Apartment Therapy

1. Your home is a living organism that affects your well-being

Like the body, the home should be thought of as a living organism.

Home as a body analogy. Your home consists of four key components, mirroring the human body:

• Bones: Walls, floors, ceilings, windows, and fixtures
• Breath: Furniture arrangement and flow of energy
• Heart: Emotional expression through style, colors, and textures
• Head: Purpose and design supporting your activities

Understanding these components allows you to address issues more effectively:

• Bone ailments: Leaky sinks, cracked walls, loose tiles
• Breath ailments: Overstuffed bookcases, cluttered dining tables, unused spaces
• Heart ailments: Clashing colors, inconsistent styles, drab aesthetics
• Head ailments: Poor lighting for reading, disorganized kitchen drawers, insufficient seating

2. Create flow by balancing energy and decluttering

Flow refers to the movement of energy through a space.

Balanced energy distribution. Imagine your home as a river:

• Ideal flow: Slow, meandering curves with occasional straight lines
• Too fast: Rushing energy, often caused by straight paths or empty spaces
• Too slow: Stagnant energy, resulting from clutter or excessive curves

To improve flow:

• Avoid "Movie Theater Syndrome": Don't arrange all seating facing one direction
• Prevent "Bowling Alley Syndrome": Don't push furniture against walls, leaving empty centers
• Create meandering paths through rooms
• Balance open spaces with thoughtfully placed furniture
• Regularly declutter using the Outbox method to release stuck energy

3. Establish a Landing Strip to manage incoming items

Everyone should have a system for sorting the good stuff from all the useless material that the world constantly tries to push into our mailbox.

Create an entry filter. Set up a Landing Strip near your front door with three essential components:

1. Doormat: Keeps dirt out
2. Coat hook: Provides a place for outerwear and accessories
3. Mail sorting area: Organizes incoming items

Categorize mail into three groups:

1. Personal and social: Read immediately, respond within one week
2. Bills and financial: Place in a designated spot, address monthly
3. Entertainment and shopping: Sort daily, discard or file weekly

Benefits:

• Reduces clutter accumulation
• Improves organization
• Minimizes stress from overwhelming incoming items

4. Use the 80/20 color rule to enhance your space

Use strong colors sparingly. Allow them to punctuate a room, not define it.

Balance neutral and bold colors. Apply the 80/20 rule to create visually appealing spaces:

• 80% neutral colors
• 20% strong, bold colors

Tips for effective color use:

• Use neutral colors for walls and large furniture pieces
• Add pops of color through accessories like throw pillows, rugs, or artwork
• Maintain consistency within a color family for a cohesive look
• Consider the room's purpose when choosing colors (e.g., cool colors for bedrooms, warm colors for social spaces)

Benefits:

• Creates visual interest without overwhelming the space
• Allows for easy updates by changing accent pieces
• Promotes a sense of balance and harmony

5. Optimize lighting for better ambiance and functionality

Adding lighting to your home doesn't have to be limited to buying a new table lamp.

Layer your lighting. Create a well-lit space using three types of lighting:

1. Ambient: General illumination (e.g., ceiling fixtures, wall sconces)
2. Task: Focused light for specific activities (e.g., reading lamps, under-cabinet lights)
3. Accent: Highlights specific areas or objects (e.g., picture lights, uplights)

Room-specific lighting tips:

• Living rooms: Use at least three light sources, including table lamps and floor lamps
• Kitchens: Combine overhead lighting with under-cabinet task lighting
• Bedrooms: Place reading lights on both sides of the bed and add a third light source
• Bathrooms: Use sconces or vanity lights to minimize shadows

Additional lighting enhancements:

• Install dimmers for versatility
• Experiment with creative lighting solutions (e.g., rope lights, holiday lights)
• Consider full-spectrum bulbs to mimic natural daylight

6. Transform your bedroom into a sacred, restful space

The bedroom should be designed unlike any other room. It should be private, beautiful, peaceful, and clean.

