High Vibe Home: Holistic Design for Beautiful Spaces with Healing, Balanced Energy 1797206931, 9781797206936

Table of contents :
Cover
Title
Dedication
Copyright
Contents
Introduction
What Does Your Design Style Say about Your Energy?
PART ONE: Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New
Getting Inspired
Decluttering
Declutter Your Wardrobe
Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing
Cleansing with Sound
Cleansing with Herbs & Oil
Scented Candles
Working with Color & Sensory Elements
THE COLOR WHEEL
Aligning Your Chakras & Sun Sign
THE CHAKRA SYSTEM
Introducing Feng Shui
THE BAGUA MAP
Bringing the Outdoors In
Flower Power
PART TWO: Bringing It All Home
Curb Appeal
Small Outdoor Spaces
Plants by Climate
Matching Your Garden to Your Architecture
Welcome Home
Front Door Feng Shui
Front Door Holiday Decor
Classic Front Door & Exterior Color Pairings
Affirmations for Coming & Going
The Living Room
Style Your Built-Ins
Alternative Coffee Tables
The Dining Room
Tips for a High Vibe Dinner Party
The Office
The Bedroom
A Bedtime Routine for Your Best Night’s Sleep
A Word about Rugs
How to Mix Patterns Like a Pro
Kids’ Spaces
The Kitchen & Bathroom
Meditation Prompts for Self-Care
Resources
Acknowledgments
A NOTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chronicle Ebooks

Citation preview

Holistic Design for Beautiful Spaces with Healing, Balanced Energy

K I R S T E N YA D O U GA photographs by TA R A D O N N E

HIGH

VIBE HOME

Dedication To my girls: Our house will always be the magic house.

Text copyright © 2021 by Kirsten Yadouga. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Yadouga, Kirsten, author. | Donne, Tara, photographer (expression) Title: High vibe home : holistic design for beautiful spaces with healing, balanced energy / Kirsten Yadouga ; photographs by Tara Donne. Description: San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 2021. Identifiers: LCCN 2020046736 | ISBN 9781797206936 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781797207391 (epub 2) Subjects: LCSH: Interior decoration--Psychological aspects. Classification: LCC NK2113 .Y33 2021 | DDC 747--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020046736 Photographs by Tara Donne. Prop Styling by Martha Bernabe. Design by Lizzie Vaughan. Typesetting by AJ Hansen. Typeset in Albra, Mark OT, and Peridico.

Chronicle Books LLC 680 Second Street San Francisco, California 94107 www.chroniclebooks.com

Introduction 8

19 Getting Inspired

25

Decluttering

31

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

41

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

61

Introducing Feng Shui

81

Bringing the Outdoors In

91

Bringing It All Home

103 PA R T T WO

Curb Appeal

109

Welcome Home

127

The Living Room

145

The Dining Room 159 The Office

169

The Bedroom Kids’ Spaces

179

201

The Kitchen & Bathroom

217

Resources 236 Acknowledgments 239

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

PA R T O N E

8

INTRODUCTION

What Is a High Vibe Home? (And Why Do I Need One?) Tell me if you’ve ever had this experience: You walk into someone’s home, and even though it’s well designed and has a clear aesthetic, something still feels . . . awkward. Perhaps you start to examine every part of the room—there must be something that’s throwing everything off, right? Right?? Well, yes, although it’s likely not as simple as an unfortunate sofa choice. There’s a secret ingredient to every well-designed environment. We can all sense it, whether we realize it or not, and while it might be second nature to professional designers, we are all able to tap into it. It’s energy. When the energy is right, you’ll want to get comfortable and stay for hours. But when it’s not? Not only will the space feel off, but it can have consequences in other parts of your life, negatively affecting your work, relationships, health, and happiness. If you’ve never taken a yoga class and you’re just not into crystals, don’t worry . . . Working with energy, or vibrations, isn’t something that’s reserved for the most spiritual among us, and it’s deeper than just a passing trend—in the same way that subway tile, leopard print, and plaid are occasionally “trendy” but never really go

Introduction

9

away because they’re time-tested and classic. Energy work is as old as humanity itself; it’s not the new kid on the block. Energy is everywhere; it’s a part of everything and every creature on the planet. If you’re here, you’re already working with energy, even if you’re not aware of it yet. Creating a “high vibe home” is about becoming aware of the energy that already exists in your space, as well as your own personal energy, and aligning the two. Ultimately, a high vibe home is one that makes you feel your best; it’s a home in which smart design choices foster positive energy—energy that can be channeled into other aspects of your life. This will mean different things in different spaces. There is no one-size-fitsall formula, but the good news is that you can achieve high vibes with absolutely every aesthetic.

Introduction

10

What Does Your Design Style Say about Your Energy? By the end of this book, you’ll no doubt be a pro at consulting your energetic knowledge bank when creating your environment—but chances are, you’re already using your intuition in your design process without even realizing it. Getting in touch with your energetic style, and understanding how it intersects with your aesthetic style, can open the door to creating a high vibe space that you and your family, roommates, or partner will truly love to live in. I love a good quiz for learning fun facts, and who couldn’t use some more self-awareness? The following questions will help you identify your personal aesthetic so that you can channel it into a totally aligned, energetically supportive design plan.

Introduction

Which sounds like your ideal room? A. Layers of white, with trim and accents in black; clean shapes; modern lighting; and oversize windows B. Eclectic pieces that feel well loved and discovered; vintage finds collected over time; mixed wood finishes; and tons of texture C. A space full of treasures collected from travels all over the world, a story attached to every piece; gorgeously multicolored Moroccan rugs; cozy, easy furnishings; and patinaed metal finishes D. A coastal palette of calming blues and neutrals; familiar, traditional shapes; and a mix of natural materials

11

Your bathroom is: A. Spare, organized, and spotless; brightly lit, with nothing displayed on the countertop B. Cluttered with hairstyling and skin-care products on every surface, toothbrushes on the counter, and visible laundry—on top of gorgeous tile and finishes throughout the space C. Bright and happy, with lots of candles, scents, and bath salts displayed in beautiful containers D. A clean, spa-like retreat, stocked with extra towels and toiletries, ready for guests at a moment’s notice

When it’s time to decide on a new paint color for the living room, you: A. Sample multiple colors from four totally different neutral color families, carefully considering the pros and cons of each

Which destination would you visit first? A. Berlin B. Machu Picchu C. Bali D. Kyoto

Your favorite type of house is: A. A stunning vintage townhouse B. A woodsy mountain retreat C. A tropical bungalow D. A homey craftsman in a quiet neighborhood

Your favorite season is: A. Winter B. Spring C. Summer D. Fall

B. Experiment freely! Maybe it’s time for the Pantone Color of the Year? C. Trust your intuition; you’ll know it when you see it D. Go with the most versatile, sensible palette

Introduction

12

A

B

If your answers were mostly As, it’s likely you are the Mindful Minimalist. You love clean lines and a clean palette. Blacks, grays, and neutrals have a calming effect on you, and clutter is not welcome in your space. Stainless finishes are your preference in the kitchen, and cleverly designed storage that disappears is your favorite design feature.

If you mostly answered B, it’s safe to say you are the Fearless Bohemian. You love a more-is-more approach to design, and you welcome a mix of colors, styles, and textures. Every item in your home tells a story, and a walk through each room can feel like a treasure hunt. You’re most comfortable when surrounded by eye candy, and love is the tie that brings it all together.

Introduction

13

C

D

If C was your go-to answer, you are the Color Alchemist. Your home is a study of artfully combined colors. You know what you like when you see it, and you have a natural ability to combine colors, shapes, and materials for a space that looks considered and intentionally collected. You’re into brights but appreciate a moment of visual calm to separate your color stories. Overly tonal and “calm” spaces have the opposite of their intended effect on you: They make you feel understimulated, bored, and restless. Yours is a home where color is impactful without being overwhelming.

If your answers were usually Ds, you are the Master of Calm. Like the Minimalist, you appreciate a limited color palette, but you lean toward warmer shades that remind you of nature. The feeling of quiet and Zen is easy to recognize on entering your space, and your energy field, as well as your home’s exterior, is likely as clean and simple as the interior. You sometimes find yourself drawn to a coastal design style, with natural materials and traditional shapes playing a starring role in your design plan.

Introduction

14

When You Know, You Know Imagine that you’re arriving home after a day at work. What’s the first feeling you get when you walk in the door? Are you relieved to be in your favorite environment? Or are you overwhelmed by the to-do list of papers and half-finished projects waiting for you inside? These reactions shouldn’t be brushed off; they are clues. Our bodies are constantly receiving and responding to the energy around us. Call it gut instinct, intuition, or a feeling. When we’re distracted or just going about our days on autopilot, it’s really easy to misinterpret these clues and write them off as stress. When we pause long enough to check in with ourselves and really consider how we feel in a space, we can start to have a dialogue with our environments. I spent more than 20 years in the fashion industry before turning to interior design and energy work. Throughout my career, I’ve found that my most successful projects in both industries were always those where I had the freedom to combine elements that “shouldn’t” work together. Masculine and feminine. Light and dark. Modern and vintage. Streamlined and maximalist. Bringing together unlikely combinations in a way that works is a special kind of alchemy, and it’s been successful for me because I follow what feels right. I love to experiment, break the rules, and try things that, on paper, just aren’t supposed to work—provided that my inner voice is saying, “Yes! Do this!” Indeed, I can say that my most monumental mistakes (not that I really believe in “mistakes”) have been those where I ignored my instinct and listened to external influences that went against that inner voice.

Introduction

15

I’ve been what some would call highly intuitive for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I was very in tune with both my surroundings and my inner voice, and I was able to sense the feelings of those around me. But I buried my intuitive inclinations for years out of fear, only to have them reappear in times of serious need. Though I didn’t realize it then, 2013 was one of those times. The years after my oldest daughter was born brought with them some intense, life-shifting challenges. I was forced to move to a new town, far from friends, family, and the career that I’d known and loved for so long. Faced with the task of complete life reinvention, I noticed those old intuitive tendencies starting to make some noise, and this time, I paid attention. Over the following few years, I learned to rely on my gut instinct in a way that I never had before, because I truly had to—it was all that I had left. I followed my ideas and “hunches” as if they were breadcrumbs, left by the Universe, that would eventually place me exactly where I was meant to be. These breadcrumbs led me to study not only interiors but also energy and its effect on our surroundings. I renovated my home; took classes in interior design; studied feng shui; became certified as a meditation instructor and a crystal and Reiki practitioner; and began to view design through not just an aesthetic lens but an energetic one as well. I started to apply my knowledge of the energetic effects of color, material, shape, and placement to my design projects and my own home—again, in an intuitive way, rather than a regimented one, with unbelievable results.

Introduction

16

Without even realizing it, I’d relied on my tried-and-true, alchemical process for my biggest design project to date: my own personal relaunch. I know on a deep level the power and influence that our physical spaces have on our everyday lives. You might say that while I’ve spent years studying energetic design in theory, I’ve spent a lifetime studying it in practice. My intention is that by sharing this with you, I will not only help you create a stunning and aligned space to live in, but also encourage you to break some rules and follow your inner voice. I hope that this book serves as one of your breadcrumbs and that you find inspiration in these pages to craft your own intuitive design practice with confidence. Whether you’re here for the design principles, the symbolism of colors, the art of feng shui, the energetic practices, or something else, just remember that when you mindfully and intentionally combine the steps that resonate with you, there are no wrong answers.

How to Use This Book Whatever it is that brought you to this book, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Trust that you’re exploring this topic for a reason, and whether you’re experienced with energy work or this is your first encounter, know that a stunningly styled and energetically supportive environment is within reach. In your home, high vibes will manifest as clear countertops, organized closets, cozy corners, and welcoming spaces you want to spend time in. That is where this book comes into play.

Introduction

17

We’ll start by learning some of the “rules” of design and energy work. And then, room by room, I’ll show you how to incorporate those design principles into your home and teach you when it’s OK to break the rules to create the space of your dreams. High vibes have an undeniable magnetism about them. If we consider them from a place of “like attracts like,” it’s easy to understand how fostering a sense of wellness at home—that is, creating a high vibe home—will lead to wellness and success in other parts of your life. Relationships will thrive, business and work opportunities will flow, and sleep will come more easily. Working with art and design modalities like feng shui is a great place to start, but at the end of the day, this is all about tuning in to your intuition to create a space that feels happy, healthy, and restorative (and, ahem, visually stunning) to you. Now, let’s get started.

