Recently I've visited several homes in which the art on the walls bore no relationship to the people who lived there. It's like living in a dentist's office, a college dorm, or your parents home. 


If you want your art to enhance your space, these are the things to think about:
  • It should bear some relationship to your current life and interests. Art that came from a home furnishings store or was bought for you by an interior designer looks generic and impersonal.
  • If it's a family inheritance, you should really like it - and have good feelings about the relative who gave it to you.
  • It should fit the wall it's hanging on.  Most common sin is art that is way too small. Make a statement - go BIG! Or if you only have small art, group several closely as if they were one large piece. 
  • Just because there's a nail there, doesn't mean it's the best place to hang a picture. Don't hang pictures too high. They should relate to the furniture below or beside them.
  • Consider framing favorite drawings your child made - they add instant personality.
  • If you must put family photos in the living room, don't put out a flotilla. They just gather dust. One or two at a time, rotated at least monthly. 
Art, properly chosen and displayed, should make you feel good every time you pass it.   If you're feeling stuck with your art, give me a call: 360-314-2467.
 
 

Imagine you were getting the house ready to sell... or maybe for an extended visit from the Queen.  What needs doing to make the place shine?

First, put on a non-judgmental, neutral attitude. Then get yourself a pad of paper and a pencil and prepare to audit your home for clutter, broken things, abandoned projects, misplaced objects, and the like. If you live with a partner or house-mate it would be good to do this together.

Begin at the front door and go through the house, room by room, making a list of these items - No shame, no blame: just the facts, ma'am. Start to the left of the door and make your way all the way around the room till you've done a complete circle, then move on to the next room.

If something just SCREAMS at you to be done that moment, don't get distracted - just note it on a separate sheet, "Screamers" and come back to it after you've completed the audit.

Congratulate yourself for completing the audit and call it quits for the day. Tomorrow you can figure out what your priorities are and what steps need to be taken next.

 
 

Did you read a book about feng shui, move some of your stuff and maybe hang a crystal - and now you're wondering what all the fuss was about? Where is Mr. or Ms. Wonderful??? 

After all, you moved your bed, put a pair of lovebirds in the far right corner of your home (the love and marriage part of the bagua) but the love of your life has yet to arrive on your doorstep. 

It's not enough to make a few symbolic shifts in your environment. You've got to do the rest of the work too. The lovebirds were a good start. Now clear the crap out from under the bed, make space in the closet, remove the pictures of your ex and the fifty lace pillows or the dueling pistol set that would scare away any lover.

Also consider losing a few pounds and freshening up your hair style.  And THEN: get out and meet new people.  Moving your stuff will only get you so far - after that you've got to put your intentions into action.