I’m a feng shui expert – organize your furniture to help your living room look better and improve your mood

THE way your living room is organized can reveal a lot about your tastes and preferences, and also affect your mood if it’s too busy or cluttered.

Luckily, feng shui experts have revealed the top tips to make sure your living room is an oasis of calm, and looks good too.

The way a person’s living room space is organized can tell friends, family and strangers a lot about who they are.

The feng shui method recommends using colors such as warm neutrals to crisp grays to bring out the living room.

It’s also important to have a “command” piece, which can be the sofa and in some cases, the fireplace.

Designers Anije Cho and Amanda Amato told Good Housekeeping how basic changes can help you unwind after a long day at work or entertaining.

While you should always go with colors that you’re drawn to, the experts recommend a variety of palettes in a living room, ranging from warm neutrals to crisp greys.

The room’s colors, layout and decor should be tailored to the area’s main purpose as a literal gathering space.

Balancing the five elements of Earth, wood, fire, metal and water is also critical for creating a harmonious environment.

Amato, of AMA Designs & Interiors, recommends strong colors if you have a lot of visitors, and relaxing tones for people who live a more peaceful lifestyle.

It’s not a bad idea to let the sofa take command, if at all possible.

Avoid having the back of your sofa face your living room’s entry, as an ideal furniture arrangement is one where you can see the sofa as you approach the space.

If your design strategy doesn’t allow for this arrangement, place a short console table behind your sofa to display beautiful table lamps, accessories or a water feature.

Arranging furniture and artwork around your fireplace for a warm and welcoming vibe is also a good rule of thumb, as the safe haven can also be the living room’s focal point.

When it comes to lighting, balance is certainly key.

A dimly lit space can certainly damper your mood, but a room that is overly bright can be unsettling.

“The best solution is to have different types of lights, like low table lamps for mood lighting, along with recessed ceiling lights for overall illumination,” said Reiko Gomez of Reiko Design, who prefers layering and using dimmer switches when possible.

Creating a seamless sense of flow is vital in the world of feng shui.

Your arrangement is probably too tight if you have to twist and turn to go past pieces of furniture or squeeze between chairs to keep from stumbling.

You should consider opening up your space a bit more and removing a couple of pieces of furniture.

“The phrase [living room] indicates that it’s a place of living,” designer Cho explained, per Good Housekeeping.

She added, “Often located closer to the front door, it’s more public-facing room in your home as opposed to the bedroom or office, so the colors and layout should reflect that.”

Feng Shui living room recommendations also include using plants as decor, opening windows, minimizing clutter and being mindful with mirrors and wall art.

Stick to calm prints like beach photos and hang them an inch higher than usual, as placing them too low can depress your mood.

Arranging furniture a certain way is also important when it comes to really presenting the living room.

The space is literally use for living, or resting, and in the world of feng shui, it should be represented as such.