When the position looks quiet (there are no tactics that you can find), you could start looking for imbalances like weak squares, outposts (for your Knight), (semi) open files. Based on these imbalances, try to come up with a plan. For instance, if you see that your opponent has a backward pawn on a semi open file. Try to find the most efficient way to target that pawn. Which piece should go where? Based on that you can start playing moves in a structured manner, even in quiet positions. And if the situation on the board changes (e.g. the backward pawn is well protected), evaluate the position again and come up with a new plan.
Positional Chess for Dummies!
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It's not the number of pieces that count, it's the number of ACTIVE pieces that counts! How many times have we never got around to moving our rook at a1 until the end of the game?
That depends on your opening and the variation you play.
Don't overvalue space advantage. It's not the space that counts but the position within the space.