Introduction

PART ONE

OUT WITH (ENERGY), THE NEW

H THE OLD IN WITH

Using energetic modalities like feng shui, visualization, and space clearing to improve the vibes in your home comes with a hidden benefit: Not only will you feel great in your own space but you’ll begin to feel better in other spaces too. You’ll raise your own vibrations, not just those of your home. And once you start to elevate yourself, you

22

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

When you woke up this morning, was your first thought that you needed to up-level, or increase, the energy in your environment? Probably not. More likely it was that you needed to tackle the pile of stuff waiting to be organized on the chair in your bedroom. Or perhaps you recently noticed a feeling that something in your home is just . . . off. Maybe there’s a color you don’t love but feel stuck with, or a piece of furniture that you’ve never been able to style exactly the right way. Or perhaps on the surface everything looks stylish and orderly, but you still can’t relax in your own space.

can expect miracles to start rolling in. Your new and improved space will act as a magnet for better opportunities, better health, and better relationships, and you’ll start to feel . . . better. To get started, let’s take a look at a few of the paths to high vibe goodness. As you’re reading, envision yourself trying some of these ideas at home, and check how you’re feeling. Are you feeling inspired? Motivated? Fabulous! You’ve likely found your starting place. Feeling overwhelmed? No worries, take a break and come back to it later! The great thing about all of these techniques is that they’re highly intuitive and, when chosen with intention, highly effective. Focus on the ideas that spark your curiosity in order to create a practice that feels right for you.

23



GETTING INSPIRED

26

You’re about to embark on a transformational process that will do more than just change your environment; it will also have a positive effect on you and everyone in your home.

You’ll feel the shifts and upgrades of your new space for years to come, and like anything worth doing, it does require an investment of time and effort. A great way to ease into this process, and to gain clarity on how you want your space to look, is to create a mood board.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

27

A mood board is a visual outline, and it can be a fabulous way to organize your thoughts before jumping into any project, big or small. The easiest and fastest method is to create a virtual mood board with a website like Pinterest, although there can be something nicely grounding and purely creative about making an actual, physical mood board. To construct a physical mood board, collect images cut from magazines or catalogs, or print images found online, and assemble them on a large poster board. Either way, refining and editing as you go will be key to gaining clarity and bringing your vision to reality. A mood board has direction, and it’s intended to guide and support you throughout your project. A board without a strong point of view is just a collage.

1|

Collect images that speak to you. Without thinking too

much about why, just collect anything you like and that you feel may be relevant to the design of your space. Aim to gather more images than you think you’ll need. Don’t edit at this stage; just collect, collect, collect.

2 | Make sense of them. Imagine editing your image collection by applying different filters. Through the first filter, you connect your image to the project at hand. For example, if you’re planning a bedroom, consider whether each image is applicable to your bedroom plan. It’s possible that you may be drawn to an image that’s better held for a different space, or you may like an image that doesn’t actually have a place in your design plan at all. Separate any images that you feel won’t actually add to your current space, and put them aside. Hold

Getting Inspired

28

on to them, in case you realize later that they do actually have a home on this board.

3 | Categorize your images. Break down your collection into groups by color, type of furnishing, overall room inspiration, or whatever categories feel right to you. Get as specific as you can with this, and make sure that every visual element of the space is represented on your board. It’s OK to have multiple images representing the same category at this stage.

4 | Edit each category for a cohesive look. Using your most discerning eye, envision how everything shown on your board will play into your actual space. If anything doesn’t have a solid destination, out it goes. Consider, too, the visual flow of everything on your board. Every item pictured should read as a part of the same story. As you put your board together, view it as the narrative of your space. Imagine someone looking at it for the first time, and assemble it so that they will clearly understand your vision without explanation. Once you’ve perfected your mood board, place it somewhere relevant to its general purpose. If your mood board is all about your upcoming kitchen renovation, consider hanging it on your refrigerator or inside a cabinet door. If it’s about an entire home makeover, place it in your workspace (or wherever you do your best thinking). With a constant reminder of your clear vision for your space, you can move on to the next step—prepping for an energetic and aesthetic makeover.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

DECLUTTERING

32

Starting with a clean slate is the first and most important step in any kind of up-leveling.

No matter what condition your space happens to be in, a good editing, cleaning, and cleansing will always (yes, 100 percent of the time) upgrade your environment. Consider this the groundzero, entry-level, absolutely essential step to any decorating or improvement project. Sure, it might be easier to just burn some herbs, diffuse some oils, or bring in a jungle’s worth of new houseplants, but where will all that good energy go if your space is already full? The answer is, nowhere! In feng shui terms, it will be “blocked” and become “stagnant.” No amount of decorating, arranging, or ritualizing can possibly have its intended effect if it doesn’t have room to exist and work its magic.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

33

Decluttering can feel like a daunting (read: impossible) task, especially if you’ve accumulated decades’ worth of stuff, you live with kids, or you’d rather do absolutely anything other than revisit those “save for later” piles. But not to worry! By now I’ve done this a few thousand times, so I’ve refined the process to be as effortless as possible. Follow these steps, and you’ll be feeling the bliss of clear countertops and organized closets in no time.

1|

Visualize your space. Your first step, before considering

each individual room, is to visualize your home in its best possible state. Before editing or donating even one item, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and envision yourself in your home at its most calm, organized, and beautiful. Take an imaginary tour of the space that you’re standing in. Imagine what, if anything, is displayed on the surfaces, how many books are on the bookshelf, which pieces of art are on the wall. Take a mental snapshot of each space in this perfect state, and write down some notes so you remember the details. This snapshot is now your map.

2 | Give some thought to the scope of your project. Remember that you’ll be starting with a single room and repeating this process as many times as necessary for each room in your home. (Unless you live in a studio apartment, do not try to edit your entire home in one day.)

3 | Take inventory. Within each room, I encourage you to break down your editing into small areas and focus

Decluttering

34

on one goal at a time. For example, if you are editing a master bedroom, then the closet, the various surfaces, and every pile of laundry should be considered an individual project. With each of these smaller wins, you’ll be inspired to move on to the next project and will have a greater chance of successfully completing the whole space.

4 | Start editing. Now that you’ve zoomed in on your first project, it’s time to get serious. Use the “map” from step 1 as your guide, and be very strict with your editing. Any item that you come across that does not fit your map is on its way out. To make this even easier, I like to start with three large boxes or shopping bags, which I’ve labeled: Donate or sell: Anything that is in good shape that might be of use to someone else goes here. Throw away: If an item is so used or worn that you wouldn’t feel right passing it along to a friend, it’s time to throw it away. Keep and repurpose: These are items you’re considering keeping, whether to use in the same space, to repurpose in another room, or to repurpose altogether in some new way (a chair that you plan to reupholster, say, or a piece of clothing that could be made into a pillow).

5 | That last category can be tricky. Do not allow nostalgia to take up space in the repurpose box! Items to be repurposed might include artwork, lighting, or decor items

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

35

that will fit seamlessly in a different room in your home. This is not the place for the ugly candle that a coworker gave you and that you never liked but held on to out of guilt. (Guilt does not live in a high vibe home!)

6 | Perform an energetic edit. Now that you’ve made it this far, well done! Take a step back and admire your progress. Be proud of both the physical and energetic space that you have just cleared. At this point, the collection of items you’re considering keeping should be starting to take on a carefully curated appearance. When you’re ready, continue to the final edit, which can prove to be the most difficult: It’s time to evaluate your items from a purely energetic point of view. My favorite way to do this is to examine each remaining item by physically touching it—sit in the chair, hold the pillow in your hands, try on the shoes. Take a moment to check in with yourself about how you feel when you use each item. What does it represent to you? Do you want to continue to include that feeling in your new, high vibe space? How did you come to own this item? Did you buy it out of necessity, even though it wasn’t exactly what you wanted? Was it a thoughtful gift from a favorite person who knows you well? Was it purchased during some retail therapy after a situation that you’ve long moved on from? The honest answers to these questions will give you the insight you need to decide whether an item stays or goes. Take your time with this last step of the process, and be gentle with yourself. Our possessions can often be symbolic of relationships, situations, or stages of life,

Decluttering

36

and if that’s the case, it can be a surprisingly emotional experience. Remember that the objective of this process is to clear space for all of the good energy that is just waiting to make its way in. Every outgrown remnant of the past is taking the place of new, fresh energy that will keep passing us by until we are ready to allow it in. Take a moment to sit with the emotions of the situation. Observe the feelings as they move through you, and when you’re ready, let that item go.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

38

Declutter Your Wardrobe

Is your wardrobe the object of your decluttering project? Again, ruthless editing is your path to freedom! This is the time to get very, very honest with yourself. Keep anything that you love and wear regularly at the front of your closet, and allow yourself one outfit for messy activities. Hold on to clothes reserved for dressier occasions if they fit well and you could wear them at a moment’s notice. Save and store anything that is truly rare, authentic vintage, or potentially valuable were you to pass it along to your kids or a loved one. Say goodbye to everything else.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

If this sounds a little scary, try filtering your wardrobe in two small steps. In your first pass, identify anything that is in bad shape. Anything that is falling apart, beyond repair, or unusable (a single sock whose mate hasn’t been seen in years) is an obvious candidate for the discard pile. Once you’ve completed this first edit, move on to round two. This time, include anything that you haven’t worn in over a year, whether it’s clothes that just don’t fit anymore or those that are no longer necessary to your lifestyle. If it’s something that just won’t serve you moving forward, it’s time to donate it.

39

This is where I like to apply my “Surprise Lunch Date” rule: If someone you know were to show up unexpectedly and invite you to lunch, could you wear absolutely anything that’s in your closet right now? The goal is to get your closet to the point where the answer to this question is a resounding YES!

space for yourself but also acting from a place of gratitude and service to others. Considering that all energy is magnetic (in other words, you’ll get back what you send out), the action of this alone will raise your personal vibrations, and the ripple effect will extend to your space and anyone in it.

The Karma of Donating: Why It Works

If it’s high vibes you’re after, donating your outgrown items will benefit you more than selling them or just throwing them away. By donating, you’re not only clearing

Decluttering

CLEANING & ENERGETIC CLEANSING

42

Once you’ve decluttered as much as you can handle in one area, it’s time for the fun part: cleaning and cleansing!

These terms may sound interchangeable, but for our purposes, “cleaning” has to do with our physical space and “cleansing” has to do with the energy of our space. After any decluttering project, we owe it to ourselves to complete the process (by cleaning) and really reap the rewards of all that hard work (by cleansing). Now is the time to shine a spotlight on every corner of your space.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

43

Cleaning Your Space If it’s been some time since the last true deep clean of your space, this part of the process might be a little bit daunting. If you start to feel overwhelmed, remember that each small step is a great improvement. Do what you can in the time you have, follow the process outlined here, and feel free to step away and return as often as necessary.

1|

Look up! Dust any ceiling fans, air vents, and shelves that

are above eye level. Climb up on a ladder if you must.

2 | Work your way down the wall. Focus on any hanging or framed art, windows, and window trim. Remember to clean your window treatments and wash any curtains! (It might be tempting to skip this step, but cleaning window treatments is one of those small things that make a big difference.)

3 | Clean every horizontal surface. If you have a lot of things sitting on shelves or nightstands, this can be a lengthy part of the process. (And should this be the case, it’s never too late in the process to edit! See page 34.)

4 | Clean the baseboards and floor. Dust and sweep first, then vacuum, then mop. Pay special attention to corners and any areas that may be concealed by furniture. Take the rugs outside for a good shake, then vacuum those too. Leave no surface untouched.

5 | Open all the windows. Not only will this allow all of your freshly cleaned surfaces to dry, but it will flush out

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

44

stagnant air and airborne germs and usher in fresh air and new energy. Consider this the prep for your energetic cleansing.

Cleansing the Energy of Your Space Cleansing your space can take on a variety of forms, practices, and rituals, but at its core, cleansing is self-care. Ridding our spaces of dense, stale energy is essential to a peaceful existence. If this is a totally new concept for you, try imagining the difference between a quick shower and a relaxing spa day. Both are considered self-care, and both will get you squeaky clean, but the latter takes it to the next level. To have a spa day, we need to intentionally make time and space in our calendar to allow it to happen. Then, we’ll pause long enough to focus on any subtle but neglected needs. The spa day is our chance to reset whatever it is that we have brushed off in our attempts to “power through.” When we leave that spa after a fabulous massage or body wrap or facial, we’re relaxed. We feel mentally clearer and lighter. The intentional, physical experience is having not only a physical effect but a mental and emotional one as well. To bring all this back to our spaces, cleansing your home is like treating it—and yourself—to a spa day. You’ll find that nearly every cleansing practice available to us today has an origin story that has been handed down through the generations, sometimes spanning thousands of years. As you’re reading, I encourage you to check in with yourself whenever you feel drawn to a certain practice. What is it about this one that interests you? Is it something that’s already

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

45

familiar to you? Maybe something that sparks a memory or reminds you of something that you’ve seen an older relative doing? Do some research and become well acquainted with the technique before bringing it into your space. Not only will you be acting from a place of reverence for a borrowed practice, but you may uncover some gems about your own family history. Like much of what I’ll cover in this book, I like to come from a super intuitive place when I’m up-leveling the energy in my home. I’ll start with some basics, like opening the windows and bringing in some plants or herbs (natural aromatherapy, yes please!), and then I’ll layer on whatever I feel is right or needed in that moment. A typical cleansing after a routine decluttering (like an annual spring cleaning) might look like this:

1|

Open all of the windows for at least 10 minutes.

