Every Space Tells A Story
Space has its own life, it has a relationship with itself first, thereafter creates a dialogue with the people occupying it. If we listen to the needs of space it will come to its full potential, offering strength and support to its owner. If ignored and abused, the owner will have a hard time moving forward in life. Stagnant space creates a stagnant life.
Most of us know about the flow of Feng Shui and similar energy theories, often wondering if the mysticism of the East has any relevance to us in the West. East or West, North or South, it doesn’t matter, the world is one and energy affects all, we are its creators. This becomes immensely clear in the spaces we occupy. The way we use space is simply a reflection of where we stand in life, how we value ourselves and others. How much we are willing to contribute, making it work well for us, or running aimlessly and worried through life, not aware of ourselves or our surrounding.
Every person has a story, we tell it if we want or not, it is part of our existence, so also has space its story. Great thing with a story is, one can let the imagination run free. Choose to thrive, explore the self and space, watch magical things happen, giving life a chance. Remember to listen to space, is it smiling or dying, depending on how we treat it. Space is vain, it loves to tell a story, which is added by the way we dress it, same as the way we dress ourselves. Choose anything but choose it with gusto, attitude, cheekiness, bright, pop, classic, toned down, silent or loud, do it with conviction.
The seemingly most trivial details matter, such as trash bins parked outside the entrance making for first point of sight will never support the owner to live their best potential. The energy goes down the bin as the main focus of attention is the trash we display so prominently, constantly reminded that life is trash. Instead, keep the entrance clean, add a flower-pot or anything lovable at first sight. It lifts the spirit on a dull day and on a good day it supports even better.
There are a myriad of ways to brighten up ‘difficult’ spaces. A narrow entrance needs a light colour, choose a colour not just white. Colour declares, there is a stance taken on identity. Colour transforms a space dramatically. Same colour used in different rooms can come out very differently, which shows the relationship between colour and light. The two are inseparable and therefore create magic. For the entrance, create a focal point you love to see when entering the house, a bright wall, artwork, anything that lifts the spirit.
Texture is another issue. Often spaces carry little variety in textures and materials but are held flat, both in choice of colour and materials. Wooden furniture on wooden floor with a rug in a neutral tone and walls in neutral colours make for a dull setting, no matter how valuable the materials are. It is contrast that makes space shine, just like good music. The high and low notes add variety and emotion.
Texture can be added through wallpaper, now back in fashion big time and available in a huge variety from cost effective digital printed versions to hand printed. Wallpaper always adds warmth to a space and can well be used as a single colour version if one prefers plain colour to pattern.
In all choices, the decision of light colour versus dark or bright versus dusky, always depends on the space, what is the story. If we give space what makes it look its best, it come alive, supporting our perfect living
Windows are the eyes of a room and should be kept clean and light. Curtains ‘hold’ the room together, forming a warm embrace through the use of fabric. To shield off any outside, choose light sheer linen or a cotton-linen mix, which is running on a simple, single track from wall to wall. A wall to wall covering does not split the wall space in sections, creating ‘visual noise’, but holds the room together. Additionally or alternatively one can use a silk, linen, linen-cotton fabric in same or similar tone as the wall colour. This forms a unity and holds the room together without breaking it up in sections and so creating unnecessary ‘disruption’. Be generous with curtains as this reflects our generosity and warmth towards life.
Light is the next one, if one must use-down lights, have them on a dimmer, use a warm version. But best not to use them at all, as down-lights ‘wash out’ all space, not creating ‘volume’, space within space. Single light sources help to focus on a specific area, a sofa, a reading chair, over dining table, inviting to linger and to relax. Light creates mood if used well, it evokes sentiment, which influences us more than we often are aware of. Good light placement creates a setting and is more important than furniture as it has great influence on our emotional wellbeing.
Furniture needs to be in proportion to the room. There is nothing more irritating than oversized furniture one needs to climb over, large sofas, armchairs and coffee tables. If in doubt, ditch the coffee table, it is a start to free space, use side tables instead…. Use a variety of styles, textures, materials, explore, be brave. Don’t follow the neighbours and do not overdo the size of the TV, often dominating an entire room and life..
Last but not least, the importance of art in space has been explored in a previous blog. Magic is created when we express ourselves at our best in our spaces and places as spaces are an expression of who we are or what we aspire to be. They are not just there for shelter but offer a co-creation symbiosis. Let’s revisit space and make it shine to its best potential so it supports our dreams and aspirations.
Brighten up any corner of a room with a fabric by Joseph Frank stretched over a frame.