Trying to make sense of a multi-purpose space (and maybe succeeding!) for course: Introduction to Feng Shui

I decided to apply what I learned in this course to my front room, a multipurpose space where I spend most of my time at home. (Note: I have a separate den — my apartment is technically a 2BR, and the den is the smaller bedroom. I put a full-size couch in it that can be used to sleep when guests come, and it contains a TV. I don't often watch TV unless guests come over, so there's no TV in my living room.) The front room has been chaotic for a long time because it needs to function as a prayer space, office, reading area/lounge, play area for the cats, and dining area. It has two old-style radiators, and my landlady added an enormous armoire where I keep bedsheets and off-season clothing. The armoire is impossible for one person to move (and I honestly think it would take at least three people). So there are three immobile things. The prayer area needs to be in the north or northeast, my memory shrine needs to be separate from the prayer area, and my cat trees need to be in the windows.

I imported the floor plan for my living area into Supernote as a background template. I sketched out where everything was, but I forgot to take photos. But it should be evident that the space was chaotic and that many activities were not grouped together. I then played with a few new designs before settling on the one that worked. My front room space took me six hours to adjust earlier today, which I did while wearing a dust mask (and I showered when finished) because I have a dust allergy. It looks more coherent and inviting, and I think the compromises (like the location of my WFH desk, which I'd rather put facing out into the room where the armoire is) still work well. There are temporarily clothes drying on the entry door, and the rod they're hanging from collapses, so that's not a permanent feature of the space.

The "after" floor plan doesn't account for the fact that I moved the circular cat tree next to the bookshelf and moved the ottoman back to where it was under the A/C. I'm really excited to have my music listening speaker away from the really loud A/C unit with a wall separator.

What I learned was also helpful for planning future space modifications. My shrine is tall, so most of the icons are near or above eye-height, and the dark wood bookshelf was a hand-me-down from my grandfather. I'd previously thought of getting a tall cabinet with glass doors to handle some of my overflow book collection and create a display area that are less dust-prone, but I will get a small-space-friendly credenza in 2024 (after doing some research on pieces — I want to make sure it's a solid piece of furniture) to put where the light is behind the dining table — what I read in Feng Shui Modern about creating a horizon seems sensible. I'm likely already pushing the limit when it comes to tall furniture.