2 | Fill some vases with water, and display some fresh herbs. Two of my favorites are rosemary and eucalyptus, which are both known for their antibacterial and antiseptic qualities.

3 | Diffuse some oil. I like using lemon or orange combined with cinnamon, but anything with purifying properties will work. Eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemongrass are all great for this. Remember that creating high vibes in your space is most importantly about creating an environment that you personally feel your best in, regardless of any method or formula. So experiment and have fun with this. Buy your oils in person so that you can test them and notice how you react to them. Once you’ve

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

46

chosen your favorites, try some different combinations at home. Maybe diffusing cinnamon or lemongrass by itself feels super intense, but mixing in some citrus makes it feel more balanced. Or perhaps certain rooms need a big dose of eucalyptus, while others call for lavender. I encourage you to whip up whatever combination feels best to you, and use it regularly, not only after a full-scale home edit. These three steps amount to a basic cleansing. If you feel like this is where you’re comfortable stopping, know that all your hard work will continue to bring the high vibes to you, provided that you maintain your space. Now, assess how your space feels. You should be able to notice a fresher and lighter feel, not just visually but physically and energetically as well. To test this, spend a few minutes in your newly organized, cleaned, and cleansed space, and observe your mood and your emotions. Then go into a room that’s still on your to-do list, and check in with yourself again. Notice the difference? Are you running as quickly as you can back to the first space? If so, great! You’ve now identified your own personal cue to negative energy in a space. Not only do you know that you need to tackle that room next, but you have just made a note of your body’s physical response to a space that doesn’t support you. Remember this cue, and any time you have this same reaction to a person or an environment, know that it’s a sign that something is not aligned. If you are already familiar with sensing energy, or if you are energy-curious, you may want to take this cleansing even further. The following are a few of my favorite methods and rituals.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

47

Sound I find that using sound to up-level energy in a space is one of the easiest and most effective methods—and one that doesn’t get nearly enough recognition. You can literally use sound to upgrade energy in any space at any time (which is especially convenient for occasions when my next favorite method—burning things— would be considered . . . situationally inappropriate). Traditional methods of sound clearing include using a bell, a gong, wind chimes, a crystal singing bowl, and even clapping. You can easily incorporate some of these items into your home decor. For example, if a bell or a set of wind chimes appeals to you, hang one outside your window. A musical instrument can work well too; display it in plain sight and use it whenever possible. If you’re more of a minimalist when it comes to decor, simply play music on your sound system. Find a track that feels right based on your mood. If you’re unsure where to begin, try something meditative—YouTube has about a million options to choose from—and play it as loud as you’re comfortable with. Do this for at least 10 to 15 minutes, while focusing on your space feeling lighter, brighter, calmer, and safer. Ultimately, your intention with sound clearing is to take an ordinary sound and turn it into a vehicle for energy. Whatever sound you prefer, choose something that gets you to your calm and happy place. That way, you’ll be boosting both your own energy and that of the space around you.

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

48

DIY

HAVE A SOUND BATH AT HOME To take your high vibes up a notch, follow these steps to have your very own sound bath at home.

1|

Clear your space. Make sure that your environment

is free of clutter and prepped with cushions, incense, diffused oils, or anything that you may typically use to support your meditation practice.

2 | Set the mood. Close the curtains, dim the lights, or light some candles to help create a safe space and reduce distractions.

3 | Choose your sound tools. Sound baths are typically paired with meditation and are based on the belief that sound waves can directly influence your physical and mental health. When choosing your tools, look for those that create sounds that are aligned with the chakras and frequencies in the body. Crystal singing bowls. These are bowls in various sizes that are made out of quartz crystal and are designed to produce a sound in a single note that aligns with a specific chakra (see more on crystals and chakras on page 74). They’re played by running a mallet around the outer edge of the bowl. Play one singing bowl on its own

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

49

or together with crystal bowls of other sizes and notes, Tibetan bowls, or gongs. Tibetan singing bowls. Also played by striking with a mallet, these metal bowls originated in ancient Tibet. Their sound is typically deeper and lower than that of crystal bowls. Metal gongs. Gongs create loud vibrations and are often tuned not only to a single note but also to resonate with a chakra or the energy of a specific planet. The vibrations created by playing a gong are strong and are said to free stagnant energy from the body. Recorded playlists. While playlists will often be less potent than some other in-person methods, not having an instrument doesn’t need to stop you from enjoying a sound bath. Search online for a meditative soundtrack or a solfeggio frequency, and listen through headphones to block out any additional sound, either while meditating or when carving out time for some self-care.

4 | Set your intention. With your space and instruments ready, set an intention while taking some deep breaths. Imagine that you are grounding and connecting to the energy of the earth, and loosely focus on your intention while beginning to play your sounds.

5 | Play for as long as you like. Allow your focus to shift as needed. When you’re ready, allow yourself a minute to reflect on anything that you may have become aware of during your meditation.

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

50

Cleansing with Sound

Why It Works

A sound is created by a vibrating object—let’s say a drum—which causes the air around it to vibrate as well. This creates a sound wave, which is what is received by our brains via our eardrums. Sound waves are the literal movement of energy created by sound, and moving energy is how we clear it from our spaces. If we envision energy as something tangible, it can help us understand how opening our spaces by removing clutter followed by bringing in loud sound can cause energy to physically move and shift. Cymatics, the study of the visible effects of sound, is a great topic to research to actually visualize the movement of energy.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

51

Herbs and Incense Burning herbs and incense to cleanse energy in a space is a practice that can be traced to ancient Egypt, China, and Southeast Asia, but nearly every culture since then has practiced some version of fire or smoke cleansing. It’s believed that smoke contains any medicinal properties of the plant that’s being burned, and so by releasing those properties into the air, you are “cleansing” it. In recent years, these cultural practices have been adopted into the mainstream—but not without controversy. For example, in the United States, the Native American tradition of smudging with white sage has been appropriated and has gained a massive pop culture following; many people practice this ritual without understanding its origins or its meaning. While I do believe that, in general, herbs and incense are available to all, it’s important to understand the significance of the practice that they’re a part of. If you find yourself drawn to a particular herb, there’s likely something about it that’s attracting you to it. Before working with it, research the origins of its use and what it symbolizes. Your experience with it will only be heightened by learning about how it may influence you and the energy in your space. There’s a vast difference between intentionally burning sage after educating yourself about its origins, the different varieties, and their intended uses, versus doing so while you put your feet up with a glass of wine and binge-watch some reality TV. (For starters, those actions will energetically cancel each other out. At that point you may as well plug in an air freshener and call it a day.) You can and should feel free to burn incense and herbs

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

52

and smudge sticks in your home, but do so respectfully and with intention. Be aware that the source of your herbs matters. Whenever possible, grow your own using organic seeds and soil. If that’s not an option, buy them from the cleanest and most local source available. I always look forward to this part of the clearing process. For me, it’s symbolic of the most tedious work being completed, and it does truly feel like self-care. The following list includes some of my favorite herbs to have on hand, but like everything else that you’ll find in this book, this is an opportunity to get curious, experiment, and go with your gut instinct. Bay leaf | attracts protection, and helps with healing, transfor-

mation, and financial success Cinnamon | brings protection and prosperity, and increases

fire energy Clove | aids in cleansing and purification, enhances protection,

wards off gossip, and increases psychic awareness Eucalyptus | enhances concentration, focus, and intuition, and

can be helpful with respiratory issues Frankincense | has comforting and stress-relieving properties,

aids with protection, and can help clear the mind to allow for visualization Lavender | has calming, stress-alleviating properties, enhances

sleep, and naturally repels insects

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

53

Lemongrass | promotes a sense of calm, repels negativity, and

invites good luck Palo santo | repels negative energy, helps relieve cold symptoms

and depression, and aids in meditation Peppermint | helps relieve stomachaches and headaches, clears

negativity, and raises vibrations Pine | has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, clears

stale energy from a home, and enhances protection Rosemary | rids negative energy, increases creativity and

intuition, and increases protection Whether you choose to burn incense, a resin, or actual dried herbs is completely up to you. (The herb you choose will determine which medium you are using, but all are equally effective. For example, rosemary is an herb and is typically dried and burned, whereas frankincense is derived from tree sap, so it is hardened and burned as a resin.) Whichever you decide on, be sure to take precautions to ensure fire safety. Remember that these will be burning for an extended period, and any container that you burn them in will become hot. Also, try to choose a time of day when you will have enough time to allow your incense to fully burn out and extinguish itself while you’re home to oversee it. Lastly, open the windows before igniting anything. You want the herb smoke to connect with any toxins in the air and carry them right out the window and, ideally, not set off any smoke alarms unnecessarily.

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

54

Cleansing with Herbs & Oil

These are some of my favorite herb and oil pairings. Try these as they are, or use them as inspiration and craft your own combinations.

F R A N K I N C E N S E & C E DA R W O O D

reducing anxiety

L E M O N G R A S S & L AV E N D E R

calming

ORANGE & CINNAMON

cleansing

P E P P E R M I N T & E U C A LY P T U S

energizing and reducing respiratory issues

R O S E M A R Y & E U C A LY P T U S

purifying

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

55

An Early DIY Cleansing

Intuition: Why It Works

True story: As a kid in the ’70s, I remember my grandmother heating lemon peels or camphor oil on the stovetop. She would leave the pot on the stove all day, telling me that it “cleaned the air.” While my parents were horrified at this—I mean, camphor is potent, to say the least—I later realized that, whether my grandmother knew it or not, this was a cleansing. She believed not only that the air in her house was physically cleaner but that it “felt better.” She set out to improve her surroundings for herself and her family, which elevated her mood. It also meant that she was sending positivity out into the world, and so, in turn, she was attracting positivity. Good energy. High vibes. This is the beauty of taking an intuitive approach to any practice—to some extent, if the intention is there and you truly believe that your practice will work, it will.

If the word intuition sounds a little esoteric for you, consider its common descriptions: “gut instinct,” “a knot in my stomach,” “internal radar,” “I have a feeling,” “I just know.” These are all different ways of naming the body’s physical internal reaction to external energetic circumstances. Some of us study and cultivate this innate ability with the goal of enhancing our intuition, but even if that’s not your thing, you still have the ability; it is a warning system that each and every one of us is born with. I like to think of these uneasy feelings (or red flags) as your intuition knocking on the door from the inside. By acknowledging and being aware of these feelings as they occur, you are learning to recognize and listen to your own personal guidance system.

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

56

Sprays and Washes If burning herbs doesn’t appeal to you (or if, like me, you live in a home with ultra-sensitive smoke detectors), it’s also possible to get the same cleansing benefits from a spray or a wash. The cleansing properties of herbs are just as easily accessed by adding them to a liquid as they are through igniting them. A spray is often a better option for places where a flame might prove tricky or dangerous, like an office space or a car. While most of the herbs mentioned previously can be purchased in spray form, making your own couldn’t be easier. Fill a small glass or metal spray bottle (roughly 2 ounces [60 ml]) with filtered water, and add 25 drops of your favorite essential oil. That’s it. Depending on the strength of the oil and the size of your bottle, you may want to use more or less, but use this as your guideline. As with diffusing oil, this is the perfect time to get creative. Make up your own combinations, and experiment until you love it. Washes are amazing for cleansing larger spaces, and they can be created for an infinite number of intentions. For our purposes, we’re going to focus on washes that both physically clean and energetically raise vibrations. I love to use herbs that really evoke a squeaky clean feeling, so I’ll usually stick to lemon, rosemary, cinnamon, eucalyptus, or peppermint. Remember that your space has already been thoroughly cleaned and that this cleansing is really more about self-care than it is about actually removing dust and dirt. For smaller surface areas, like window sills and baseboards: Fill a pot or bucket with tepid water, add as many drops of essential oil as you like, and apply to surfaces with a sponge.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

57

No need to rinse the surface afterward. (Try this life hack: Peppermint oil is one of the most effective repellents for ants, spiders, and other little insects that seek shelter inside just as spring begins. Start using peppermint oil in late winter, once a week, to wipe around window sills and door frames and in corners, and continue throughout the spring and summer.) For larger surface areas, like your floor: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Throw in a few handfuls of fresh or dried herbs, like rosemary, pine, or lavender. Fresh lemon or orange peel, with or without a few cinnamon sticks, is also an excellent choice. As it’s cooking, focus on your intentions and visualize your desired outcome. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and after about 15 minutes, remove the pot from the stove and allow it to cool. (As a bonus, this will also create the most incredible scent throughout your entire home.) Once it reaches room temperature, fill a bucket with cool water, and add 1 to 2 cups [240 to 480 ml] of your herb wash. Apply it to your floors with a mop, and allow it to dry. While creating a wash takes a bit more time than quickly using a spray, the entire process can be cathartic and almost meditative. I recommend experimenting with each of these methods of cleansing, and using your favorite once a week. Additionally, if you edit, deep clean, and cleanse every month, you’ll notice that your space stays in a continual state of peaceful high vibes.

