How Giving Your Room A Purpose Can Spark Joy
When our daughters went off to university, we downsized, as many people do. However, the smaller home we moved into had four bedrooms, because our two girls still needed a place to sleep when they came home over the summer break, and I needed an office to work from.
Fast forward several years later, the girls have graduated and moved into homes of their own. Although we still needed a guest room for friends and family occasionally, there was one extra bedroom. It sat there for a while, stripped of its mementos and wall art – lost without a purpose. Maybe you have a room like that too.
Feng Shui practitioners tell us each room in our home must have a clear purpose; it’s taboo to leave rooms unused. They go stagnant and negatively affect the harmonious flow of chi (or life energy), which impacts our prosperity and happiness. And it’s true…every time I walked by it, it felt lifeless – like all the energy was sucked out of it. It gave me an eerie, empty feeling.
As I was reflecting on what to do with this space, my youngest daughter, who was getting married soon, asked me where we were going to take her ‘getting ready’ photos on the day of the wedding. Our smallish townhouse didn’t have a clear space large enough to accommodate photographers with tripods (I’m no expert but I imagine it would be hard to take wedding photos when you’re bumping into a dresser or straddling a bed). That’s when it hit me…
I turned the empty bedroom into a dressing room. I brought in my dresser and makeup table from our bedroom and freed up space there. Not only did it provide a perfect place to take beautiful photos of our bride, it now serves as my ‘glam cave’.
It’s a quiet, clutter-free place – a space of my own, where I can store all my clothes, put on my make-up and jewelry in comfort, and even roll out a mat and do yoga. The room is happy now, no longer lost, it has found a purpose. And I’m happy too, because it has come to life again.
It has also reignited my interest in fashion and make-up. I’ve let go of the last few items of clothing I was hanging on to that I should have released a long time ago. (Yes, we know better, but even professional organizers hold on to a few things ‘just in case’). I went shopping and rebuilt a more casual yet stylish wardrobe that reflects who I am today. It feels fantastic! I know it sounds corny, but I must tell you, when I walk into that room, I feel enveloped in a loving embrace. It’s the ultimate in self-care…and a far cry from the lifeless room it was when it had no purpose.
If you have an unused bedroom or any space your home that has no purpose (except maybe as a ‘junk room’), think about how you can breathe new life into the room by giving it a purpose. How about a hobby, arts and crafts or sewing room? Get creative and tap into your deepest desires. What would bring you more joy? Please share your ideas in the comment section below so you can spark some ideas and inspiration in others.
Wow. I love the look of the room because everything has its place. The bright colors along with the warm wooden colors of furniture mesh so nicely. Last but not least….she looks like her mom….gorgeous. The dress is breathtaking! Congratulations on the room makeover and to your daughter and hubby as well. Wish them many many years of marital bliss!
Thanks so much for the good wishes. Happy to hear you like the room. Hope it has inspired you in some way.
Great article.
Thank you the inspiring idea.
My pleasure. Thanks for your feedback. It’s great to hear that you are inspired by the post.
What a fabulous idea Hellen! Congrats all around. My spare room is in the process of becoming a store room (we don’t have a garage) but with a thoughtful suggestion from my beautiful sister and with your reflections above, I might carve a corner for a comfy reading nook. I hope the Feng Sui is OK for dual purpose rooms. Love your newsletters Hellen. Thank you from Aussie down under, even though the seasons are the opposite to yours. 😉
Thanks Melinda. Yes, yes, yes – you must create that reading nook. Trust me, it will become your happy place! Dual purpose is okay if the physical boundaries within the room are clear. We don’t want your storage to take over your ready nook. I’m amazed you’ve heard of me in Aussie – it really is a small world after all!
So thrilled for your ideas to keep the Chi going.Lifelong fan.
Thanks for being a lifelong fan – I appreciate that. Yes, let’s keep the Chi going!
It’s beautiful! I agree – a glam cave does wonders for the soul!
The room in the lowest level of our side split went through the following iterations:
– unfinished concrete box
– temporary man cave
– unused play/toy room
– unused sewing room
And it is now currently my own personal home dance and yoga studio! It was actually my husband’s idea for me to use it as such but I felt it was too self-indulgent, but I agreed and now it is definitely my sanctuary and happy place. I totally agree empty, purposeless rooms are sad! Here’s my haven: https://www.facebook.com/mary.wyga/videos/10160355891935046/.
Mary, what a great idea to create a dance/yoga studio in an unused room of your house. Thanks for including a link – it looks fantastic! I love how you personalized it – nice job. I can see how it would bring you joy. Your husband is brilliant for coming up with the idea. Self-indulgent? I prefer to call it self-care, and to quote you, “it does wonders for the soul”!
What a beautiful bride and what an incredibly awesome idea for a room. You are so supportive and caring for others I am glad to see you are taking care of yourself also. Your daughter is lovely and I pray her marriage is filled with blessings. You’re always Lifting me up and encouraging me and I’m so honored to do so in return. Your Glam room is a great idea and God’s timing is so right.
You are so sweet Marvel, thank you. Happy to hear you feel uplifted and encouraged by my work. It makes it all the more worthwhile.
I love what you’ve done with the space, Hellen! We’re in the process of turning our ‘junk room’ back into an office that will be just for me this time and I’m looking forward to finding pieces that reflect my personal aesthetic and organizational style. It’s easier said than done, I’m discovering, but oh, so fun!
Thanks Shannon. Believe me, it’s worth the effort. Let me know if I can help in any way.
How breath-takingly beautiful your daughter is! Congratulations to YOU and her Dad! Thanks for sharing the room tips too.
Thanks Sharon, so sweet of you to say.
Hi Helen! I’ve been a big fan of yours as long as the show ‘neat’ was on!
Its awful but I have 2 junk rooms…one being my office and the other one is my husbands ‘sport room’ where the walls are full of sports related pictures and there’s a bunch of other junk in the middle of the room. Since its mostly his stuff I just go in there to quickly dust but I would love to repurpose that room and make it like a man cave….just need lots of extra time to do that! And he would have to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.
Thanks for the inspiration!!
Wow this post is so timely for me! Like you, my two kids have moved out and I am left with several vacant rooms. I am looking forward to retirement soon….for the first time ever I am going to be focusing on my life and wishes, rather than the needs of others. My first step will be creating MY space….I envision a pretty desk to work on organizing and exploring my interests, a comfy reading corner…and who knows what else. And no repurposed kids furniture, this will be filled with pieces I choose and love. Thank you for the inspiration!