Create a sleep sanctuary. Optimize your bedroom for rest and relaxation:

Physical improvements:

• Clean thoroughly, including under the bed and inside closets
• Invest in high-quality bedding, including sheets and pillows
• Use light-blocking curtains or shades
• Install a small, quiet air filter

Aesthetic enhancements:

• Choose calming, cool colors for walls and bedding
• Add soft lighting with dimmable bedside lamps
• Place a small vase of flowers and a carafe of water on the nightstand
• Consider adding a luxurious robe or throw blanket

Decluttering tips:

• Remove work-related items, including desks and computers
• Minimize electronic devices, especially TVs
• Store out-of-season clothing elsewhere
• Keep surfaces clear of clutter

7. Invest in quality furniture and decor for long-term satisfaction

Concentrate your money and buy good furniture.

Choose protein over carbs. Apply the "Atkins furniture diet" concept:

• Protein furniture: Well-crafted, durable pieces that appreciate in value
• Carbohydrate furniture: Mass-produced, trendy items with shorter lifespans

Guidelines for furniture shopping:

• Invest in key pieces like sofas, dining tables, and bed frames
• Mix high-end items with affordable accessories
• Aim for 70% protein furniture and 30% carbohydrate furniture
• Consider the longevity and versatility of each piece

Benefits of investing in quality:

• Increased durability and longevity
• Better resale value
• Enhanced overall aesthetics
• Reduced need for frequent replacements

8. Cook and eat at home to nourish your living space

Using your apartment for daily nourishment connects you to your food and your kitchen as well as your dining room, and spreads one of the best smells there is throughout your home.

Embrace home cooking. Establish a routine of cooking and eating at home:

• Start with one meal per week, gradually increasing to 3-5 meals
• Choose simple, healthy recipes to build confidence
• Stock your kitchen with basic ingredients and tools
• Create a Sunday night cooking ritual to prepare for the week ahead

Benefits of regular home cooking:

• Strengthens connection to your living space
• Improves kitchen organization and cleanliness
• Enhances overall home atmosphere through pleasant aromas
• Promotes healthier eating habits and potential cost savings

9. Implement a regular cleaning and maintenance routine

Keeping dust down to a minimum is extremely important for the health of your living environment.

Establish cleaning habits. Create a consistent cleaning schedule:

• Daily: Make bed, do dishes, wipe down surfaces
• Weekly: Vacuum, mop, clean bathroom, change sheets
• Monthly: Dust hard-to-reach areas, clean windows, organize closets
• Seasonally: Deep clean, flip mattress, review and purge belongings

Maintenance tips:

• Address repairs promptly to prevent larger issues
• Regularly inspect and clean appliances
• Rotate seasonal items (e.g., clothing, decorations) to reduce clutter
• Use eco-friendly cleaning products for a healthier home environment

Benefits of regular cleaning and maintenance:

• Improves overall health by reducing allergens and pollutants
• Creates a more inviting and comfortable living space
• Prevents small issues from becoming costly problems
• Reduces stress associated with a cluttered or dirty home

10. Practice mindful media consumption for a calmer home

I note that paying attention to news commonly results in anxiety, rage, and other emotional states that probably impede the healing system.

Implement media fasts. Reduce exposure to potentially stressful or overstimulating media:

• Start with a one-day media fast, avoiding news, social media, and entertainment
• Gradually extend to longer periods or regular weekly fasts
• Create designated media-free zones in your home, especially the bedroom

Alternative activities during media fasts:

• Read books or engage in creative hobbies
• Practice mindfulness or meditation
• Spend quality time with family or friends
• Tackle home improvement projects or organizing tasks

Benefits of mindful media consumption:

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves sleep quality
• Increases focus and productivity
• Enhances personal relationships and communication
• Fosters a calmer, more peaceful home environment

Last updated: April 19, 2025