Create your open air oasis!
How to feng shui your garden & outdoor space

My beloved grandfather had THE most amazing, beautiful and exciting garden you can imagine.

It was a pure wonder to spend time there, and we kids just loved it.

Think of it like a magical wonderland – it triggered your fantasy, and there was always something to explore and to be surprised by (and we’re not talking crazy amusement park style here).

The garden was as appreciated by kids as by adults, and people still talk about it to date.

He would not have known anything about feng shui and that his garden qualified as a great example of that – he’d just have laughed about that! – but that’s exactly what it was.

By following some simple guidelines you can create a garden, or another outdoor space, just like that too.

Turn your garden and outdoor space into a source of joy and rejuvenation

So, what made his garden so special and amazing and magical?

He didn’t spend a lot of money on it, rather the opposite since he was the king of recycling and reusing things.

But he did apply a way of thinking and doing things that made all the difference.

The leading word was: adventure!

Not in a hysterical, crazy, nutty adventure kind of way – but in a natural, basic and simple way.

Adventure as in things to look at, things to hear, things to do, to smell and taste, places to sit or lay down at, or just things to be surprised by.

It was a place made for both humans and animals (wild as well as domestic), grown-ups and kids – to enjoy, play and indulge in, in ways each appreciated.

Still, it wasn’t crazy busy in any sense. There was plenty of places for contemplation and rest. And still room for activity.

Yes, I know, sounds like heaven – and it was!

So, how do you create a garden or outdoor space like that?

The adventurous feeling comes from following two basic principles that will get you a long way:

Engage and surprise!

Engage the senses and add things and solutions to be surprised by.

Let yourself, and any visitors, go “ohhh”, “ahhh”, and “awww”.

And it doesn’t have to be big and grand – even the smallest things can create an exciting, relaxing and inviting space.

Here’s what to do – with your garden and any outdoor space

Even if you don’t have a big garden to outfit, you can still apply these principles to the tiniest balcony or outdoor space.

? Engage your senses. Let there be something to hear, to see, to smell, to taste, to touch.

? Try to use a mix of soft and round shapes, and straight lines and forms, to make things happen.

? Use different heights. If you have a garden; see that there are both high and low things to look at. If you have another kind of outdoor space, like a balcony, porch or patio: use the walls, the floor, and the ceiling to create differences in heights. For example lanterns, lights, and flower pots could be either hanging or placed on the floor.

? Make sure there’s some kind of lighting lit when the darkness falls.

? See that there’s room for both rest and activity (maybe I one day tell you about my grandpa’s homemade hammock where he took his afternoon nap every day during summer – I told you he was the king of recycling!).
Even if you have a small place, you can create some kind of feeling of rest and relaxation with comfy chairs, pillows, throws etc – as well as activities, okay, maybe not for tennis or soccer, but family games, books or things like that.

? Add water in one way or another. It can be as simple as just a bowl of water, or a little bird baths or, if you have more space, a little fountain.

? Maybe this is obvious, but just in case; flowers, plants, and herbs have their given place here, of course.

? Provide places to sit, both in the sun and in the shadow, and if you have a balcony or similar, make sure there’s something to give you shelter if there’s too much sunlight at times.

? Think of that it should be enjoyable at different times of the day – maybe for a breakfast, a lunch, an afternoon nap, or a long warm evening.

Over to you!

• What’s your biggest “aha” after reading this? Did you get any new ideas you can make use of?
• What’s your major challenge with your garden or outdoor space?
• Do you have any garden or outdoor tips to tell us about to make the space more exciting and inviting?

Share in the comments below, I’d be so happy to hear from you!

And if you have any questions – ask away below too. Your question might help somebody else, and I’m happy to answer! And, of course, there is no such thing as a stupid question – but you know that already, right?☺️

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for reading!
And thanks for leaving your comment and thoughts in English
– doing that will allow more of us to be able to read it.
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