Maria Green from Dynamic Spaces on making the most of what you’ve got

It’s fair to say that most of us don’t live in our ideal home, but there are many things you can do to improve what you have. Here are some tips that have a sound basis in Feng Shui and are free too. Make your home, especially the entrance area, light and bright. If you live in a flat with no direct natural light near the front door then you could invest in a full spectrum daylight bulb. They may be more expensive but even plants can grow in areas lit by them, so it shows how much they can benefit a space. In Feng Shui light equals yang energy. This is the strong stuff we need to support us. If a house is dark and yin then it will feel dead and unsupportive.

Open curtains or blinds during the daytime even if you are out. It’s even better if you open windows especially in bedrooms and bathrooms during the daytime too (obviously not if you are out – this isn’t Feng Shui for burglars).


Avoid a heap of shoes and coats at the front door – the front door of a property acts like the mouth, taking energy in so if you have to fight to get in or the first things you see are shoes it has a negative effect on the energy. (A shoe store could be the answer to this problem.)

Most people think one of the key aspects of Feng Shui is clearing clutter despite its 4,000 year heritage, but the fact is that you don’t actually have to live in a minimalist home to improve its Feng Shui. I certainly don’t, but it’s worth taking the time to look around a room and see what’s in it that really doesn’t need to be – yep that pile of laundry really shouldn’t be on the sofa nor should last weekend’s newspapers. It’s fine to have ornaments but does some of your ‘stuff’ not have a home? If so then you need to either make a home for it, get more storage or get rid of it. It also makes sense not to keep things that are broken or that you don’t like – remember this if you’re a hoarder!

I see lots of clients who are hampered by possessions that they have been given or have inherited – they don’t like to get rid of the things even though they don’t need them. It’s best to take the spirit of the gift and then pass the item on to charity or someone who could benefit from it.

If you don’t get rid of the old, how can you make space for new ‘stuff’ or new opportunities?

If you have a question relating to Feng Shui you can contact me at www.dynamicspaces.co.uk