Space has a relationship with itself first, secondly 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. When ignored and abused, people will have a hard time moving forward in life, stagnant space makes for a stagnant life.

Most of us have an idea of Feng Shui principles or similar energy theories, often wondering if the mysticism of the East has any relevance for 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 make it work instead of running through life neither aware of ourselves nor the space we call our own.

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 change it if not supportive. Explore the self and space, test possibilities and watch magical things happen with new viewpoints opening. Listen to space, is it smiling or dying, depending on how we treat it, it reacts. Space loves to tell a story, which is played out by the way we dress it, same we dress ourselves. Choose anything but choose with gusto, attitude, cheekiness, bright, pop, classic, toned down, silent or loud, do it with conviction.

There are a myriad of ways to brighten a ‘difficult’ spaces. Colour declares, there is a point of view, colour transforms a space dramatically. Same colour used in different rooms can look very different, it shows us the relationship between colour and light. The two are inseparable and therefore create magic if we allow it.

Texture is another issue. Often spaces carry little variety in textures but feel flat because of the sameness of materials used. 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. Instead, contrast that makes space shine, just like good music, with high and low notes adding 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 print to hand printed or textured versions. Wallpaper always adds warmth to a space and can well be used as a single colour version if one prefers.

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 wellbeing and life at large.

Windows are the eyes of a room and should be kept light in character. Curtains ‘hold’ the room together, forming a warm embrace through the fabric. A wall to wall curtain covering does not split the wall into sections. One can use a fabric in same or similar tone as the wall colour, keeping ease of flow to the eye. Be generous with curtains as they reflect our generosity and warmth towards life.

Now to light, if one must use-down lights, have them on a dimmer. But best not to use them at all, as down-lights ‘wash out’ all space, not creating ‘volume’, creating space within space. Single light sources help to focus on a specific area, a sofa, a reading chair, over a dining table, inviting to linger and to relax. Light creates mood if used well, it evokes sentiment, which influences us more than we might be aware of. Good light placement creates a setting, even 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 piece in question such as the coffee table for example, we believe we must have, instead free the space, use side tables, or non.

Experiment with 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.

Accessories best used with care, not to take over the space, leaving no room to breathe, there needs to be space for yourself.

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 the space we call ours, allowing for expression of who we are or what we aspire to be. Space is not just there for shelter but offers a co-creation symbiosis. Let’s revisit space and make it shine to its best potential so it can support our dreams and aspirations.