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At Home in Rooms That Work
by Rebecca Ross

Have you ever walked into a place that just felt right and wondered what made that room, house or apartment feel so good?

The myriad books on feng shui, clutter and awareness of sacred space offer part of the answer. But after all the bubbling water fountains have lost their appeal, and the prosperity corner has grown dusty, what can you do with a space to continue to make it work for you? One approach is to consider three layers of focus when designing an environment.

The first is the sense of order in the room and how the space is used. What is this room about and does it support the activity that it was designed for? Can you see the counter to cook a meal, for example? The second layer to consider is the spatial layout. This is the realm that is addressed by the basics of feng shui. On the simplest level it is the use of color and the arrangement of furniture and other objects in the room. The third layer of focus is the purely energetic.

Unfortunately, most people today are either too busy to tackle the job of creating effective space, or simply don’t have the skills to create the effect they want. It doesn’t seem to easily boil down to a prescribed set of instructions or formulas. However, there is a way for each of us to start making positive changes in our environments.

The key to designing spaces that truly support you is awareness. Enhancing awareness can be approached by addressing the three layers of focus described above: order, spatial layout and energy.

Order. Start by simply noticing how you live NOW. How many knick-knacks make a home, how many pairs of shoes signify prosperity? Until you really examine your personal sense of order and attachment to possessions and the ways you live among them, no change you make will be lasting.

Another important part of the process is to understand how you use your space and belongings. Are you rushed in the morning and habitually spending time looking for the same things over and over? Are you holding on to objects that no longer validate who you are? Being willing to question your rationalizations is a crucial component to letting go of clutter that accumulates. This awareness is the foundation for making new decisions about all the stuff in your environment. After practical changes are made, the donation van is called and order is restored, you can shift to the next layer of focus.

Spatial layout. The position of your furnishings and the arrangement of art, books and personal treasures has been the subject of many books. Using the skills of a recommended professional can also help. Another option is to recruit the advice of friends who have spaces you enjoy. Ask yourself what you appreciate about the way they do things and consider inviting them to share their take on your newly ordered rooms. Sometimes another set of eyes will reveal options that you haven’t considered. Remember that spatial design is not an inborn skill in all people. Just as some of us don’t relate to cooking or gardening, many people simply need some help with seeing how space works.

Energy. We exist in a world filled with energy that can be simply viewed as information. Animals tap into this field of data before storms, and take shelter. No one argues with the existence of radio waves. Most of us accept that information can be stored in ways we can’t see or perceive without training or instruments. Awareness of energetic fields existing in the environment and generated by living organisms is no different.

Whether generated in nature, originating in electronic equipment or left by human experiences, energetic disturbances can affect our health and well being. The process of clearing and rebalancing energy starts, again, with awareness. Begin by recognizing what you are feeling in a room, and maintain a grounded sense of your own boundaries. We unknowingly hold certain patterns in place with our attitudes. To change a disturbing charge, consciously give awareness to what you are experiencing without judgment, fear or sense of ownership.

Conscious design combined with simple, personalized organization and balanced energy can turn any room into a place you love to call your own – one that supports you rather than drains you.

An architect for 20 years, Rebecca Ross creates functional rooms that support her clients. She teaches Clutter Clearing and Time Management at PCC Natural Markets and has spoken for ADD Resources support groups.

©2006 Caliope Publishing Company