Q & A: what is your take on blank walls?

with so much insta-ready feng shui available these days, you likely have dabbled with a tip or two and seen some impressive results. what if i told you this is just a glimpse of what’s possible? this week’s Q&A turns our attention to the walls around us – because what hangs on them represents what hangs in our mind! intriguing, right?

the QUESTION: what is your take on what you hang on the walls of your space? blank walls bother me so much. in the past, i have covered them with posters, pictures, art prints, vision boards, post-it notes with quotes i love, cork boards full of things that bring positive memories – anything so i’m not faced with a lot of blank spaces. i LOVE what feng shui has done for my new space so far and just wanted some guidance for my walls before i fell back into my old habit. any suggestions or ideas?

the SHUI: walls are SO valuable – they determine the flow of energy in a space; they create boundaries +/or limitations; and they either stimulate or stymie our growth. the best shui answer is to live with what we LOVE. if you love gallery walls filled with inspo, it is absolutely good shui! if you love the breathing space of a few empty walls, it is also good shui.

here is where the knots happen:

when we leave the same stuff on our walls for years, we become numb to how the photos/art/decor once made us feel. when this happens, the high-octane aliveness the wall arrangement once provided is gone, and our indifference interferes with an opportunity to feel that original joy. i suggest taking everything off the walls at least once a year, let the space breathe, and be deliberate with what you put back. not only does this give you an opportunity to re-engage your energy with the content around you, it is a simple way to mindfully + intentionally refresh (dust, re-arrange, switch frames) the energy!

likewise, if we never hang anything on the wall, it suggests a fear of commitment – and that is absolutely showing up in other areas of your life. so, are empty walls “good” or “bad”? it depends. i find when clients are going through BIG life changes and transitions – from an unexpected move, a life renovation, or any type of trauma – it is normal to leave the walls empty. this empty space is part of the “re-birth” process, and it helps us re-orient, rediscover, and reclaim ourselves. i encourage clients to not let the walls sit empty for too long (more than a year) because what’s happening at eye level is symbolic of the present moment, and it helps to have the encouragement of beauty and story pulling us forward.

finally, content is everything, and it is SO subjective. it perhaps goes without saying, but it is a worthy reminder that how the imagery and art around us makes us feel is a very important metaphor. what hangs on our walls hangs in our minds, so two thumbs up for the inspiration and vision boards – once you reach their summit, be sure to change the content out so you keep your walls fresh, current, and motivating that best life YOU! xo

p.s.  ready to get your shui Qs answered so they’re tailored to your needs? a 1:1 consult could be your next step! email me + i’ll send the details to get this conversation started, and cheers to 2019 being your best year yet!