Feng shui is not just a “woo-woo” practice. It has some practical takeaways that can give peace of mind. Most important is feeling like you can be a great host for guests. For anyone in the process of moving or thinking about revamping their current place I have some notes on what makes a hang-worthy environment….
Location….
Do I always mention this? I do. Location is key for having willing guests to swing by. I understand people want to save money by renting somewhere outside of town. Personally, I feel if your goal is to attract more friends or have an easier dating life, I would suggest going for a studio in town versus a 1-bedroom on the outskirts.
Furniture…
Let’s get with the basics. Comfortable furniture is a must. I have sat on too many cheap rock hard futons. There are ways to get furniture secondhand and to get things reupholstered. Even an outside porch chair should feel comfortable to sit in.
Layout…
In feng shui what is talked about a lot is “flow,” meaning intuitive ways to walk through, sit down, and relax. Have side tables to place a drink and the perfect angle for the TV. Play around with living room layout to see what makes sense. You don’t have to shove all the furniture up against a wall. Create your own seating nook so people can engage and chat. Watch design shows on Youtube to get some inspiration. A good follow is “apartment therapy.”
Dual purpose furniture….
Going back to the goals of hosting. Maybe you want to host dinner parties. There are types of tables that can fold out into larger tables. (I am obsessed with functional dual-purpose furniture). For smaller spaces, it is great to provide more seating that can be tucked away later.
Make sure you have drinks and snacks…
Offering a drink is a must. Stock your fridge with a few wine bottles, beer, and some seltzer water. You don’t want to only have tap water. It is more of an adult vibe to have a drink fridge and some snacks around. This doesn’t mean high-end expensive drinks. You can pick these staples up at Trader’s Joes, etc.
Tidy up the place….
Be in the habit of having a clean space. You might have to give yourself daily chores to keep up. No one wants to sit around empty pizza boxes and go to a bathroom with no toilet paper.
Art on the wall and decor….
You don’t have to emulate a dentist office waiting room, although there is something to be said for calming art and overall zen paint color choices. Plants can help to make a space more alive. Pick full lush leafy plants or a Pothos that can dangle on a shelf.
How are you entertaining….
For extra credit it is nice to have streaming services or music services without ads. A pet peeve of mine is when you are in deep conversation and a blaring ad about ED juts in. You don’t have to have every streaming service to be premium, but just pick one for guests.
Lighting….
No overheads allowed. Have dimmers or lamps with an amber glow bulb.
Finally, energetic blocks….
It has to be addressed if you may be subconsciously preventing friendships from forming. Do you hide behind clutter and excuses and wave people away? You might not want people to fully connect and enjoy your space because of fear or past trauma. Our homes reflect how we are feeling about ourselves and what we are shutting out.
Bottom Line….
When considering where to move to or just wanting a refresh it is good to keep these tips in mind. Ask yourself what goals you want from your living situation. Do you want to be host and have a few friends over on occasion or do you want to have full dinner parties or poker nights? A big point is to ask yourself if you honestly want company. Guests can get a little out of hand if your home is too welcoming. If this happens, then make sure to place boundaries up and describe the hosting with other friends so the burden isn’t always you. Lastly, recognize your energetic blocks for having a welcoming home.
Mostly Casual 