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

58

Scented Candles Scented candles can be a great addition to your home’s high vibe upgrade. While they won’t carry the same physical aircleansing properties as burning actual herbs, they will bring some instant aromatherapy to your space and will support all of your other energetic practices. Look for candles that are of super high quality; are made from natural materials, oils, and wax; and are free of synthetic scents or chemicals. If you want to be absolutely certain of the origins of everything in your candle and are looking for a DIY hobby, try mixing some of your favorite oils to craft your own scent, and create your own scented candles. Some of my favorite scents for aromatherapeutic candles are:

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

B AY L E A F

attracts good luck and protection

C E DA R W O O D

improves concentration while promoting a feeling of calm

CINNAMON

cleanses, purifies, and helps relieve fatigue

59

E U C A LY P T U S

ROSE

energizes and helps with focus

creates a feeling of optimism and positivity

L AV E N D E R

produces an overall feeling of calm and restfulness

VA N I L L A

invites calm and warmth to a space

LEMON

cleanses, uplifts, and promotes a feeling of clarity

Cleaning & Energetic Cleansing

WORKING WITH COLOR & SENSORY ELEMENTS

62

Now that we’ve sent any bad vibes on their way, we’re ready to start creating a space that feels nothing short of magical.

Remember the mental snapshot of your space in its most ideal state? Well, here it comes. In this section, you’ll learn techniques for designing a fabulous room that also attracts good energy through the use of color and sensory elements. The practice of “directing good energy” is nuanced: It’s about subtle but intentional choices of the color, shape, material, and placement of each and every item that you bring into your space (we’ll talk more about placement when we get to

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

63

feng shui on page 81), while remaining conscious of the idea that each of those elements has a very real and physical effect on you and anyone who enters your home.

Color I love beginning an evaluation of a space with color, because we are all familiar with color to some extent. You may not be aware of the specifics of color theory, or which color resonates with which chakra, but there’s a good chance that you have one or two favorites. And you’re likely aware that when you have your favorite colors around you, you feel good. Your eyes can rest on something that you enjoy looking at. Let’s take a look at some common associations with various colors. As you go through this list, give some thought to the characteristics attached to your favorite colors. Do they feel accurate to you? Do they feel like qualities that you’d like to have around you? Also, try evaluating the list from the opposite perspective. Are there qualities that really appeal to you but are associated with a color that you never imagined yourself liking? Pay attention to this. Blue | peace, sincerity, water, harmony, tranquility Green | nature, earth, luck, wealth, fertility, abundance, healing Red | fire, strength, romance, passion, aggression, bravery Yellow | sun, inspiration, newness, happiness, expansiveness,

success

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

64

Orange | earth, fun, optimism, success, creativity, joy Purple | air, intuition, wellness, wisdom, high vibes, healing,

wisdom Pink | love, feminine energy, romance, harmony Brown | earth, grounding, security, nature, animals Black | protection, grounding, darkness, security White | purity, cleanliness, peace, innocence, freshness, healing,

new beginnings Silver | moon, good fortune, feminine energy, stability,

connection Gold | sun, abundance, luxury, wealth, warmth, masculine

energy, divine energy This, of course, is not an exhaustive list and is open to interpretation. Use it as a starting point, and take a look at the colors that you already have surrounding you in your space. When you see them, do you feel like you’re surrounded with the qualities associated here? And if so, do you enjoy that energy? For example, let’s say that you have a red wall (or carpet or piece of art) in your living room. When you’re in your living room, do you feel empowered? Strong? Romantic? Or do you feel some tension or aggression? Do you find it easy to relax in that room? It may help to go into your room, sit comfortably, and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths, and try to check in with how you feel, without anything distracting you visually. What thoughts are

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

65

starting to bubble up? Are you filled with a feeling of romance, maybe replaying your most recent conversation with someone you love? Or are you replaying a different scenario entirely? Are you focusing on a negative conversation, an argument from the past, something that’s stressing you out? As you learn to look for these deeper clues to your response to colors and surroundings, it will become easier to recognize the energetic effects of everything in your home. Also note that liking a color on an intellectual level is different from responding to a color energetically. For example, you may love the color red, but after this exercise, you may realize it has a negative influence on you. Red has an intense energy, so using a lot of it (say, painting your walls red) might physically dominate your space and feel overpowering. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t use strong colors in your home. There are countless opportunities to incorporate a strong color without making it a focal design feature. You can play with color with everything from area rugs to pieces of art, lighting, throws, pillows, and even kitchen utensils. The key is that all of those items are movable—and removable. Art can be moved to any room in the house. Rugs can be switched out seasonally or removed entirely. Throws and pillows can be a welcome bright spot in an otherwise carefully curated palette. Learning to decorate and design from an energetic point of view is as much about getting in touch with ourselves and what we need at any given time as it is about familiarizing ourselves with energetic properties and the design features that can satisfy our needs.

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

THE COLOR WHEEL

t le

Red et Viol

red

R Or e a

d

e ng

Ora

nge

Blue Viole t

Vi o

67

ye

ue n ee

blu

e

Yellow Orang e

l

lo

w

ow Yell en Gre

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

B Gr l

Green

68

Aligning Your Chakras & Sun Sign

The seven chakras are defined as circular vortexes of energy, or energy centers, found along the spinal column in the body. Each chakra has a corresponding color and can be tied to your astrological sun sign. A great way to experiment with bringing color into your space is to learn which color and chakra are related to your sun sign and to bring this color in through accessories.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

69

ARIES

LIBRA

aligned with the solar plexus chakra, works with yellows

aligned with the heart chakra, works with greens and pinks

TA U R U S

SCORPIO

aligned with the root chakra, works with reds

aligned with the third eye chakra, works with indigo

GEMINI

S AG I T TA R I U S

aligned with the heart and throat chakras, works with blues and greens

aligned with the sacral chakra, works with oranges

CANCER

CAPRICORN

aligned with the third eye chakra, works with indigo

aligned with the root chakra, works with reds

LEO

AQ U A R I U S

aligned with the solar plexus chakra, works with yellows

aligned with the heart chakra, works with greens and pinks

VIRGO

PISCES

aligned with the root and throat chakras, works with reds and blues

aligned with the crown chakra, works with purples

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

THE CHAKRA SYSTEM

71

SAHASRARA

CROWN CHAKRA spirituality

VISHUDDHA

THIRD EYE CHAKRA awareness

AJNA

ANAHATA

MANIPURA

SWADHISTHANA

MULADHARA

THROAT CHAKRA communication

HEART CHAKRA love and healing

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA wisdom and power

SACRAL CHAKRA sexuality and creativity

ROOT CHAKRA basic trust

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

72

Sensory Elements To a more subtle though equally important degree, textures and materials will behave in the same way as colors. While the idea of a certain shape or texture having an energetic quality may be new to you, you’re likely aware of what materials or shapes you enjoy having around you (wood versus marble versus soft throws, for example; rounded shapes over sharp, angular ones). I like to use my color palette as a jumping-off point and intuitively bring in materials that are energetically complementary. Let’s say that, after reviewing all of the colors that exist in your space and comparing them with the associations in our list, you’ve landed on a palette of blues, greens, and neutrals. From this, you might extract that you respond well to colors that are smooth and fluid (blue and green), and those that are grounded and earthy (neutrals and green), which, in turn, might lead you to materials with a smooth surface, like stone, as well as those with a warm, earthy vibe, such as textured weaves and aged brass finishes. You might also be drawn to some animal imagery (leopard print is a neutral, you know!), which would be a fabulous way to bring in an element of surprise. The idea here is to be open to various elements based on their associations. There are no hard-and-fast rules, and it shouldn’t feel restrictive. Combining unexpected materials or colors can lead to an alluring, surprising, or gorgeous space! Any color palette that you resonate with can work in almost any aesthetic. The key is to apply it appropriately by considering the material. For example, imagine that you are creating a clean, streamlined, somewhat minimal living room. Your palette is composed of cool neutrals—mixed whites and

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

73

grays—with accents in your favorite shade of deep, inky blue. Adding a navy velvet sofa in a clean, streamlined shape would be aligned with the overall direction of the space, whereas adding an inky blue shag rug—which is, by definition, the opposite of a clean, streamlined shape—would completely oppose it. Try these textural and sensory combinations to align the energies of everything in your space. To create a warm, cozy feel at home | Consider adding elements

of sheepskin or faux fur, leather, high pile or shag rugs, layered textiles, warm lighting, candles, unlacquered brass, and mismatched (but still complementary) wood finishes. For a cleaner, more minimalist feel | You’ll want to choose your

textures sparingly and with intention. Try finer weaves and solid or tonal color palettes on textiles, and maximize light by using window treatments sparingly or not at all. Smooth and refined finishes, furnishings with an emphasis on function and simplicity, minimal hardware, marble or stone elements, and clear surfaces will all be key in this space. To invoke a well-traveled, bohemian feel | Go for a considered mix

of textures and materials. It’s easy for this style to begin to spin out of control, especially if you are authentically collecting your items while traveling. If your eclectic style and love of varied colors, shapes, and materials has resulted in a ton of items that seem impossible to tie together, try editing based on color. Set your palette to no more than three colors for any given room, and ground your space with light neutrals on walls and floors. Feel free to go a bit wild with mixing textures, provided you stay

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

74

within your edited range of color. (A good rule of thumb here is that the more you love color, the cleaner and lighter your wall color should be. A white wall or set of built-ins is an ideal backdrop for showing off, and rotating, your collections.)

Crystals Crystals are energetically charged gems that add good vibes to any space just by existing there. They’re quite fun to work with, but they’re often a little . . . misunderstood. Crystals aren’t unexplainable magic. Rather, they’re structures that are formed deep in the earth under varying degrees of heat and pressure. They are physical representations of earth’s energy in its most straightforward form. That’s not to say that humans don’t attribute mystical qualities to them; indeed, ask anyone with an interest in collecting diamonds—a type of crystal—and I’m quite sure that they’ll testify to their magical abilities. But from a purely scientific point of view, crystals are pieces of earth. What separates them from your garden-variety rock is their perfect, symmetrical internal structure. This structure is only possible with certain materials, such as quartz, and many of those materials can radiate or conduct energy, which in turn can shift the existing energy in a space. So, the properties of crystals are not actually magic at all, but science. Where this gets interesting energetically is that different crystal makeups actually vibrate at different rates, and it’s the potency of this vibration that makes some crystals feel very “strong,” while others feel very calming or soothing. All crystals

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

75

affect the energy of the space around them, and for those of us who study this kind of thing, being around a crystal with strong vibrations can feel like an otherworldly experience—hence crystals are sometimes labeled as “magical.” Crystals are popular with interior stylists because of their perfectly irregular shapes, sizes, and often intense colors. They tend to make incredible “statement” accessories. It’s not uncommon to hear of someone accessorizing with a crystal to “add good energy” or “raise the vibrations.” This isn’t exactly wrong, but it’s more accurate to think of energy in terms of wanted or unwanted. Energy is just energy. It never goes away, and it can’t be changed to be good or bad; it just is. However, humans assign “good” and “bad” to different types of energy, which is often what you hear when folks talk about their crystals enhancing the positive vibes in their homes. It is also important to note that certain crystals, especially the ones with a stronger rate of vibration, can be more efficient at directing energy, and when they are brought into a harmonious space, they will direct and amp up the existing harmonious energy. So it pays to learn a bit about any crystals that you’re considering putting into a space, especially if your intent is to affect the energy in it. A good place to start is by familiarizing yourself with chakras. Associating crystals to chakras is an easy way to begin to understand why some crystals are said to be good for certain functions. Chakras are “energy centers” in the body (the most common of which are shown in the diagram on page 71). Each chakra has a specific function and color assigned to it, so often a crystal’s “abilities” will be directly tied, by its color, to the chakra

