Topic

The topic I chose was interior design and feng shui. I chose this topic because I have been interested in renovating my room for some time because I had been unhappy with the way my room was presented. I incorporated feng shui as well because I felt that it might be a good opportunity to try out the philosophy for myself, and, while not scientifically proven plausible, there is no risk in trying.

Area of Interaction

The area of interaction my topic represented the best is approaches to learning. Throughout the entire project, I had to use various sources to gather knowledge about my topic. They ranged

from books about interior design and feng shui, online articles, videos on simple home improvement projects, online tips, and simply talking to people who had redecorated a room

before or understand and/or follow the philosophy of feng shui. Personally, I found the online videos as well as talking to others to be the most helpful in gathering and retaining information. The books, while helpful, were very board and could not answer my personal questions quickly.

The Goal

Rearrange and re-design my room in my own image and incorporate the principles of feng shui. This includes: repainting, re-carpeting, furnishing, decorating, and reorganizing. The goal was

also to make the most out of the small bedroom I had. All of this will be done under the budget of $700. The original budget was supposed to be $1000, but I could not save that much money.

The Process:

1.) Research about Feng Shui, Interior Design, and Home Improvement2.) Paint the room, let dry3.) Rearrange furniture as desired4.) Have new carpet installed5.) Organize closet6.) Purchase and arrange feng shui elements throughout the room7.) Purchase room décor and install8.) Add last minute changes9.) Purchase and arrange bed and desk (not accomplished)

Feng Shui

Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophy based on the Taoist belief that the land is alive and gives off energy. This energy, or chi, can be good or bed. Certain objects or arrangements can encourage or restrict the flow of good chi in one’s home. “Feng” in Chinese means wind and “Shui” means water. Both are associated with good luck.

What I Learned

Through this personal project, I have learned very useful skills regarding home improvement, interior design, and feng shui. I believe I have a good structural foundation on each topic and can use it in the future when perhaps renovating a different room, moving to a new home, or perhaps living in a place of my own. I also learned more about my personal learning style and was able to

learn about others’ as well. I am more of a visual learner and respond better to that style of learning. I also learned that I need to be encouraged and sometimes forced to start a large project because procrastination and getting motivation were some issues I experienced. That seemed to be common for everyone, as others procrastinated as well. I plan to use the knowledge I have

learned about my learning style in future assignments and projects of mine.

What I Would Do Differently

1.) Start earlier2.) Research more about specifics of interior design3.) Be more productive in class4.) Install a light dimmer5.) Paint my closet6.) Install a shelf

Find out your birth element!19.02.1901 Metal Ox 27.01.1941 Metal Snake 05.02.1981 Metal Rooster08.02.1902 Water Tiger 15.01.1942 Water Horse 25.01.1982 Water Dog29.01.1903 Water Hare 05.02.1943 Water Sheep 13.02.1983 Water Boar16.02.1904 Wood Dragon 25.01.1944 Wood Monkey 02.02.1984 Wood Rat04.02.1905 Wood Snake 13.02.1945 Wood Rooster 20.02.1985 Wood Ox25.01.1906 Fire Horse 02.02.1946 Fire Dog 09.02.1986 Fire Tiger13.02.1907 Fire Sheep 22.01.1947 Fire Boar 29.01.1987 Fire Hare02.02.1908 Earth Monkey 10.02.1948 Earth Rat 17.02.1988 Earth Dragon22.01.1909 Earth Rooster 29.01.1949 Earth Ox 06.02.1989 Earth Snake10.02.1910 Metal Dog 17.02.1950 Metal Tiger 27.01.1990 Metal Horse30.01.1911 Metal Boar 06.02.1951 Metal Hare 15.02.1991 Metal Sheep18.02.1912 Water Rat 27.01.1952 Water Dragon 04.02.1992 Water Monkey06.02.1913 Water Ox 14.02.1953 Water Snake 23.01.1993 Water Rooster26.01.1914 Wood Tiger 03.02.1954 Wood Horse 10.02.1994 Wood Dog14.02.1915 Wood Hare 24.01.1955 Wood Sheep 31.01.1995 Wood Boar03.02.1916 Fire Dragon 12.02.1956 Fire Monkey 19.02.1996 Fire Rat23.01.1917 Fire Snake 31.01.1957 Fire Rooster 07.02.1997 Fire Ox11.02.1918 Earth Horse 18.02.1958 Earth Dog 28.01.1998 Earth Tiger01.02.1919 Earth Sheep 08.02.1959 Earth Boar 16.02.1999 Earth Hare20.02.1920 Metal Monkey 28.01.1960 Metal Rat 05.02.2000 Metal Dragon08.02.1921 Metal Rooster 15.02.1961 Metal Ox 24.01.2001 Metal Snake28.01.1922 Water Dog 05.02.1962 Water Tiger 12.02.2002 Water Horse16.02.1923 Water Boar 25.01.1963 Water Hare 01.02.2003 Water Sheep05.02.1924 Wood Rat 13.02.1964 Wood Dragon 22.01.2004 Wood Monkey25.01.1925 Wood Ox 02.02.1965 Wood Snake 09.02.2005 Wood Rooster13.02.1926 Fire Tiger 21.01.1966 Fire Horse 29.01.2006 Fire Dog02.02.1927 Fire Hare 09.02.1967 Fire Sheep 18.02.2007 Fire Boar23.01.1928 Earth Dragon 30.01.1968 Earth Monkey 02.02.2008 Earth Rat10.02.1929 Earth Snake 17.02.1969 Earth Rooster 26.01.2009 Earth Ox30.01.1930 Metal Horse 06.02.1970 Metal Dog 14.02.2010 Metal Tiger17.02.1931 Metal Sheep 27.01.1971 Metal Boar 03.02.2011 Metal Hare06.02.1932 Water Monkey 15.02.1972 Water Rat 23.01.2012 Water Dragon26.01.1933 Water Rooster 03.02.1973 Water Ox 10.02.2013 Water Snake14.02.1934 Wood Dog 23.01.1974 Wood Tiger 31.01.2014 Wood Horse04.02.1935 Wood Boar 11.02.1975 Wood Hare 19.02.2015 Wood Sheep24.01.1936 Fire Rat 31.01.1976 Fire Dragon 08.02.2016 Fire Monkey11.02.1937 Fire Ox 18.02.1977 Fire Snake 28.01.2017 Fire Rooster31.01.1938 Earth Tiger 07.02.1978 Earth Horse 16.02.2018 Earth Dog19.02.1939 Earth Hare 28.01.1979 Earth Sheep 05.02.2019 Earth Boar08.02.1940 Metal Dragon 16.02.1980 Metal Monkey 25.01.2020 Metal Rat

The dates are written as “Day.Month.Year”

1.) Find the closest date before your birthday 2.) To the right is your birth element and your Chinese

Zodiac Sign

Elements:Fire- Colors: Red, Orange, Purple, Pink, Bright Yellow. Shape: Triangle

Metal- Colors: White, Gray. Shape: Circle/Round

Water- Colors: Blue, Black. Shape: Wavy

Earth- Colors: Beige, Light Yellow, Sandy/Earthy Colors. Shape:

Wood- Colors: Brown, Green. Shape: Square

Good things to incorporate are objects made of your element, then color, then shape.

Befo re After