Feng shui dilemma #1: battle of the coffee table.

I labeled the post this way because I have a sneaking suspicion this will not be the only one. I am having the worst time deciding on a rug after concluding that my current one isn't giving off the right energy. I tried a beige shag one because I've always been a fan of shag but it wasn't working with my large dark brown chest I use as a coffee table. Then I questioned whether I should move the chest into another room and get a new glass or open-bottomed coffee table (AKA find one on craigslist). THEN I confirmed that the dark brown chest is giving off the most positive energy in the living room, since it used to be my toy chest, and now I am suddenly in one decorating pickle. ugh.

Originally, I wanted to skip over the part of feng shui your life that talked about how to get in touch with your inner feng shui because it suggested hugging a tree - literally - to receive its excess energy. Wanting to get to the bottom of the decorating part of feng shui (since my living room is now a giant mess), I figured I could deal with the tree hugging and inner self part later and skip ahead a bit. Going back post-pickle, I noticed a part of the chapter that talked about keeping a feng shui journal. It suggested finding the answers to specific questions (both on decorating and your life) to see what's working and what isn't. Guess that's what I get for trying to skip ahead. 

Anyway, I thought I would share with you the overview questions it asks about your home. I think they force answers to questions about your decorating patterns that you may be trying to avoid or work around. I've answered these questions, FaceBook style, specifically about my living room and suggest you do the same. 

In the meantime, I'll keep you posted on the tree hugging and battle of the toy chest.

What do you love about your home, room by room? 

My couches are outrageously comfortable and the chest I use as my coffee table makes me smile.

What do you dislike about your home, room by room? 

I feel like the design is starting to look a little bland and dull. I feel as though it could use some brightening up.

How do you feel when you walk through your front door? 

Like I have a mess on my hands. 7 times out of 10 I have last night's dinner/snack on the table, mail from 3 weeks ago and random bags of stuff I haven't put away yet based on my latest trips or errands.

Does your home have an abundance of natural light or is it dark and gloomy? 

There is a lot of natural light during the day but it gets dark pretty quick.

Is your home in good repair?

As good as it can be for a rented apartment. If owned, I would strip and refinish the floors and give it a new paint job. I would probably also get central air because the window unit is a bit of an eye sore and takes away some of the sunlight.

Do you have clutter that depletes you the moment you see it?

Yes. I let the mail stack up and use the space as a dumping ground in between plans. Also, I think my entertainment unit is a huge eye sore full of random DVDs, Nintendo games and a TV that's too big based on how often I watch it.

Do you feel comfortable inviting friends and colleagues into your home or do you generally meet elsewhere?

Yes, I would definitely need to clean though. Even if I didn't have time, they would understand and wouldn't care.

How much of the contents of your home have been chosen by you? How much is inherited? Are there hand-me-downs? Are you displaying objects from a past relationship?

I have chosen everything in there except for the toy chest. I feel as though some of the pieces are hand-me-downs because I've had them since college. Specifically my entertainment unit and TV. The other pieces (rug, rattan side tables, curtains, etc.) I've had since I've graduated. None of the objects are directly from a past relationship although most have been seen by all.

Do you like being at home or would you rather stay away?

Depends on the size of the mess I'm running away from.

Do you feel motivated and full of potential when you are at home?

Only if I buckle down and force myself.

Do your home and office symbolize who you really are and where you hope to go?

Some aspects, yes, but most no. I feel as though they symbolize my past and I need to incorporate the present and future.

Part Two: The Role Models

The second part when dealing with a room identity crisis is to pick out what you consider to be your "dream [room]". Check out books from the library, flip through magazines or play around on google to find the one (or two) that feels the most inspiring and, more importantly, the most "you".

Focus on one aspect of your home at a time so you don't become overwhelmed. Pay close attention as to what attracts you to this room the most and identify the top three reasons you just can't get enough of it. Is it the color? Is it the way the accessories are displayed? Is there one piece in the room that makes you melt? 

Since all of the photos from the last post (sorry it was a week ago) are from my living room, I'll start with that. 

What I like most about these rooms are their natural elements, attention-grabbing artwork and the vibrant mix of textures and patterns. What do you need in your room?

top to bottom: Domino Magazine, Elle Decor Magazine

Part One: Serenity Now

Well, it's been one of those weeks so if you're just reading for the design inspiration, be sure to skip to the last paragraph. Trust me.

I now officially have way too much time on my hands to think. About everything. And anything. And it's is driving me crazy. To the point where I feel like running around like Frank Costanza screaming "Serenity Now, Serenity Now!" I am trying to put that energy toward something a little more constructive like this blog, a crossword, a walk, a book, etc. but somehow keep coming up short. I am actually in the process of reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (great read by the way) and am at the part where she begins her stint at an Ashram in India. I have to say, I could not be reading this at a better time because she just flipped out about not being able to meditate like everyone else because she can't stop thinking. Then she gets in a fight with herself about thinking when she shouldn't be thinking... and the frustration is at an all-time high. 

I thought to myself, "You go, girl. I am totally in that same boat (minus the meditation)." For some reason, it is so easy to feel helpless, get distracted, become lazy or lack motivation to do something (just look at my craft nook). And, without fail, all of those factors end up leading you toward frustration - oh, sweet mother of frustration - the hardest feeling to turn around into something positive. This, in case you haven't noticed, is currently where I'm at.

Never one to "get in touch with my true inner being", "solve problems through meditation" or "follow the light to find the meaning of life", I've decided to take a more surface level approach and give myself a new mantra to live by. And no, I haven't a clue what I was living by before this but I'm pretty sure it was closer to Frank Constanza's way of dealing with things. Inspired by the serenity prayer and a little bit of how not to act like Frank, I've decided on the simple five word one "it is what it is". 

To kick off this newfound way of thinking, I've decided to ask myself a question about my personal style:

If you were to choose three things you feel encapsulates the current style of your home what would they be? Mine: earth tones/patterns, vintage/retro and... cluttered.

photos from my home

What are yours? I would say that this point would be the realization of what you have to work with and the starting point for determining your personal style.