How To Feng Shui Your Closet
No matter how big or small your closet may be, it's often a cluttered site. Filled with unused and damaged clothing and shoes, they can become catch-alls that cause you stress. And although the thought of organizing your wardrobe may be overwhelming, the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui can be very useful for this. According to The Spruce, feng shui dates back 3,000 years and involves arranging household belongings to harness energy and create a harmonious balance between yourself and the natural world. Although there are many facets to this organizational practice, there are a few things to keep in mind when arranging your closet, such as color and open space. But before you get ahead of yourself, feng shui and pretty much any organizational strategy these days start with emptying out the area's contents to assess what can be kept, what can be donated, and what can be trashed.
After you empty your closet, take some time to deep clean the space. When doing so, Metropolitan Organizing recommends opening a window and using aromatherapy techniques to remove any stagnant energy that may be present. This is also an optimal time to figure out the best way to go about organizing your remaining items. Closets often contain builder-grade shelving and don't offer a ton of storage space, so knowing whether or not you need to add to or redo your wardrobe's shelving can be especially helpful.
The importance of color
Once you've finalized your organizational strategy, the next step is to add the items back to your closet. There are several ways that you can go about this, but when it comes to feng shui, one of the most impactful ways is through the use of color. According to holistic feng shui expert Laura Benko, color can affect your state of mind and how balanced you feel in a space, so knowing how to use hues to feel your best is very important, House Beautiful notes.
When it comes to choosing a color to highlight in your closet, the expert recommends keeping a guide handy, so you understand what each tint means and the specific vibrational tones that it gives off. She also advises paying attention to your initial reaction to the color, which can signal whether or not it's right for you and your closet; however, don't be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone.
According to The Spruce, color also plays an additional role in your space's bagua map. Separated into eight areas, the bagua is representative of different components of life, including family and career. Each of these areas has its corresponding colors, seasons, numbers, shapes, and earthly elements. So, if you want to strengthen the energy flow in certain areas of your life, you can utilize the color associated with that area of the bagua map in your space.
Direction and consistency are key
Direction is another important aspect of feng shui as your home's facing orientation is believed to be how energy flows into the house and affects the people living there. With this in mind, pay attention to your closet's facing direction as it not only tells you if the space will easily receive energy but will also show you where your wardrobe is located on your home's bagua map. Once you've figured out the direction and location of your closet, try to incorporate the corresponding elements into the closet, Square One writes. You can do this by adding wooden hangers or metal baskets to your closet and storing seasonal items in separate locations.
Also, keep in mind that your closet reflects you and represents the hidden areas in your life, so use it as inspiration for what you envision for yourself and give the space plenty of regular attention. To do so, The Spruce suggests consistently decluttering and cleaning the closet's back corners, as well as leaving open space to show that you're welcoming of new opportunities. The Closet Works Inc. also recommends adding fresh paint and new lighting to help bring good energy to the area, and removing any plastic from your closet, as it can block positivity and energy flow.