Feng Shui Q & A Wednesday “What are some ways to enhance a camper trailer?”

It appears that the summer holidays here in Canada has inspired some camping questions as to how to Feng Shui a camper trailer. To join the conversation and receive your daily dose of inspiration I invite you to join me on Facebook.

There’s nothing more refreshing and rejuvenating then getting out of the city and parking yourself near a body of water and hearing the gentle lap of the shore in the wee hours of the morning. The trick is not burning yourself out in the process of rushing to get things ready Thursday evening so you can leave Friday after work.

I have a dear friend who heads out “to the lake” every weekend and I in amusement chuckle at the “hurry-up to-get-there” flurry of activity that starts Wednesday evening with the thought process of what “has” to happen Thursday to be ready to leave on Friday. Now I’m a get shit-done-kind- gal and even I’m exhausted just watching her get into a frenzy of activity.

Now; if your camper trailer is parked for the season at one location the Feng Shui’ing of your campsite and camper will be much easier as you can extend your living space by creating outdoor rooms that will support your gypsy needs. My girlfriend and her Honey have done a fabulous job of creating outdoor living and storage spaces. Sorry I don’t have photos. To keep the mud and dirt out of the camper they’ve built a covered deck off the entrance that extends their living space with an outdoor kitchen that stores all their cooking supplies, a lovely patio table and comfortable seating chairs make the space feel homey.

For many of us we have a tendency to over pack. We generally eat more “at the lake”, and most definitely drink more “at the lake” which makes it challenging to find the storage to house the overabundance of dry goods and perishables. To make best use of the space do your best to down size your consumption while resourcing creative ways to store your essentials.

 

( photo credit)

“What are some ways to enhance a camper trailer?”

Downsizing is key!

AWhen my girls were in grade 6 & 7 we lived in a 32 foot trailer for 6 months from May – October as we were building our last house. I needed to have 3 seasons worth of clothing for the girls as well as professional and work clothes for both myself and my then husband as we were building the house ourselves. Being the gal that I am that trailer was immaculate. I only packed what I knew we needed, everything had a place and everything was put back into its place once we were done with it. The girls chose their favourite means of entertainment books, videos, drawing and painting supplies all things to help keep them busy on rainy days. There wasn’t a need for a lot of “kid” stuff as they spent most of the day outside doing what kids do.

Whether you are camping for 2 days or 3 weeks the answer to your Feng Shui dilemma is to downsize what you pack.

How to downsize

1. Make a list and stick to it.
2. Make a list with your kids and have them stick to it.
3. Source creative storage ideas to make the best use of the space you have.
4. Remember that your trailer is probably bigger than a million dollar condo in New York City. Even in your small space you’re living the life of Rely.
5. Tidy up as soon as you are done using things. If you need to label your storage containers to avoid small-space chaos do so. Getting your kids involved in the process might help them get excited and may  help them kids stay on task with keeping things neat and tidy.
6. Make beds and or put sleeping supplies away first thing in the morning.
7. Door your best to make use of your outdoor space. You will find things much less congested inside your camping trailer.
8. Create a little nook for travelling pets and keep the litter box if you need to in the bathroom if you have one. Clean it daily to avoid your camping trialling like a cat toilet.
9. Keep all outdoor gear stored in bins outdoors in the box of the truck, in the trunk of your car or under the trailer. There shouldn’t be any need for fishing tackle and life jackets to be stored inside. Thank Goodness for Rubbermaid!

Decor Details

I know most folks don’t think to repaint their camping trailers as they are after all “just camping trailers”. However, generally decorated in dark laminate wood tones for its durability this colour palette makes a small space feel even smaller. If you’re into home decor and DIY projects you may wish to put your personal touches in your trailer by giving it a good coat of durable paint in a light colour to brighten the space.

I know the last thing you want is more work. This is just a suggestion. If painting is out of the question changing the upholster and curtains can make a huge difference in creating a new vibe. If you’re at all handy with a sewing machine slipcovers made of outdoor fabric can be an affordable, durable and easy maintenance way to update a camper trailer so that it feels fresh and up-to-date. Check out the groovy DIY from Vintage Revivals

Create a space you love to be in and enjoy your time at the lake!

 

 

(photo credit)

The Bagua

If you are wanting to activate the life areas of your camper trailer according to the Bagua Map lay the Bagua over the footprint of the camper aligning the  bottom 3 guas with the door. This will help you know where each area falls and how to make the enhancements you wish to.

Have fun!