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

78

that it’s aligned with. For example, gorgeous pale blue crystals like blue lace agate or blue calcite are considered to be helpful in improving communication. Without any knowledge of the chakra system, this can sound a little unrealistic, but what these two crystals have in common—their blue color—is associated with the throat chakra. If you’re ever in doubt of a crystal’s meaning or wondering if it’s a good addition to your space, start by looking to the chakra that matches its color. To get you started, here are the chakras with their crystal associations. Root chakra association

stability, grounding

color

red

crystal

red jasper, rhodonite, garnet, mahogany obsidian, ruby

Sacral chakra association

sexuality, creativity

color

orange

crystal

carnelian, orange calcite, amber

Solar plexus chakra association

power, strength

color

yellow

crystal lemon quartz, yellow calcite, tiger’s eye, yellow tourmaline

Heart chakra association

love, compassion

color

green

crystal

emerald, malachite, jade, peridot, amazonite

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

79

High heart chakra (not a separate chakra, but slightly higher on the body) association

love, compassion

color

pink

crystal

rose quartz, rhodochrosite

Throat chakra association

communication, expression

color

blue

crystal

celestite, blue apatite, sapphire, aquamarine, sodalite, larimar

Third eye chakra association

awareness, intuition

color

indigo

crystal

lapis lazuli, azurite, charoite

Crown chakra association

spirituality, knowledge

color

purple and clear

crystal

amethyst, apophyllite, charoite, Herkimer diamond, lemurian quartz

Know that if you want to bring crystals in, either aesthetically or energetically, there are no wrong answers. A crystal will always have its most ideal place in your home where it will be most effective (and as you read more about color associations with directions in feng shui, you may start to intuitively sense this), but you can always feature it in another space—nothing bad will come of it. Have fun experimenting with these beauties, and feel free to call them “magical” if you want to.

Working with Color & Sensory Elements

INTRODUCING FENG SHUI

82

Of all the energetic modalities dealing with spaces and environments, feng shui is the one that comes with the most misconceptions.

Feng shui is an ancient system that allows us to become aware of the unseen energy around us and then amplify beneficial patterns of energy flow while minimizing detrimental ones. It’s not a design aesthetic. Applying the principles of feng shui does not mean you are limited to a minimalist design plan, bland colors, or spiritually symbolic objects. Bold color palettes and theatrical design styles can have supportive (or “good”) feng shui.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

83

The trick is in the placement of your belongings so their energy aligns with your own. The literal definition of feng shui is “wind and water,” which refers to heaven and earth. What we call “good” feng shui is an environment that balances the unseen energy around us (the “heaven” aspect) with the tangible and physical objects in our space (the “earth” aspect). Traditionally, a home is said to be in a favorable position if it has a protective aspect, such as a mountain, to its back and a wide open expanse of space in front of it. The open space is what allows for the movement of “water” energy—an auspicious aspect representing wealth and abundance—toward the home. (That said, feng shui is an art that is over 5000 years old, and it usually can’t be interpreted as literally as it was at its inception. Regardless of the orientation of your home or the individual rooms inside it, you can apply the concepts of feng shui to improve energy flow while accommodating modern structures.) These energetic elements affect not only the house itself but also each individual room within. Given the importance of finding balance in feng shui, it’s essential to be aware of the energy around us in our space; if we are unaware, we can inadvertently activate negative energy through something as simple as the placement of a piece of furniture. To put yourself in a feng shui mindset, take a walk through your space, and begin to evaluate each of your belongings. Ask yourself, “What does this piece represent to me?” Analyze the shape, the color, the materials, and the source; based on your answers, consider if the object is favorable to you. You may discover that something you’ve never given much thought to in the

Introducing Feng Shui

84

past actually isn’t right for you. Spend time assessing the energy of each object and the room as a whole. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself inspired to move items from one room to another or to get rid of them completely. (If this is the case, go with it! Your intuition is working for you, and you’re hearing the message.) I like to tell people that bringing feng shui into their homes is an evolving, and revolving, process. Anything that addresses energy flow will by definition be something that’s in constant motion. To keep feng shui working for you, you will need to remain open to shifting and adjusting the placement of your belongings from time to time. (This actually makes the stylist in me very happy. Even as a kid, I remember always wanting to rearrange my room and move furniture around. Was I just responding to energy the whole time?) Let’s begin with these feng shui basics.

The Bagua In feng shui, there are associations between directions on a compass and various types of luck, or favorable energy. These compass directions are known as the eight corners, and the map that charts their layout and associations is called the bagua. The bagua is an octagonal map divided into eight equal sections. Each section corresponds with a compass direction. To use a bagua in your home, you’ll need your home’s floor plan and a bagua map (easily found online), preferably printed on translucent paper. To determine the directions associated with each room of your home, lay the map on top of your floor plan. It’s also possible to apply the bagua to individual rooms, which can be helpful when deciding on the placement of beds or desks.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

85

The attributes associated with each direction are as follows: North | income, earned money, career opportunities. Activate

by placing items in shades of black, dark blue, and purple and items with metallic finishes in the north. Northeast | learning, education, wisdom, clarity in decision-

making. Activate by placing neutrals, yellows, and earthy materials in the northeast. East | relationships with family members, physical health.

Activate with shades of black, blue, and purple, potted trees, and plants placed in the east. Southeast | prosperity, accumulated wealth. Activate with

shades of green, blue, purple, and black and flowering plants placed in the southeast. South | recognition of success, fame. Activate with shades of

orange and red, in small doses, in the south. Southwest | partnership, female breadwinners, feminine energy,

romantic relationships, love. Activate by placing pinks, reds, oranges, purples, and neutrals, as well as items in pairs, in the southwest. West | creativity, fertility and pregnancy, children. Activate by

adding neutrals and yellows, metallic finishes, and earthy materials to the west. Northwest | mentorship, male breadwinners and primary

family earners, masculine energy. Activate with strong, heavier metal objects and metallic finishes placed in the northwest.

Introducing Feng Shui

THE BAGUA MAP

87

north

FAME

south

N

r h rt me ea um s n te ku la

IP H

O R

E

LA

TI

fire summer li

S

la

S

FAMILY

metal autumn dui

al m et tu m um n a te qia la

wood spring zhen

CHILDREN

P

water winter kan

H LT A E d g oo in W w spr te un x

L

P

E G D LE W h er t O ar int N e w te gen la

E

U

O

CAREER

K

H

LP

F

E

LE

Introducing Feng Shui

88

Command Position Command position is a principle that stems from the idea of being able to see and respond to incoming energy from a place of stability and protection. Command position mirrors the larger foundation of feng shui as a whole—having protection behind you and wide open space in front of you—in individual spaces. It’s especially important in your bedroom, living area, and office. For example, in your bedroom, the ideal placement for your bed is with the headboard against a wall and the bed extending into the space, where the exit is visible to you but not facing, or directly opposite, your bed. This same concept can be applied to the position of your sofa in the living room, and your desk in your office.

The Front Door The conditions surrounding your front door are especially important in feng shui. The front door is traditionally where the greatest energy enters and leaves your home, so it’s your first opportunity to channel it in an advantageous way. In part two, we’ll cover everything from color, decor, and plant life that can be used to attract high vibes to your entryway. Feng shui is a series of ancient arts and practices, so you can imagine how complex and multidimensional it can be to apply in real, modern-day life. If this modality sounds like something you’d like to work with, I recommend incorporating it in small doses and allowing your space to evolve as you learn more about it. Should you feel like you are having a feng shui emergency and need a complete overhaul done quickly, I

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

89

recommend hiring a professional. However, if you’re not on the verge of an energetic meltdown, the benefits of learning about feng shui extend far beyond improving your own home. When the energy in your home is working for you, it overflows into every other part of life. When you get it right, you can expect your career, relationships, and even your physical and mental health to improve and keep improving.

The Productive Cycle of Chi The productive cycle of chi is the feng shui concept that all energy falls to earth and creates water. Water, then, is essential to the origin of all other life in this cycle: Water energizes wood > wood energizes fire > fire energizes earth > earth energizes metal > metal energizes water.

Introducing Feng Shui

BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN

92

Have you ever noticed how there seems to be a collective good mood on that first warm and sunny day of spring?

The sun seems brighter, the air smells better, birds sound chirpier, kids are more giggly, and people just seem to feel a bit lighter. This is the effect that nature has on humans, and it goes much deeper than having sunlight and gorgeous flowers to look at. It doesn’t matter if you live in the middle of the woods or in an overcrowded city: The energy upgrade that we get from plant life is still palpable. The same energy that fuels growth and life in nature fuels us, so it’s no wonder that we feel the effect so intensely.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

93

Why, then, can’t we just bring a few houseplants into our homes and forget about the rest of this energy work? Maybe if we buy a bigger monstera it will hide the piles of clutter. If we’ve learned anything in this process so far, it’s that everything that exists has energy and that a successful setup at home means all of the energies inside it are aligned. Bringing in any random plant and placing it anywhere would be like inviting a stranger to be your roommate without interviewing him or her first. Some plants carry a very masculine or strong energy, some are intended to be protective, and others can be quite passive and quiet. Before you invest in a new plant, it’s important to know what your home needs and which plants can provide that for you. Take a walk through your space, and evaluate the energy of the room and everything in it. (Refer back to the beginning of our feng shui process for a reminder of how to do this.) As a general rule, plants with softer shapes and rounder leaves, or those that are very full and abundant, tend to have the most universally beneficial energy. Flowering plants have an added energy boost due to their colors. I also like to include potted herbs in my plant collection; their antibacterial and medicinal properties improve the air and allow you to use fresh herbs at a moment’s notice.

Bringing the Outdoors In

94

If you’re interested in the idea of houseplants but haven’t yet refined your green thumb, any of these would be a great first plant. Boston fern | This is one of the easier ferns to care for indoors. It

symbolizes abundance, thanks to its super full and lush appearance. It requires indirect light and moderate humidity, making it perfect for almost any climate. Jade tree | Although this is a succulent (succulents are usually

known for their sharp and pointed leaves), the jade tree has a rounded leaf shape, which makes it a popular choice in feng shui. Pancake plant (also known as pilea, or the Chinese money plant) | Its

round leaves have the shape of small pancakes, and it’s easy to take care of. Its stems can be replanted to grow additional plants, and accordingly, it represents growth and prosperity. Peace lily | This plant neutralizes difficult energies in a home or

office and has strong protective and cleansing properties. It can help remove airborne toxins and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and it’s known to help relieve headaches, asthma, and chronic illness. Potted orange tree | A potted orange tree is like a triple

whammy of good plant energy. Oranges are traditionally symbolic of wealth and prosperity; the color orange has an earthy energy of optimism, success, and joy; and the fruit is a source of food. The orange tree is one of the few plants that works well in a kitchen, based on feng shui guidelines.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

96

Flower Power What Energy Is Your Favorite Cut Flower Bringing to Your Space?

Even cut flowers carry energy into your home, and your favorites may shed some light on what you intuitively know you need more of in your life. Find your favorite below, and let it be a guide to raising your vibrations.

C H E R R Y B LO S S O M

symbolic of a fresh start or new beginnings

C H R YS A N T H E M U M

useful for attracting good luck and balance

DELPHINIUM

symbolizes openness to new opportunities, achieving goals, and protection from hidden dangers

HIBISCUS

symbolic of vulnerability, intense but fleeting beauty, royalty, and living in the present

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

97

HYDRANGEA

considered a symbol of grace, beauty, and purity, but historically was also considered to represent arrogance and vanity

ROSE

symbolizes balance, hope, new beginnings, and love, but also protection and defense, due to its thorns

TULIP PEONY

symbolizes romance, prosperity, and compassion

symbolizes unconditional love and rebirth

WISTERIA RANUNCULUS

symbolizes charm and beauty

symbolizes wisdom, endurance, longevity, respect, and spiritual connectedness

Bringing the Outdoors In

99

Biophilia Biophilic design is a process of evaluating patterns of nature interacting with a constructed space. The philosophy of biophilia is rooted in the notion that humans have an evolutionary need to connect to nature due to our fundamental dependence on it for survival. While feng shui can involve working with plants in an existing space, biophilia is typically considered in the very early stages of conceiving a space or structure, though the intended results are the same—namely, enhancing the health, relationships, and business success of the inhabitants. If you are drawn to plants and nature, and particularly if you happen to be in the position of building or designing a new home or office, consider your space from a biophilic design perspective. Biologist Edward O. Wilson’s 1984 book, Biophilia, is widely considered to be the authoritative work on the subject.

