The Hidden Factors Making Your Small House or RDP Home Feel "Off"

Marilize Jacobs is a seasoned reputation strategist with a BCom in Marketing Management from the University of Pretoria (UP). Her diverse career encompasses interior design, marketing, and public relations, where her strategic acumen, attention to detail, and unwavering determination have earned the trust and admiration of clients in the financial services, legal, pharmaceutical, hospitality, and retail sectors.

Does your RDP house or small home sometimes feel stuffy, stressful, or just not right? You’re not alone. There’s an old idea called Feng Shui (say “Fung Shway”) that can help, and it’s not as complicated as you think.

Feng Shui simply means “Wind (Feng) and Water (Shui)." It’s all about how energy moves through your home. Think about wind bringing fresh air and water flowing smoothly. When energy flows well, your home feels better.

You don’t need to believe in anything spiritual or in mysterious Eastern Practices. It’s just practical tips to make your space feel calmer and more welcoming.

Read also

"They are scary": SA gent’s hilarious rant on everyday lies has Mzansi in stitches, shares video

Here are 5 easy tips you can try today - no money needed:

1. Move your bed for better sleep

Try to place your bed so you can see the door from where you sleep, but you’re not directly in front of it. This helps you feel safer and sleep more deeply because you’re not subconsciously worrying about what’s behind you.

2. Declutter your mouth of Qi (your home entrance)

Your front door is like the mouth of your house, where good energy, your guests and of course you come in. Don’t block it with old shoes, bags, or clutter. Make sure it opens easily and feels welcoming.

3. Don’t hang a mirror right opposite the door

Instead of hanging a mirror facing the door, it should be on the wall beside it.

• It allows you to still use the mirror functionally (e.g., for a quick check before you leave).
• It reflects light down the hallway or into the room, making the space feel larger and brighter.

Read also

Chymamusique reflects on life after his car accident: "A lot can change"

4. Keep your stove (or air fryer!) clean

Keep your stove clean and in good working order. Make a habit of using all the burners, not just one.

But what about my beloved air fryer?

Fear not, boerewors Feng Shui fans! This principle absolutely applies to your favourite countertop wizard. It may not have burners, but it holds Fire energy.

• Keep it clean: A greasy, crumb-filled basket is the modern equivalent of a neglected stove. It symbolically "fries" your energy instead of your slap chips.
• Use it well: don’t just use your air fryer for frozen fries. Roast those veggies! The more you use it to create nourishing meals, the more you activate its abundance energy

5. Add a plant or something natural to your home

Add a plant (wood element) for growth, a soft rug (Earth) for stability, or a small water feature (water) for calm flow.

Read also

Mom turns bedroom into affordable spa for the elderly in Duduza

Why? The Five Elements (wood, fire, Earth, metal, water) are tools to create balance. If a room feels stuck, introduce the Wood element (plants, vertical lines) to encourage growth. If it feels chaotic, add Earth elements (square shapes, sandy colours) to ground the energy. It’s about using colour, shape, and texture to curate a feeling.

Bonus: Use Colour Wisely

If your room gets lots of sun, add warm accent colours like yellow or orange (e.g., a cushion or a throw). Rule: “warm” room = warm accent colour.

If your room does not get a lot of sun, use cool colours like blue or green as an accent colour. Rule: “cool” room = cool accent colour.

You don’t need to buy anything expensive. Start with one small change and see how your home feels. Small shifts can make a big difference!

3 More stories about stunning RDP houses

• Briefly News also reported that a woman who grew up in an RDP home showed people the before and after of the work she did to improve it.
• People were amused by an RDP owner who was happy that owning the home allowed her to do whatever she wanted in front of her mother.
• A woman older than 100 years spent her entire life without a home until she was approved for an RDP after applying in 1996.

Read also

A Pretoria woman went viral after showing her door-to-door job-hunting journey that connected with thousands

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Briefly News.

Source: Briefly News