Practical, emotional, symbolic all at once, Environmental Therapy transforms a Liverpudlian home and finds treasure that was there all along
It is almost always the case – and very much my preference – when conducting an Environmental Therapy appraisal, to work primarily with what clients already have. Furniture stacked in the attic, mirrors hidden behind wardrobes, forgotten objects buried in cupboards; these things can often be repurposed to extraordinary effect, bringing fresh vitality to a home and restoring balance to the space. And if something no longer belongs, then this becomes the moment to let it go and make room for new life.
The newly married couple I was working with in Liverpool had invited me in for a very particular reason. They had just embarked upon IVF treatment and wanted to create an environment that would support every possible chance of success – now with only one funded opportunity through the NHS. Alongside this, they hoped that during maternity leave – or in any case before the end of the year – they would sell the house and move south to be closer to family.
The home therefore needed to support these two intentions simultaneously: nurturing new life while also presenting itself at its absolute best for a swift and successful sale.
With this dual focus in mind, they wisely allocated the entire weekend for us to work together. Alongside the couple was Bryn’s mother – wonderfully practical, handy with a paintbrush, and marvellously creative in the garden. With four willing pairs of hands and a shared sense of purpose, the atmosphere quickly became industrious, collaborative and unexpectedly joyful as we set to work to show how Environmental Therapy transforms a home.
Where to begin with Environmental Therapy
As always, I began outside the front gate.
Standing together and looking back towards the house, we slowly walked the entire footprint of the garden and property, observing how the home presented itself energetically and practically. Items were removed or repositioned as we went, while mother diligently compiled a shopping list of anything needing replacement, repair or purchase.
The front aspect – where life-force Chi first arrives at the front door – was serviceable but slightly obscured and lacking vitality. A healthy tree beside the gate was gradually blocking the pathway, preventing a clear view of the front door. Michelle immediately set to work weeding and clearing the path while mother lovingly cut back the tree and replanted some abandoned troughs to place beneath the windows. Bryn armed with a drill removed redundant ironwork clinging to the front of the house while I swept away loose debris and cleaned the window and door frames. Together we sourced a crisp new house number, a welcome doormat, a sleek exterior light, while a small meerkat was positioned beside the entrance to greet visitors with warmth and humour.
The difference was immediate. The house no longer looked hesitant. It looked welcoming, alive and purposeful – a family home ready for its next chapter.
The welcoming space
Inside the front door, Chi flow was obstructed by a half-moon table, which corresponded to the Life Path area of the Bagua map. By repositioning the table, simplifying its contents, installing a large mirror and introducing two hallway runners, the entrance suddenly became more coherent and less in a rush. The runners also helped slow the movement of Chi through the hallway giving it time to disperse into the study and lounge, rather than racing straight through to the kitchen beyond.
The study required very little decorative change but benefited enormously from rearranging the furniture. We incorporated a sentimental armchair which could later double beautifully as a nursing chair, repositioned a bookcase, which allowed the door to open fully for the first time in three years. Anyone seated at the desk, with their back to the room, could still see who was approaching by the placement of a small mirror. The overall effect was one of spaciousness and ease.
One of the greatest ways in which we could show how Environmental Therapy transforms and supports new life, however, required us to consciously make space for it – both literally and symbolically.
This meant, most significantly, gently retraining the couple’s two beloved dogs, who until now had occupied prime position within the household. Difficult though it initially felt, the dogs would no longer sleep in the bedroom. Practically, this was necessary to prepare them for future flexibility around family events and travel arrangements when they’d go to Doggy Care. Energetically, it was equally important. From an Environmental Therapy perspective, the bedroom needed to become a sanctuary devoted to rest, intimacy and the nurturing of new life.
The ‘family’ zone
Another delicate but important shift centred around the lounge. The first obstacle one encountered upon entering the room was a full-sized pool table, accompanied by a storage unit packed with games and collectable toys. The couple clearly enjoyed a playful social life and a good sense of fun, but increasingly the room reflected an earlier phase of life rather than the one they were now stepping into.
In place of the pool table we created a more grounded and welcoming seating area with two armchairs and a coffee table. The large games cabinet and display collection – considered investment pieces – was relocated to the Wealth & Prosperity area of the home where it felt more appropriately aligned. What emerged instead was a breathing space: room for conversation, for family life and eventually, perhaps, for a baby’s presence to naturally take centre stage.
