Well, there you are. It’s about damn time.

Old man winter really pulled one on us this go ‘round (we’ll discuss environmental concerns at later date).

Finally!  It’s Spring.  My favorite time of year, perhaps a little biased being the Aries that I am, but how can one disagree when your surroundings are in full bloom.  The vibrant green growth filling out the ragged bones of plants the cold left behind.   The sunshine is out and it’s ours to embrace.

Refreshing your space this Spring will allow you to achieve the ultimate reward from the season within your home.   Imagine living in an atmosphere of Sheng Chi, the most positive and beneficial energy to your health and well-being, achieved by creating the good energy flow known as Feng Shui.

The result: one happy dweller.

Sheng Chi is attained by creating a harmonious environment with a good flow of Feng Shui energy, clean air and natural light.  Key words here being fresh, clear and free-flowing.  Being that we live in a world of constant change it is important to remember that creating a Feng Shui space is not something you do once, it is maintained by keeping the energy fresh and flowing in your home.

This is what spring cleaning is all about; re-energizing your space with Sheng Chi.

Now cleaning sounds like a chore and a bore, but I promise it isn’t.  It can be absolutely satisfying and I’m going to make it a bit easier for you.

Music makes everything better, doesn’t it?  Listen to my Refresh Spring playlist on Spotify to ease you into the idea that you are in fact cleaning.

Make some iced tea, grab a six-pack of local beer, or make my favorite spring cocktail from Cypress Restaurant in Charleston:

Lavender Martini

1.5oz vanilla vodka

1oz lemon juice

1oz lavender Infused simple syrup

Shake with ice. Serve straight up in a martini glass. Sip and smile. You fancy now.

So basically we’ve just turned spring cleaning into a fucking party – excellent.  Let’s begin.

1)      Reduce

Get rid of yo shit!  Make that trip to Goodwill.

When was the last time you wore that shirt?  If it didn’t make it onto your back once in the last year, it’s time to say goodbye.  De-cluttering is a key element in creating a Feng Shui environment.  Clutter blocks the free-flowing energy.  So seriously, admit that shirt is ugly and you will never wear it again.  Be free from these things that are taking up prime real estate within your home.

* Getting rid of things you don’t use, wear, or love to pieces, will free up space for those new finds that you can’t live without.

2)      Clean

My plan works like so: take it one room at a time, clean those places that you tend to ignore with your regular sweep; baseboards, under furniture, wipe your fans.  It’s amazing to see just how damn gross you let things get – don’t even try to act like you aren’t as guilty as the rest of us.  I see that dust bunny.

3)       Rearrange

While you have all of your furniture pulled out to clean, take this opportunity to create fresh energy.  One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to refresh your home is use what you already have just rethink how you have it; move your furniture, switch up your art, display a treasured collection.

How does your new room feel? – Great!  How much did that cost? – Not a penny!  Awesome.

A few other ideas for refreshing your space Feng Shui style for spring:

• Bring plants inside to help clean the air in your home
• Place cut flowers or greenery in every room, better yet, cut them from your own yard

• Repaint a piece of furniture with a bright accent color
• Change out your lampshades, or even paint one as I did here:

 

• Refresh your pillows and add a new pop of color
• Open your curtains and let that sun shine in
• Leave your windows open and feel the fresh air breeze through

We spend so much time in our homes.  Make it the retreat you want to come home to after a long day.  Make it Refresh Spring.

 

Extensive tips for creating your Feng Shui space from HGTV.com:  http://bit.ly/QIYnGQ