This is a very practical post based on recent questions from friends regarding renting a place and managing Feng Shui practices. Some have a house, some an apartment and others, just a room. Not easy to manage and also, most requests are from people on a budget or who are not keen on spending too much money on a temporary space. Start with the owner and ask for permission to make changes, they can always say yes. Many are willing to allow changes and painting within reason as long as the apartment is restored to its former glory for the next renter.
Practical Painting
Only paint a room if you know what kind of paint is already on the walls and how easy it will be to repaint it back to a former neutral colour. One friend did this and it was a disaster. There was a satin-based paint on the walls and he put a cheap water-based paint over it with a patchy finish resulting in spending more money to fix it up. If you are confident, wash the walls first and choose the best paint you can afford. Or even better, leave it and move on to painting furniture. There are so many second hand stores to buy from or even take a chance on online markets to buy furniture that can be sanded back and painted a colour that suits the room and of course, the Bagua map sector!
Kitchens & Bathrooms
Having lived in a rental space with a dowdy kitchen and sad bathroom, it is worth putting away the curtains, old pots and pans and other owner homewares and putting out your own. I bought a laminated floor rug for the kitchen, bought cheap but nice pots, glassware and framed some lovely cards to add a chic air to the area. French tea towels in blue and lemon instantly made the kitchen and myself happier. The bathroom was more of a challenge but the owner allowed me to put up a shelf, a new shower curtain and a mirror. Being in the Communications sector, Rituals black bath products and new white and grey towels were added, instantly brightening up a sad space. Then vases of flowers and fairy lights in a vase made both areas more liveable.
Renting a Studio or a Room
This is not so easy but see how you can sector off the space. Those living in studios can use screens, bookshelves or curtains to divide space. A New York friend had a fold down bed which allowed him to have a living room and workspace during the day. He ensured that his laptop and equipment were near the kitchen with a fold up table that was easily put by a wall. Feng Shui practice prefers not to have televisions and laptops in a bedroom. This allows the separation at night to change the studio in to a restful area. Just a room is a challenge and do what you can. Think out of the box, find storage where you can put your workday equipment in a box or create a temporary wardrobe for clothes and items for storage. Put up a curtain with an easy to use expandable rod to make a separate sector. Get a friend to check out the result to see how they see the area and to modify any decor. It is all about balance and finding harmony within your space and place.