The second half of the lounge, gathered around the fireplace, remained the cosy family retreat. Simply shifting the sofa by around thirty centimetres allowed the door to open fully, increasing the size of the room and immediately changing its feel. A triptych of artwork was rehung to lighten a wall, while Michelle creatively mapped out a future arrangement of family photographs which would be placed above the sofa. The vintage fireplace itself became a kind of altar, adorned with candles and a gold Tree of Life sculpture.
The ‘wealth & abundance’ area
The Wealth corner served a dual purpose as both guest room and storage space. Rearranging the furniture immediately allowed light from the garden to pour through the shutters, lifting the room completely. And yes – there was still the inevitable mountain of “car boot sale” items waiting patiently for the next available weekend. Some transitions just can’t occur all at once and must wait patiently for their turn.
The extension had also created an energetic imbalance in the footprint of the property, leaving a ‘missing corner’ falling precisely in the Relationship area of the Bagua. To strengthen and anchor the couple’s bond before this could have an effect, we recreated externally in the garden what was absent internally in the house.
The ‘relationship’ corner
Two round egg chairs and a small coffee table established an outdoor seating area exactly where the missing corner should have existed. A chiminea, rescued from the garage where it was gathering dust, became a focal marker for the space, accompanied by a lucky mascot and newly planted strawberries and geraniums to symbolise growth, fertility and vitality. The view transformed into something infinitely softer, kinder and more connected as viewed from the kitchen table.
Upstairs, the primary focus had to be the couple’s bedroom.
With metallic floral wallpaper dominating two walls, the room felt visually stimulating rather than restful or grounding – hardly ideal for someone moving through the emotional intensity of IVF treatment. Michelle, already a highly driven nurse practitioner with strong perfectionist tendencies, needed a room that encouraged softness, reassurance and surrender.
Ideally, I would have repainted one of the metallic walls entirely. But working within time and budget constraints, we made simpler but highly effective adjustments instead. The dark blue blackout curtains were exchanged for soft cream ones now redundant from the guest room. Matching chest drawers were repositioned to create symmetry and balance. The laundry basket disappeared into the tiny dressing-room space adjacent. A sheepskin rug softened the floor and a velveteen throw added texture and comfort to the bed.
The transformation in the people
And then came Michelle’s treat.
Replacing the rather makeshift dressing table sourced from Freecycle, we found a sleek contemporary design with bamboo legs, matching stool and built-in gold-framed mirror. It instantly lifted the room – but more importantly, it lifted her. It became a daily reminder, during an enormously demanding process, that she mattered too. That she was a beauty that required care and support.
By late lunchtime every major furniture move and structural adjustment had been completed. Fuelled by enthusiasm and lunch, we then embarked on what can only be described as a joyful treasure hunt around Liverpool – gathering plants, accessories, hallway runners and finishing touches from garden centres and home stores, carefully balancing creativity with the couple’s modest budget.
By this stage the entire project had taken on an exhilarating momentum. Ideas sparked other ideas. Forgotten treasures resurfaced from cupboards and spare rooms. Mirrors found new purpose. It felt less like decorating and more like uncovering the home’s truest identity buried in its hidden treasure.
By the time we said our goodbyes, Bryn’s blue eyes were sparkling and Michelle’s entire face seemed transformed – brighter, softer, fuller somehow. Glancing at the health tracker on her wrist, she laughed and announced that her energy levels had risen five points in just twenty-four hours.
The Environmental Therapy shift
This job truly felt like Changing Rooms on steroids and demonstrates how Environmental Therapy transforms.
Even with some areas naturally taking less priority than others, not a single space was left untouched or unexplored, . It was such a joy to support Michelle and Bryn through this profound threshold moment, helping them shape a home aligned with their hopes, their future and the life they longed to create together.
There is still work ahead, of course. They both lead busy professional lives and the house remains a ‘work in progress’. But now they know exactly what needs to happen- and why. And sometimes that clarity alone changes everything.
I left wishing them every happiness, every success and, above all, the deepest hope that new life soon arrives to fill the spaces we so lovingly prepared.