Once you’ve decided which plants will be invited to the party, you’ll need to carefully consider where they will go. This may seem counterintuitive, especially if you tend to be a plant maximalist, but there are areas in your home where plant energy will actually not be a good thing. Plants tend to have a very active energy, so you’ll want to place them in a spot that

Bringing the Outdoors In

100

will benefit from their high energy. Any space where you want a calm, quiet energy—like a bedroom—is best left without plants (more on this in “The Bedroom,” page 179). The best spots for plants? Anywhere that energetically requires some movement, a boost, or some added energy flowing through it. Try placing your plants in one of these areas, and see if they don’t bring a little of that first-warm-day-ofspring feeling into your space. East | to boost relationships with family and improve

overall health Southeast | to bring wealth and long-term prosperity South | to increase recognition for accomplishments (red

flowering plants) Do not place plants in any of these directions if they include a room or space that isn’t suited for plant energy, such as a closet, garage, or bedroom, or near a fireplace. Avoid activating these directions if they fall near a sink or in a draining space, such as a kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. If this is the case for your floor plan, activate the corresponding area of your living room or open-plan living space instead.

Out with the Old (Energy), In with the New

PART TWO

BRINGING HOME

IT ALL

As with any energetic modality, your intention is everything. You’ll find throughout this book that I like to combine my energetic techniques, rather than subscribe to only one set of “rules,” and I encourage you to do the same. While there are some guidelines that I do find to be universally advantageous to follow (like decluttering and

106

Bringing It All Home

In this section, we’ll go over some real-life examples of decor that will not only bring in high vibes but will also seriously up-level your styling cred. This is where we get creative, make good mistakes, experiment, zoom in on details, and, most of all, follow our intuition. Remember that anything you do when styling a space can, and even should, change. Nothing is permanent, and it’s always easy to move a piece of furniture or restyle a shelf. Have fun with this, make sure that you’re checking in with how you feel in your newly designed space, and you’ll always get it right.

command position), others feel quite subjective, and these may or may not resonate with you. This is where you let your intuition take over, and go with what feels right. Our goal with these exercises is to bring synergy to the energies of your home and to all who live there. To do this, we need to allow for some flexibility in our process, which brings us back to the first and most important step on this journey: to be present and aware of your physical and emotional reactions. If something here feels amazing, do more of it, and if it doesn’t, it is absolutely OK to move ahead without it.

107

CURB APPEAL

110

One of the most important parts of your home to style isn’t actually part of your home at all. It’s your home’s curb appeal.

The space that surrounds your home—the street you live on, your driveway, your front garden, and the front of your house— contributes immensely to your home’s energy. If we consider energy as something that requires freedom of movement, it’s easy to imagine how clutter in your yard or around your property could cause that energy to be blocked from ever getting inside. To ensure good vibes in your home, you must start with good vibes outside and create a path for that energy to enter your home. A clear walkway, gorgeous lighting, symmetrically

Bringing It All Home

111

placed plants, pruned trees, and well-maintained outdoor features like mailboxes, house numbers, and landings are all symbolic of a space where energy can flow freely.

Where to Start Upgrading your outdoor space can be very simple. Energetically speaking, it’s less about design and more about creating a clean, clear, open space. How much effort you need to put into curb appeal largely depends on the type of property you live in. If you’re in an apartment building, obviously there’s a limit to what you can do outside. You’ll want to just keep the space outside your front door, such as the hallway, free and clear, and really focus on your entrance as your first step. (Much more on this in “Welcome Home,” page 127!) If your property has any kind of yard or garden, you’ll want to examine it with the careful scrutiny you used when decluttering inside. I like to start by taking a walk down my street during the “golden hour,” when the sun hasn’t quite set yet and the light is just perfect. Notice not only how your home looks from a distance but also how it feels when you walk past it compared to other homes on your street. Does something about it invite you in? Or if it weren’t your own, would you keep walking without really noticing it? (If the latter sounds like your home, read on! By the end of this chapter, you’ll be decluttering your property like a pro and setting the stage for some stunning energetic upgrades to come.)

Curb Appeal

112

Next, focus on the edges of your property. Notice if there are any overgrown plants, fences that are in bad shape, piles of dried leaves, or neglected flower beds. None of these symbolize good, positive energy, so if they exist in your yard, it’s time for some outdoor decluttering. The tools you’ll need will depend on the scale of your project, but usually this means just spending some time in the yard with a rake and hedge clippers. (Of course, if you have trees or large plants that need to be pruned or removed, I’d recommend consulting a professional landscaper. The last thing you want is to damage your neighbor’s property or your own by taking down tree branches incorrectly.) The object of this exercise isn’t necessarily to beautifully prune and shape your plants; it’s more about clearing anything that’s dead, dried, or leftover. The “beauty” here will be in the clean space and clear sight lines that result from your efforts. Turn your attention to your home’s actual structure, weeding and clearing flower beds and plants that are close to your home. Cut back overgrown branches that are blocking any part of the walkway leading to your front door, and clean or repair the walkway itself. I find that once you reach this stage, it can be easy to overlook certain things that need attention. If you’ve been focusing on your interior and saving the exterior for later, it’s very easy for outdoor eyesores to begin to blend in and look normal to you. If this is the case, try taking a photo of your house. Look at the photo instead of your actual property. Is there anything in the image that jumps out at you? Things like large trash cans and damaged fences, or house numbers or mailboxes that need replacing are easy to ignore if you’re used to seeing them every day. If some of these are beyond your

Bringing It All Home

113

ability to remedy immediately, don’t worry. Outdoor maintenance can become an involved and costly project. Do what you can, and commit to improving your exterior little by little. Every small upgrade counts.

Walkway Shui In feng shui, the walkway to your front door holds great significance—just as much as the front door itself. Your walkway is considered to be the path that energy takes to reach your home, and the condition of your path is indicative of the energy inside. To better understand this, I like to envision energy moving as water does. The speed and intensity at which water flows through a river or waterway is affected by the terrain around it. A narrow or disjointed waterway will slow the flow of water, whereas a wide open space will send water rushing through with incredible force. A home without a clear walkway or path through the garden is thought to block energy from reaching you. It’s believed that if energy is blocked from getting into a home, its residents will see declining health and finances over time. A cracked or broken walkway symbolizes neglect and will allow energy to deteriorate. And a walkway that is positioned as a straight line running right into your home from the street represents an unstoppable flood bringing intensity and destruction to the health, finances, and relationships of those inside. The best walkway design will fall somewhere in the middle of these extremes, and the walkway will be maintained in good condition. Even if you don’t plant a single tree or flower next to

Curb Appeal

114

Small Outdoor Spaces

Apartment and condo living can mean that to get your nature fix, you have to venture away from home to a nearby park, playground, or beach. This doesn’t mean that you can’t bring some good outdoor energy to your space, though. Try these suggestions for some smaller-scale (but still impactful) energetic upgrades.

and busy street full of traffic, a construction site, a factory, or the side of an adjacent building, you might want to try installing some kind of visual separation. A bamboo privacy wall can work well for this. It’s available in panels or on a roll, it’s customizable for any size, it’s easy to install and remove, and its wood energy will serve as a barrier to incoming negative energy.

Consider your view

If you are facing a mountain, park, or body of water, this is considered to be excellent energy. You’ll want to maximize this view as much as possible through plants and decor that draw your attention to the natural backdrop. If, on the other hand, your view is facing a loud

Bringing It All Home

At all costs, avoid using your balcony as a storage area

For small space dwellers, stashing things like bicycles or outdoor equipment on the balcony can be tempting. These things are awkward to store, and when space is at a premium, every square foot

115

counts. Energetically speaking, though, this is no different than blocking an entrance to your home with a full garbage can. Instead, declutter a space inside that can hold whatever it is that’s being stored on the balcony, or find a way to incorporate the item into your decor. (An umbrella stand to hold your tennis racquet? Sure!)

Make use of tall, leafy plants

Opt for plants that have full leaves (rather than sharp, spiky ones), and scale them according to the size of your space. You’ll want them tall enough to be visually impactful but not overpowering so that they block the entrance.

Hang it up!

If your balcony can support having things hung from above, add to your view with hanging baskets of flowering plants or even a bird feeder. (City dwellers, use caution when attracting birds! A small hummingbird feeder will attract

gorgeous birds that will help pollinate your flowers, while a larger one may just attract pigeons and pests. Choose wisely.)

Add light for a magical and easy energetic boost

Do this with inconspicuous solar-powered twinkle lights or globe lights, or use LED candles displayed in hurricane lamps, in a group of three or five.

Space permitting, add seating or a tiny table to fully enjoy your tiny oasis!

Outdoor side tables that can double as benches are perfect for this. Again, only do this if your balcony has sufficient space to accommodate seating without creating an awkward traffic flow in and out. Clear, open space allows for energy to flow easily, while overstuffed spaces completely block it.

Curb Appeal

116

it, a path that’s free of cracks and weeds and has a softly winding shape will ensure that the right amount of energy reaches your home without crashing through the door. That said, some walkways are easier to repair than others. If yours is not in good shape, don’t worry. I always say that making energetic upgrades is like making deposits in a bank account: Every small thing counts. If you’re limited in what you can change due to existing architecture or permanent features, improve what you can, minimize any negative aspects, and be sure to add extra improvements elsewhere to compensate. Try these ideas to up-level the energy of your walkway and get just the right amount of energy flowing in.

1|

Clear any weeds that may have grown through cracks or over the borders. Keep your path clear of any fallen

leaves or branches.

2 | Create a level, solid surface with defined borders. The more permanent your walkway, the better. If it’s possible to create a solid brick or poured concrete path, do so. If not, clear any pieces of cracked or old concrete and replace with pea gravel, crushed seashells, or even wood chips. Be sure to define your walkway borders with landscape edging to properly maintain its shape.

3 | Create a soft curve from your front door to the street or driveway. If your property requires a straight line from

the sidewalk or street, consider adding a gate to “slow” the flow of energy. Adding a tree (as a wood element) at

Bringing It All Home

117

either side of your front steps can also help slow down the energy flow.

4 | Line either side of your walkway with low-profile plants or flowers. I love using lavender for this, as it carries

calming, positive energy, it is easy to maintain, and you’ll get the added benefit of dried lavender to use inside your home.

5 | Pathway lighting is often overlooked, but adding lighting is always a potent upgrade that gives a big, impactful visual boost. Recessed path lights that are flush with the

ground are inconspicuous, and solar-powered versions are easy to install without worrying about providing a power source.

6 | A water feature is a traditional feng shui energy booster, but the aesthetic is a bit specific. Flowing water is said

to represent abundance flowing toward you. If this blends well with your exterior design plan, then a small fountain with a pool at the bottom can be used not only to bring steady income but also to collect and store longlasting wealth. Place the fountain to the side of your walkway, close to your front door, ideally with the flow of water moving toward your front door.

7 | Finally, give the outside of your home a good spring cleaning. Wash the front door, clean the windows,

have the gutters cleaned, scrub your front steps—leave no surface untouched. This step can take some time, especially if it hasn’t been done in a while, but it’s

Curb Appeal

118

definitely worth it. Decide to make a day of this cleaning, and prepare for it: Assemble anything that you’ll need in advance, check your weather forecast, pick a sunny day that’s not too hot, block out the time on your calendar, and go for it. By the time you’re done, you may even find that you enjoy this part of the process. (And that would be a great thing, because to really get this right, it’s best to do it a few times a year.) When you’re all done, take a step back and admire all of your hard work! Really take in the visual of your clean house and clear yard, and pause for a moment to be present and acknowledge how great it feels. Now, commit yourself to remember that feeling, and any time you start to notice a feeling other than this one making its way back in as you look at your house, you’ll know it’s time to repeat this process.

Bringing It All Home

120

Plants by Climate

One of the most important things that I learned in my gardening self-education is not to fight nature. Much like energy, and life itself, gardens do best when you allow them to follow their natural inclinations and don’t try to force something to work when it’s not intended to. Factors like temperature, rainfall, and soil acidity determine the success of your garden, so it only makes sense to choose native plants that will thrive in the conditions that exist where you live. Try the proven varieties for your climate for a garden that will look like you’ve been at this forever.

