Have you been making plans — and then more plans — to tidy up your home and office? Does every day of the week add to the chaos on your desk and does it become increasingly difficult to clean it up? Is this diminishing your willpower to do anything about it? Meet Cristiano Falconi, Interior Designer and Feng Shui Expert, The Holistic Institute, Dubai. He offers some smart tips on how to de-clutter your home and workplace and improve your life.
Why is living and working in a clean and uncluttered atmosphere so important?
When our living and working space is filled with clean energy, our own energy levels are at their highest. Every minute of the day is then put to good use and filled with positive events. Disposing of superfluous things works wonders because we get rid of what we do not need. Whatever surrounds us is a mirror of what is inside us. Therefore, improving our vital living space means improving our chances in life.
What's the benefit of space clearing when a new year begins?
The beginning of the year is a very important time. During the winter solstice, the old year gives way to the new. It is therefore important to realise that if the environment in which we live is cluttered, then there is no room for anything new. In fact, while we tidy up, clean up and redecorate our living space, changes also happen within us. This is the reason why disposing of things we no longer need is very effective and should be done before the beginning of an important event, such as the new year.
How best can one identify the useless objects and get rid of them?
The objects we love and use regularly contain good energy. On the other hand, objects we rarely use, neglect, simply don't like or that lie forgotten in a corner of our room or office help create heavy energy that is not required. There's more than one way of identifying such objects. For instance when we open a drawer to find magazines we didn't even know we had, or when we use the phrase ‘it might come in handy one day'. In other words, whenever an object is not used as regularly as it should be, it becomes useless and takes up space that could be used by something more congenial. So it is best to get rid of it.
Which areas of the house and office areas are in your experience more prone to be collection zones for useless objects?
In homes, cellars, attics and utility rooms are these ‘collection zones'. In offices it would be the space behind doors, in hallways and archives. In bedrooms we tend to store things under the bed. Similarly in kitchen cupboards and larders, it is possible to find food and tins that are past their best-by date or those we are unlikely to ever use.
What are some simple ways to de-clutter our home?
Just like people, houses have energy. To ensure that your home gives a positive vibe every time you and your loved ones enter it, you can take these simple steps
- a fresh coat of paint on the walls gives a sense of newness
- change the upholstery of your furniture using fabrics that do not gather much dust when furnishing and decorating
- it is also important to keep wardrobes and cupboards clean and uncluttered to prevent the gathering of dust and stagnant energy
- don't fill your house with useless objects as they only increase your cleaning time
- if using picture frames, choose happy, cheerful pictures; furnish your home with only your favourite colours so that returning home is a pleasure
- avoid hanging lampshades or other hanging objects in areas that you move around in a lot
- keep the corners of every room clean as they are most prone to gathering stagnant energy
- keep your windows clean so your house is filled with plenty of light; empty garbage daily
- empty and clean your refrigerator at least three times a month and throw out all the food that has past its expiry date; dust the area under your bed every morning and keep it free of junk and objects
- wash bathroom and kitchen floors regularly with water, vinegar and salt.
Are there rules for de-cluttering our office space as well?
In the office, it is important to have a user-friendly, clear and well-organised diary. This way our days and arrangements will be clearly identifiable and impressed on our minds and we can go about them in the best possible way. A diary should carry entries of the most relevant events and facts so that they can be identified and ordered chronologically even at a later time. Also important is tidying up paperwork that surrounds us on a regular basis, with a clear method for easy retrieval. By the end of the week, your desk should be tidy, free of paperwork and clean.
Starting the new week will be easier and nicer. Also, keep your work space free of objects you don't need; keep your telephone and mobile phone clean; use different colours for document binders and folders to not only jazz up your work space but for better organisation as well; empty your mailbox regularly; make a note on the back of business cards about when and where you received them; only keep one pen holder with only those pens and pencils that you actually need; put small objects like erasers, paper clips, etc in a box so that it is easier to find them; personal photos on your desk are best avoided as it might make your colleagues and customers feel ill at ease.
Is there a relationship between Feng Shui and clean space?
Feng Shui can be defined as the study of the energy present in places and environments. A serious and professional Feng Shui consultant, therefore, will first study the energy outside the area of interest and then the energy within it. This is because the macrocosm influences the microcosm and not the other way around.
Space clearing, on the other hand is the cleaning up of energy in defined spaces, like a house or an office for instance. It eliminates old energy so that new and healthier energy can flow in.
In fact, our homes are often laden with stagnant energy that blocks and hinders us. This might have been left behind by other people or it might be due to poorly maintained objects and furniture. By getting rid of them, it opens up the space and allows positive energy to reflow.
