep, and be sure this is not the TV, the computer or the laundry basket. Have some inspiring energy to greet you every morning.

Use of Mirrors. Mirrors expand the space, attract more light, as well as bring the water feng shui energy. Easy to understand why mirrors are called the aspirin of feng shui! Definitely one of the best feng shui cures for a small apartment or a studio, mirrors will help you visually expand your space and create more breathing room.

Best to choose big mirrors that go with your decor and place them to either bring more light or to reflect something beautiful. Best feng shui areas for mirrors are East, Southeast, and North.

Watch the FREE Video: How To Use Mirrors in Feng ShuiEven though feng shui of a small apartment or studio can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating experience, be sure you can have good feng shui and good energy in a small space. You will also learn some invaluable skills, like the skill of surrounding yourself only with items that really matter, items that are really loved and needed. Quite a liberating experience, wouldn't you agree?

Top 5 Feng Shui Tips | Oh My Apartment

September 28th, 2005 by aptsherpa

Did your water heater just break? Having bad luck lately? Not enough room in your apartment? Your apartment may be suffering from bad feng shui.

Feng what? Feng shui

Pronounced “fung shway”, Fast Feng Shui defines feng shui as the art of placement or “the art of flow.” This term is no longer just an Asian practice, it has become part of the mainstream terminology. When literally translated from Chinese, it means “wind” and “water.” It is based on the thinking of Taoism’s chi and the belief everything is interconnected. Feng shui is not a religion, but the art of placing of objects and using space. Thinking of rearranging your furniture is a step in the right direction.

Looking for an apartment?
Use the 3 Ps

If you are looking for an apartment, feng shui can be of help. Look for the 3 Ps:

3 Ps

Path of energy

One of the basic rules when decorating with feng shui is to make sure that the path of energy, whether good or bad, cannot flow through your home. This happens when windows are directly across from each other, or doors are directly in front of a window. When good energy flows through your home, you can have good luck one day and bad the next, since the good energy has just flown through. When bad energy flows through your home, it is believed to cause more than just bad luck, including death and pain. Although the bad energy can flow out of your home, it leaves its wrath and can be hard to fully get rid of.

Plenty of windows

The second rule is that when you open up a window and allow natural sun light, only positive energy can flow through. When shopping for an apartment, look for windows throughout but make sure that it does not violate the first rule. Ideally your window should have direct natural light.

Pastel colored kitchen

According to Lillian Too, your kitchen is a part of your home that influences your family’s health based on its design. One of her suggestions when decorating a kitchen is to have a beige, yellow or pastel colored kitchen. When you go apartment hunting, look for a pastel colored kitchen. With it, you are one step closer to creating positive energy to flow through your home. Without a pastel colored kitchen, a bucket of paint, and your landlord’s written permission can take care of this.

Modifying your current apartment? Follow the ABC’s

You already moved in and you want to decorate using feng shui techniques? Not a problem. Although feng shui is complicated and there are many experts who could do an extensive analysis of your home, you can still do a few things yourself. Follow the ABC’s:

ABC
Arrange furniture

Start with an empty room. Once a room is empty, you can then fill it one piece at a time. You should begin with the larger pieces, like the couch, bed, television, etc. When placing each item, analyze whether the object is relevant to the area and whether people can flow through the room without running into anything. Ask yourself if you really need it in the room you are working on, or if it would better fit into another room, or if you should donate it, to goodwill. You don’t have to put everything back into the room that you took out. Get rid of whatever you have left after arranging each room. This is considered clutter and can slow down your positive energy.

Birthday symbols

Each individual has a symbol that is determined by their birthday. Use your birthday to find out what object you should place in the middle of your living room. Find your color, earth element (water, wood, fire, earth, metal) and direction, using a ba-gua. For example, my zodiac symbol is a rat, and since my birthday is in August, by the astrological weight and birth calculator I should place a crab in the middle of my living room so that my wealth can be protected.

Clean up

As one of the most important steps to improve your chi, cleaning up can help. Positive energy can’t come through when there’s dirt and clutter everywhere. Start early, start now. If you haven’t cleaned your home lately, then your chi could be clogged up behind that dirty closet or in the messy bed you haven’t made yet. Spring cleaning does not apply only to your home. You should neutralize the negative energy in your life and job. This can include people, bad habits, and anything that could potentially make your “chi” stale and slow.



If you’re around negative people, of course you may not be able to get away from some of these individuals. If at all possible, you should try to minimize the amount of time spent with people who make you tired, depressed, angry, and suppresses your new opportunities. Instead, welcome new friends and opportunities. If people who are slowing down your chi live with you, when it comes to the end of the lease, it’s time to say goodbye.

Bad habits die hard. However, while working on your home to improve it, you should also improve yourself. Whether you smoke, don’t put down the toilet seat, whatever your faults are, you should at least make an attempt to improve yourself. Ask, what can make your chi stale and slow? Work on issues in your life that increase stress, create fights, and make it difficult for you to get a good night’s sleep.

Experts to help

As I mentioned, feng shui is complicated, and there are experts who are willing to complete an extensive analysis of your home. Here are a few websites to visit if you are interested in contacting an expert in your area:

Feng Shui Decorating for the Studio Apartment | Oh My Apartment

August 3rd, 2009 by Staff Writer

Feng Shui decorating is based on the ancient Chinese art of the placement of objects, and it is popularly used today in interior design. Simply put, its premise is based on a certain arrangement of furniture in order to achieve an even flow of energy. Feng Shui decorating can also be accomplished in a studio apartment. Here are some simple guidelines.

Feng Shui and Studios

All across the board in Feng Shui, uncluttering is a reoccurring theme. This would be especially true in your studio apartment, since you are dealing with a smaller living space. Therefore, removing clutter should be your number one priority. Toss out or donate items that you no longer use, and take advantage of the wide assortment of plastic and decorative containers available today (to store away your seasonal items).

Another important concept in Feng Shui is to have each room in the home separate from the other. Each room has its own purpose and, therefore, a different energy. In a studio apartment, this concept can be adapted by using curtains, screens, room dividers, or perhaps a comforting mosquito net draped over your bed. If you have not yet moved into your apartment, spend some time there while it is still vacant (in order to visualize where you’d like to place the living room, dining area, sleep area, etc.).

Here are some simple Feng Shui decorating ideas for the key areas in your studio apartment:

The Bedroom

Use soothing, pastel, or pale colors to promote relaxation and calmness.
Do not place your bed under a window, as it is said that your energy can flow out of it while you sleep. If your studio space is small and you have no alternate placement for your bed, sleep with your head away from the window.
Choose soft lighting in the form of lamps — avoid ceiling light. Candles work great as well, with soy candles being a perfect choice since there are no toxins involved.

The Kitchen/Dining Area

In Feng Shui, the kitchen represents the health and prosperity of the home.
The use of fresh flowers and fruit bring positive energy. Keep a bowl of fruit on your table; place fresh flowers on the countertop or windowsill. If fresh flowers are impracticable or do not fit your budget, a potted plant is a great alternative.
White or yellow are the top Feng Shui kitchen color choices. White because it reflects natural light and yellow because it is said to stimulate digestion.

The Living Room

In Feng Shui, the living room is deemed the room of opportunity. This can lead to an opportunity for friends and family to learn more about one another.
Warm earth tones are best used to create an atmosphere of welcome.
Arranging seating in a circular manner so that no feels left out of a discussion.
Family photos on the walls are a great way to inflect the feeling of unity.

The ancient art of Feng Shui is simple, yet very deep. These suggestions will get you started on your journey to decorating your studio apartment the Feng Shui way.