Bringing It All Home

NORTHEAST

coral bell, bleeding heart, hydrangea, columbine, daylily, peony, iris

SOUTHEAST

azalea, hibiscus, magnolia, pink muhly grass, Carolina rose, camellia, crepe myrtle

121

NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MIDWEST

queen of the prairie, phlox, echinacea, hollyhock, poppy

PAC I F I C N O R T H W E S T

dahlia, lavender, aster, lamb’s ears, lily of the valley, sweet violet

SOUTHWEST

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

penstemon, chocolate flower, evening primrose, sage, prickly pear, hyssop

mallow, poppy, sage, agave, morning glory, daisy

Curb Appeal

122

Matching Your Garden to Your Architecture To create a stunning garden that blends with your home, you’ll want to consider the architectural style of your home and choose plants that complement, rather than oppose, it. For example, if your home is very modern and angular, with sharp lines and minimal clean details, a wildflower garden would look out of alignment. Likewise, rows of beach grass would seem out of place in front of a traditional farmhouse. Try these combos for a garden that will feel effortless, natural, and visually stunning.

◐ For a New England–style cottage, try boxwood, rose, hydrangea, cornflower, sweet pea, and delphinium. ◐ For a modern, southeastern coastal home, choose plants that have a high salt, wind, and drought tolerance. Try planting palm, saw palmetto, zinnia, beach sunflower, purple-top vervain, and zephyr lily. ◐ A rustic farmhouse or craftsman structure in the Midwest would do well with daylily, poppy, allium, geranium, and peony. ◐ A southwestern-style ranch calls for desert-friendly plants like columbine, red hyssop, agave, bunny ear cactus, sage, and primrose. ◐ A California coastal home will want a garden full of mallow, California lilac, penstemon, elderberry, coral bells, morning glory, and beach grass.

Bringing It All Home

123

DIY

PLANNING A FLOWER BED 1|

Before constructing and planting a flower bed, consider the needs of your environment:

Where will it go? Are you looking to draw attention to a feature, or are you hoping to conceal something that can’t be changed? Will you be planting in direct sun, partial sun, or full shade? Choose plants that thrive in the conditions you’re working with. What kind of soil do you have? Are there any plants that you like that are considered native to your area? These will likely do well in your garden.

2 | Considering these things will help inform your plant choices and ensure their best chance of survival.

Remember, the cardinal rule of promoting good energy outdoors is no dead plants. If you need location inspiration, try seeing your flower bed as the “decor” of your yard. What areas would benefit from a shot of color or some extra life? Try creating a small bed around a mailbox, underneath a tree, or as a border along a fence or walkway. Taller plants or shrubs can be a fabulous way

Curb Appeal

124

to draw your eye away from things like sheds or airconditioning units or to create a border for privacy.

3 | Clear your space. Mark the outline of the shape of your garden. This doesn’t have to be too precise; marking the space is just a visual guideline for you to follow when clearing. Then remove any existing grass, clear any rocks, pull any vines that may block the healthy growth of your new plants, and define the edge of the bed. I like to use a simple and inconspicuous (ready-made) landscape edging for this, as it will blend into the bed and not distract your eye from your plants.

4 | Choose your plants. As discussed, go for plants that will do well in your geographic area, soil, and natural light. Then consider what you want your garden to say about your property. Are you creating a clean, modern, minimalist feel? If so, you’ll want to keep your color palette concise, your shapes controlled, and your layout symmetrical. If you prefer something more wild and bohemian, choose plants of varied heights, colors, or shapes. Consider mixing a range of plants, and keeping one element more controlled, such as a symmetrical layout, and let the rest take on a life of its own. A more traditional or classic craftsman-style home may call for a combination of the two. Clean shapes and symmetry will speak to the traditional lines of the house, but bringing in bright color will add an element of surprise and give fantastic curb appeal.

Bringing It All Home

125

5 | Consider also that some plants require space to grow. Have your garden dimensions in mind when choosing your plants, and be aware of how far apart each plant will need to be placed. (Your nursery or garden center will be able to help with this.) This information will be key to ensuring that your garden appears full without being overcrowded. To keep your space feeling balanced, plant in groups of odd numbers whenever possible.

6 | Try some of these for plant inspiration. Low-profile flowering plants like impatiens or sweet alyssum: for adding color to a contained area. Bleeding hearts, snapdragons, and zinnias: for bringing a ton of color and varied heights to a bohemian garden. Peonies, hydrangeas, and rose bushes: for big, impactful color in a more traditional garden. Sunflowers, allium, foxglove, and hollyhocks: for creating a magical feel through tall stems and intense color.

Curb Appeal

WELCOME HOME

128

Followers of feng shui place great importance on a home’s front door and the surrounding areas, both inside and outside.

This is the first place that anything, whether it’s people or energy, enters your space, so you want to make sure that your entry is attracting what you want and preventing what you don’t. In this chapter, we’ll take a look at your front door, your front step, and the immediate entryway within to ensure that your home is set up to attract and allow good vibes inside.

Bringing It All Home

129

The Front Door Let’s start with color. We know that color has a great influence on the energy of our spaces, so it makes sense that painting an important area like your front door with a color you resonate with would create some impactful results. To choose your front door color, I suggest experimenting with a few different methods. First, consider your door from a purely aesthetic perspective. Determine which colors you’re drawn to visually in combination with the exterior color of your house. For example, if your house is a statement color, you might decide that something stark and simple is your best bet, like a white or a pale gray. If your house is more of a neutral, like black, gray, white, or a natural wood finish, you might feel open to a larger range of colors. For this first step, try doing some research online and finding images of front doors that you’re drawn to. Notice which ones are used on homes with exterior colors that are similar to your own, and see what they have in common, if anything. Hold on to the images that you like the most because you’ll want to refer back to them throughout this process. Next, look up the colors that you’re most drawn to in the list of colors and their meanings in part one (page 63). Notice any similarities. Pay close attention to whether what you’re drawn to visually aligns with the feeling that you’re looking to cultivate through color within your space. If so, then you’re likely on the right track and have narrowed down the color family that you should use on your door. If you find yourself loving the look of a color but you’re not quite sure about its symbolism, consider this as an opportunity to learn a bit more about what

Welcome Home

130

this color means to you. Maybe it’s nostalgic in some way, or you have an emotional attachment to it. As long as it’s a positive association for you, nostalgia is a completely valid reason for choosing a color. (Remember, this design process is highly intuitive! If you feel strongly about a color, in either a positive or negative way, I encourage you to go with it, regardless of what the “rules” say.) Finally, let’s apply a feng shui filter to your chosen family of colors. This is an easy first step for designing holistically, even if you’re not very familiar with feng shui. To start, think about the type of energy that you want to bring inside. Another way to consider this is to decide whether you want your home to feel energizing and active, attracting forward movement and progress, or whether you want to maintain a state of sanctuary and calm. Both are great options. Sit with this question for a moment and really envision what you’d like more of in your life. Try to narrow your answer down to fit into either the “energizing” or “calm” categories. Once you have your answer, you’ll want to determine the direction that your front door faces. (A compass app on your phone is the easiest way to do this.) In feng shui, each compass direction has a corresponding element of either fire, earth, metal, water, or wood, and each of these elements carries different energies. This means that the direction that your front door faces will be naturally aligned with the energies of whichever element it corresponds with. If your intent is to increase the feelings of calm and harmony in your space, it makes sense that you would choose a front door color that harmonizes with its existing placement (for example, a blue door facing north). If, on the other hand, you’d like

Bringing It All Home

131

to amplify the energy in your space and promote a feeling of movement and progress, you might choose a color of a complementary element: one that supports or elevates the energies of your front door’s direction without opposing it (for example, a white door facing north). Once you’re clear on your door’s direction and your intended energy for your space (i.e., either calming or energizing), look at the chart on page 132 to find your ideal feng shui front door color. If you find that you have a match across all three methods that we’ve covered, then it’s off to the paint store for you! In the event that you’re just not feeling the colors that align with your door’s feng shui position, refer to your previous color choices, compare them to your feng shui colors, and go with whichever group of colors is speaking to you the most. I wholeheartedly believe that if you’re having a strong inclination to go with—or avoid—a certain color, you should listen to your feeling, even if the reason isn’t immediately obvious.

Welcome Home

132

Front Door Feng Shui

Align the direction, color, and element of your front door for a calming or an energizing effect.

NORTH

◐ Calming: blues, purples, black; harmonizing element: water ◐ Energizing: silver, gray, white; complementary element: metal

NORTHEAST

◐ Calming: yellows, warm neutrals, earth tones; harmonizing element: earth ◐ Energizing: reds, oranges, fuchsia, purples; complementary element: fire

EAST

◐ Calming: browns (including wooden doors), warm neutrals, greens; harmonizing element: wood ◐ Energizing: blues, purples, black complementary element: water

Bringing It All Home

133

SOUTHEAST

◐ Calming: browns (including wooden doors), warm neutrals, greens; harmonizing element: wood ◐ Energizing: blues, purples, black; complementary element: water

SOUTH

WEST

◐ Calming: silver, gray, white; harmonizing element: metal ◐ Energizing: yellows, warm neutrals, earth tones; complementary element: earth

NORTHWEST

◐ Calming: reds, oranges, fuchsia, purples; harmonizing element: fire

◐ Calming: silver, gray, white; harmonizing element: metal

◐ Energizing: browns (including wooden doors), warm neutrals, greens; complementary element: wood

◐ Energizing: yellows, warm neutrals, earth tones; complementary element: earth

SOUTHWEST

◐ Calming: yellows, warm neutrals, earth tones; harmonizing element: earth ◐ Energizing: silver, gray, white; complementary element: metal

Welcome Home

134

Front Door Holiday Decor You might be thinking that decorating your front door for holidays—that is, adding extra seasonal “stuff”—just won’t be possible once you’ve cleaned and cleared your entrance. Holiday (or even just festive) decorations on your front door are totally possible from an energetic perspective if you follow just a couple of guidelines. Try this formula for creating a festive and clutter-free entryway atmosphere for any occasion, holiday, or change of season.

Add lighting

Warm light is a universal symbol of good energy, and string lights or LED candles in jars or containers of varied heights will add just the right amount of extra brightness

Bringing It All Home

to signal that something special is happening here. A great trick for varying the height of your candles if you don’t happen to have a collection of hurricane lamps at home is to gather three tall glass candle holders and fill each one with a different amount of sand. Place your candles on top of the sand inside, and you have instant dimension and height differentiation. (Make sure that the top of each candle still falls below the top of the glass candle holder—for fire safety and also to prevent the wind from blowing them out.)

Add life

An odd number of potted plants or flowers is all you need to decorate your front step. Depending on the size of your step, you can do a single or double grouping of three, or split up your group of three into a pair and a single for smaller spaces. For winter holidays, three petite evergreens or holly trees are perfect for this. The start of spring begs for fresh color; try some

135

tulips, hyacinth, or daffodils in freestanding pots. Summer is the perfect time to switch up your display with some citrus; try a grouping of small potted lemon or lime trees. And for fall, add warmth as the temperatures begin to drop with groupings of chrysanthemums, sunflowers, or pumpkins.

Hang something on the front door. (Yes, it’s OK!)

But there’s one condition: Your decoration should be composed of freshly cut plants (or look as if it is). Dried flowers and branches are said to hold a dried-up, “dead” energy, so given the heightened importance of the energy at the front door, don’t use anything dried. For winter, a garland surrounding the entrance or a bunch of greens on the front door is a simple and gorgeous way to welcome guests for the holidays. Likewise, a wreath of fresh or faux greens (this could be pine, spruce, boxwood, holly, or any combination of these)—with or without lights

added—is a lovely, festive touch. If you like the idea of a wreath all year long, consider using bay laurel or eucalyptus during spring and summer; switch to fresh herbs like rosemary or lavender for fall. Make sure to maintain anything that you hang on your front door. Once it starts to look old or discolored, it’s time for a new one.

Update your doormat

This doesn’t necessarily have to happen every season, but keeping your doormat looking clean and new is important if you’ll be calling attention to it by decorating all around it. A good rule is to change it twice a year: once between winter and spring, and once between summer and fall. So your no-fail festive front door formula is this: lights + live plants + door decor + doormat. Stick with these components and update seasonally to keep your front door feeling party ready all year long.

Welcome Home

136

Classic Front Door & Exterior Color Pairings

From a purely aesthetic standpoint, you just can’t go wrong with certain house and door combos. These are some of my all-time favorites.

