Practitioners of the Chinese art of feng shui believe that the placement and state of objects in a space affect the energy, fortune and health of the people around them.

Whether or not you buy into the idea that two opposing mirrors creates bad juju, there are plenty of studies to support the idea that spatial organization -- in your kitchen, bedroom or workspace, for instance -- can dramatically impact your health, mental state and quality of life. There's a boatload of evidence that shows how you arrange your home and office can nudge you to eat less, feel happier, sleep better and be more creative.

Here's how keeping everything in its proper place can bring good vibes into your life right now.

You may already know that the size of your plate affects the amount of food you eat. But what about when you sit down for family-style meal? It's easy to get over-eager with extra helpings when you're surrounded by plates heaped with comfort food.

A team of experts at Cornell University say the solution is loading your plate in the kitchen before you sit at the table. The researchers found that people eat at least 20 percent fewer calories when they serve themselves in the kitchen and eat their meals elsewhere -- they simply refilled their plates less often. To rephrase a popular saying: out of sight, out of mouth.

When you open your fridge or pantry door, temptations abound. It's one thing to resist throwing chocolate-covered pretzels in your cart at Trader Joe's and another thing to dig around the crisper for carrot sticks when you've got a slice of cake staring at you from the top shelf.

Put good-for-you snacks -- veggies, fruits, fat-free yogurt, etc. -- in transparent containers on the top, or eye-level, shelf. Research indicates that you're much more likely to eat healthy foods when they're highly visible and easy to grab. Keep unhealthy foods on the bottom shelf in opaque containers -- except for when you eat them. Experts found that people generally eat less of bad foods when they're in transparent containers, probably because it makes them more aware of the amount they're consuming.

Oh -- and always keep a bowl of fruit near your food stash. Word is that being within sniffing distance of fruit makes people more likely to choose it over junk food.

You've probably sussed out that too much light makes it harder to sleep soundly. Did you know that light exposure at night increases your risk of obesity, too? Researchers came to this conclusion when researching links between nighttime light and breast cancer. Basically, light exposure in the wee hours kicks off an awful chain reaction in the body. First it interferes with your sleep patterns, aka circadian rhythms, which affects metabolism. The tweak in your metabolism increases your likelihood of obesity, which increases your likelihood of certain diseases -- breast cancer, depression, mood disorders and reproductive problems, among others.

How to deal? Position your bed on the side of the room farthest from the window and invest in thick curtains to block light sources. While you're at it, do away with as many light-emitting electronic devices as possible in the bedroom. Blue light -- the kind emitted from your computer, TV and digital alarm clock -- is known to disrupt sleep patterns.

You want the place where you hang with friends and binge-watch "The Walking Dead" to feel relaxing. Good news: With two easy tweaks to your space, you can feel more tranquil (while you worry about the possibility of a zombie apocalypse).

First, get rid of any overhead lighting fixtures, moving light sources to the perimeter of the room. Researchers found that placing warm, full-spectrum lighting around the perimeter of a space makes people feel relaxed. Also, pull your couch or armchair closer to the window. A study from the University of Hertfordshire suggests that the colors green and blue -- essentially, colors found in nature -- encourage dopamine production in the brain and reduce stress, respectively. That's a lot cheaper than buying a comfy new couch.