5 Decorating Ideas to Breathe Positive Energy into your Living Space

I used to work myself into a knot trying to keep my home meticulously organized —everything in its place. 

A caveat, I'm not that person. 

Sometimes I get those niggling pangs urging me to minimize, but I've learned the things that bring positivity and stop fighting the need to be minimal. I've embraced maximalism instead. Despite this, my space feels good, warm, and inviting, like an eclectic studio thriving with activity. Read on for some suggestions for how to bring more positive energy to your busy space too. 

1. The Power of Smell

Have you ever walked into a store like an apothecary and felt calm after smelling the soft fragrance circulating in the air? Or perhaps you've gone to look at an open house feel at home after smelling the coffee or muffins on display?

Scent or what we smell can have a direct impact on our emotional and cognitive state. If I'm feeling stressed or needing to concentrate on a task, I'll pop on the diffuser or burn an incense stick. It's incredible how quickly it can transform a feeling in a room. Like fashion, we all have different tastes when it comes to scents. But a few ways that you can think about adding a pleasant scent to your space could include:  

Few drops of essential oil in a spray bottle with filtered water. Give the space a spritz every so often

Adding some essential oils like lavender to a diffuser

Burning your favorite incense. I love Satya incense.

Adding flowers to a room that have a lovely perfume like gardenias, for example

Burning a scented candle 

2. Pops of Color 

In spring, when the sun comes out and flowers are in full bloom showing off their contrasting colors, I notice my spirits lift.  

I guess you could say I use the same principle in decorating my living space with pops of color. I don't place too many rules around using color or color pallets or anything like that. I like putting pops of it all around the space. If a corner looks dull or needs a lift, I'll add something colorful. 

For example, hanging colorful pictures, homemade art, cushions with contrasting colors and patterns, and books arranged by their color scheme are excellent ways to emphasize their colors.

Even displaying colorful boxes add liveliness, and they are also for storing and hiding clutter. 

Bringing more color to your space can lift a room and your mood as well. 

3. Bringing Life from the Living

A good friend and indoor plant lover have her living space filled to the brim with plants large and small she'd move them around according to their plant needs.

Every time I visit, my eyes light up how the plants make the space feel so tranquil. According to the feng shui principles, plants promote positive energy. You don't need to spend a bundle of cash to bring plants into your space, either. I often take little clippings of friends' plants and pop them in some water or pick up a small plant or two grocery shopping at Trader Joe's.

Start small and set a regular weekly watering schedule, so you don't overwater them, and enjoy the greenery and satisfaction that tending to plants can bring. 

4. A Stack of Your Favorite Things

Under my nightstand, I keep a basket filled with favorite zines, journals, and drawing materials.

It's so lovely when you're tucked into bed to dig through it and pick out something positive to end the day, taking a moment to reflect. It's one of my favorite things to do, and it puts a good spin on the end of a busy day. 

Things you can consider adding might include a book you're reading, favorite zines, of course :), craft like knitting or crochet, a journal to write or draw or jot down thoughts. Keep your stack to analog goodies, as in steer away from technology is always a good idea. 

5. A Place for Something Sentimental 

Whenever we travel, I try to pick up a small item as a keepsake from that place. A spoon, patch, or magnet. Something small to remember that time. 

From various travels through the years, I've collected many fun trinkets. Although our house is small, I try to find a place to display them. It often brings back happy memories of a time. Whether it's a trinket from a trip overseas, a collection of items you've been gathering over the years, a family heirloom. Whatever it is, it doesn't need to be expensive, just meaningful to you. Place these items prominently where you can see them and reflect on those good times. 

These items also make for great conversation when friends and loved ones come over to share time in your living space filled with your most favorite pastimes, scents, and color! 

Image credits: Sarah Pflug, Brodie Vissers