◐ White house, red front door, black trim ◐ White stucco house, black front door, black trim ◐ White house, kelly green front door, black trim ◐ Navy house, light yellow front door, white trim ◐ Dark navy house, black front door, white trim ◐ Gray house, pale aqua front door, white trim ◐ Dark gray weathered cedar shingled house, deep teal front door, black trim ◐ Black house, charcoal gray front door, charcoal gray trim ◐ Black house, white front door, white trim

Bringing It All Home

137

Front Step Now that we have chosen a stunning front door color and have cleaned and cleared any path leading to the front door, the last outdoor project to check off is to add some plant life. This step is actually optional, so if you don’t feel inclined to maintain outdoor plants, then you can easily skip it. Truly, it’s better to have a clear space than a collection of dead plants outside, so if plants just aren’t your thing, it’s entirely OK. True story: I have historically had a complicated relationship with plants. I love them, but I never had much luck caring for them. Today I’m happy to report that I am a fully recovered former plant killer, and that all it took was a little education and practice on my part. If you’re anything like me, I would encourage you to spend some time at a garden center, ask a ton of questions, and familiarize yourself with the needs of your favorite plants. There is a world of knowledge to be learned about caring for plants! Your local nursery is the best place to start if you’re plant-curious and in need of a confidence boost. Choosing plants for your entry means balancing practicality, aesthetic, and energetic qualities. In short, you want plants that are well suited to your geographic location and soil quality, that look fabulous, and that carry abundant and supportive energy. It’s very important not to force your plant choice. By this, I mean that you should learn about your plant and its needs before you invest in it. For example, if you live in an area that receives heavy rainfall all year long, you likely don’t want a garden full of cacti. From an energetic perspective, potted plants should be limited to a small enough number that

Welcome Home

138

the planters do not obstruct or overpower your walkway or front step. Here are some great outdoor plants to start with. Ferns | easy to care for; love shaded areas; symbolic of new life

and new beginnings Holy basil | loves partial sun and warm temperatures; consid-

ered to be deeply healing and helpful in clearing stagnant, old energy Jasmine | likes partial shade to full sun and warmer tempera-

tures; symbolic of love, purity, and peace Lemon or lime trees | need full sun and wind protection; sym-

bolic of cleansing, purification, and abundance Lilies | do best in full sun and warmer temperatures; said to

bring harmony, peace, and optimism Monstera | needs shade, warm temperatures, and high humid-

ity; symbolizes long life and abundance Peonies | require full sun and shallow soil; symbolize love, com-

passion, and good fortune

Entryway Inside, it’s just as important to strike the right balance of form, function, and energy. Whether it’s a simple hallway, a kidfriendly mudroom, or a chic entryway, you want your first step

Bringing It All Home

139

into your space to feel welcoming, both for yourself and your family, and for your guests. Entryways can be easy to overlook: They’re not quite a “room,” their function is pretty much just to facilitate coming and going, and it would be understandable to think that just keeping them clear of clutter is enough. If you view your entryway from a more energetic perspective, though, you can imagine that this space is sending you on your way as you leave your home and welcoming you back when you return. The decor and energy of your entryway set the tone for whatever happens next, so they must be thoughtfully considered and designed. The ideal entrance calls for something functional—such as a table, shelf, or bench—to rest your belongings on as you’re coming or going; something beautiful, like a favorite piece of artwork or a gorgeous light fixture; and something to boost incoming energy. I love using a mirror for this, as it’s functional and a great energy amplifier. When styling an entryway, start with the floor. Check to see whether it’s clear or cluttered with shoes and bags that have been dropped on the way in. A rug or a doormat is a great way to not only define the space but also provide a “soft landing” on entering. If your entryway is not a defined room, but more of an open area just inside the door, a rug can help set the parameters of the space. A natural material like jute or sisal is perfect for this type of high-traffic area because it doesn’t show wear easily and stands up well to frequent use. The next important feature in any entry is a surface to rest things on. Again, depending on your square footage, this can be a bench or ottoman that doubles as seating for shoe removal, or

Welcome Home

140

it can be a narrow console table or floating shelf. The objective is to make your transition as smooth and easy as possible, so having a spot to rest your keys or bag while you lock the door or remove your coat isn’t just a thoughtful design detail, it’s a stress reducer. If this entryway is also the spot where kids usually come and go, some additional storage will go a long way toward keeping clutter away and stress levels low. Baskets, cubbies, a cool vintage shoe rack, or (space permitting) a full closet will be your best friend here. Next, consider coming and going in your best light. Just as candlelight makes everything look prettier and feel “better,” coming inside to a flattering light can subtly shift your mood. A table lamp (or two) would be perfect in an entryway, as would a gorgeous pendant or a pair of sconces. I love the idea that lighting is like jewelry for your home, so treat this as an opportunity to do something that feels like an indulgence. In styling, I’ll often use a rule of threes (a large piece, a small piece, and something with an irregular size) as my fail-safe formula to create balance and dimension. It’s an easy way to remember to not use too many of the same types of item. (We’ve all walked into someone’s home and seen a shelf with countless framed photos all of the same size, right? Not only does the shelf look cluttered, but you can’t actually see the photos that are being displayed.) The rule of threes works equally as well for a large space as it does for an entryway. It’s a universal method to achieve balance in any space. Remember to consider the sight lines from the doorway. If you have an unobstructed path to the back of the house, or especially to a back door or window, consider this to be like a

Bringing It All Home

141

highway for any energy coming into your space. It will leave just as quickly as it came in, without circulating through your home. A stairway aligned with the front door is also considered a negative placement, as it prohibits energy flow by blocking it. To fully understand the thought process behind this, let’s revisit the analogy of energy as water. If water enters through the front door, it will take the path of least resistance through your space. If there is a straight channel for it to travel along quickly (such as directly through your home and out the other side), it will do so. If there is a hill (such as a staircase) for it to ascend, it will get stuck and stay at the bottom. To remedy these issues, you need only place something slightly in the path of the energy to direct it and “slow it down.” A plant is ideal here. Its wood element properties will slow down fast-moving energy, and the fact that it’s naturally asymmetric allows it to visually stand on its own without needing a grouping. If you choose to add a small plant at your entrance, something that’s symbolic of abundance is the best way to go. An indoor lemon, lime, or orange tree is perfect for this, and the extra shot of color when you walk through the door is a happy “welcome home.”

Welcome Home

142

Affirmations for Coming & Going

Affirmations are a simple but powerful way to invite high vibes into your day and into your home. They serve as a reminder to yourself and are the easiest way to set your intentions.

or enjoy a restorative yoga class. Say this to yourself in the form of an “I am” affirmation. Then remember your intention as you go through your day and celebrate your small wins.

Try a gratitude affirmation first thing in the morning to ease into your day. All you need is something like “I am grateful for the day that I’m about to begin” or “I am grateful for sleeping well.”

When you arrive at home, pause before walking inside, and take inventory of your energy. What is it that you’re about to bring into your space? Would you want the energy that you’re currently carrying to exist around your family, roommate, or pets? Even if your day was a great success, the energy of work or the day’s events is likely quite different from the safe and comfortable vibe that you’ll want to maintain in your home. Try taking some deep breaths and envisioning the time

Before heading out for the day, as you walk through your newly designed entryway, set your intention to succeed at whatever it is you’re about to do. This could be to experience success at work, have a smooth interaction with a coworker, make healthier choices,

Bringing It All Home

143

since you left your home as “the past.” See yourself leaving the day behind you as you open the door, and try an affirmation like “I am at ease in my home,” “My home is my safe place,” “I allow only supportive energy in my space,” or “I feel restored when I come home to my space.”

Welcome Home

THE LIVING ROOM

146

Your living room is not just the space where your family and friends will likely spend the most time in your home; it’s also your home’s energetic center.

With plenty of space and surfaces to style, your living room offers countless opportunities to boost energy while creating some stunning vignettes. Consider the overall feeling that you want to convey before you begin planning your space. Is this a living room where you want people to gather, feel at home, and linger for hours? In this case, you’ll want to include comfortable furniture, soft surfaces, and possibly some floor pillows and extra seating. Or is this something more formal, possibly a

Bringing It All Home

147

space that will be getting less frequent use? If so, more structured, stylized pieces or delicate shapes in finer fabrics could be perfect here. Or is this space intended to display a collection? Do you see it being filled with rare vintage furniture and limited-edition art? In a space like this, your overall room composition will be even more important, as your objective will be to admire the furnishings rather than actually use them. Knowing your intent for the space will give you a map of how to furnish it.

Furniture and Energy Flow The most important thing to get right in your living room will be furniture position and traffic flow. Your seating plan should have a sofa or chairs in command position (in part one, we learned that this means facing the entrance to the space without blocking it), while also allowing the room to have a focal point. For many of us, this means keeping a fireplace or TV in view, but your focal point could be anything from a window with an incredible view to a large piece of art. Make sure that your seating is not fully pushed up against a wall. Ideally your sofa or chairs will be a minimum of 8 inches [20 cm] from the wall. Not only does this help balance the space visually but it allows for easier energy flow. This may sound like a serious waste of valuable space, especially if you live in an apartment or have limited square footage. Remember that these are guidelines; at the end of the day, you should follow your intuition. If your room can handle a distance of only 1 or 2 inches [2.5 or 5 cm] between the sofa and the wall, then do that.

The Living Room

148

Position your seating so that your guests will not have their backs to a window, if possible. This goes back to the command position concept and remaining in a position where you can observe anything that is coming toward you. If this just isn’t workable for your space, no worries; you can downplay this easily with window treatments. (I want you to move through this book with confidence! Know that there is always a solution for every space, and there’s beauty in the experimentation.)

Surfaces The next step is to make sure that you have a surface next to every seat. The object of mapping a living room is to inspire conversation. You’re creating a space that invites people to focus on one another and interact, and for this you need tables or ottomans or poufs with a tray placed on top. You want your family and guests to feel that they can get comfortable for a while, and having a surface for each person to rest a drink or snack on does just that. If you’re adding a coffee table as a central element in the room, consider the shape, scale, and legs of your furniture before deciding on your table. For example, if you have a very angular sofa with sharp lines, you’d want to choose a table with a softer silhouette. If your sofa rests on small feet and leaves no clearance above the floor, you’d want to balance its weight with a table that rests on narrower, higher legs. After adding the coffee table, your next surface could be a bit of an oddball. This is where you can bring in a smaller, more

Bringing It All Home

149

unique side table, or use something like an ottoman or a pouf paired with a tray for holding drinks. The one thing that I’d strongly advise against is buying anything as a matching set. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t have a pair of the same chairs, or two of the same side tables, if your space can support it. But choose your matching items with intention, instead of purchasing a package deal. Your chairs should look like they are friends with your sofa but aren’t related. Your two side tables can be twins, but they should be a contrast to your coffee table. The most interesting spaces look and feel as if they’ve been collected and personalized over time. They embrace a certain amount of irregularity, and they allow people to get comfortable. I say this to inspire confidence in anyone who may be new to styling and feeling like they need to copy a page out of a catalog exactly. You don’t. Take some time with this process, and enjoy the search for your ideal pieces. Seek out shops that are new to you. Have a clear vision of what you want, but keep an open mind. Shopping can be fun, but seeing so many options can also steer you off track. Bring the dimensions of the room that you’ll be furnishing, and if it helps, bring an image of your mood board or inspiration photos to keep your focus. Reality TV can have us thinking that there’s something wrong if we can’t pull together the perfect space in less than a week, when often the truth is that it takes months or, if you’re looking for something vintage, even years to fully create the space of your dreams.

The Living Room

150

Alternative Coffee Tables

What happens when you’ve been searching for what feels like forever for the perfect coffee table and you’re just not finding it? One option is to have a piece designed and made exclusively for you. This will yield something that is exactly what you want, crafted to your own specs, and unique. The downside to this can be a much higher price and a long lead time. Another option is to get creative and consider some outside-the-box ideas. (Isn’t that always the answer?) Here are five ideas to try when the perfect coffee table is eluding you.

◐ A vintage trunk. A steamer trunk, a campaign trunk, or any other kind of trunk provides both a surface to use and additional storage. ◐ A vintage drum. Add a tray or a piece of tempered glass on top for a stable surface that can hold your drink. ◐ A pair of tree stumps. This idea can be great if rustic, nature-inspired styling suits your space. I recommend cleaning, sanding, and sealing the stumps to get them ready for indoor use. Check your local reclaimed lumberyard for some unusual and oversize pieces. ◐ A grouping of side tables. This perfect small-space solution is customizable and easy to put away entirely when space is needed. ◐ A Moroccan tray table. This table is as functional as it is clever and beautiful.

Bringing It All Home

151

Living Room Accessories Once you’ve mapped out your overall plan, it’s time to move on to my favorite part: the accessories! “Accessories” is a broad term, and it covers everything from throws and pillows to trays, vases, and containers of all kinds; coffee table books; and any collections of objects that you’ll want to display. Basically, it’s the stuff that makes a space feel like you. This is your opportunity to showcase your personality. I suggest you begin by gathering anything you think you might want to use in the room and creating a staging area. Assemble every book, pillow, and container you’re considering using, and have them close to the space you’ll be styling, but not actually in it. Walk through your space, and identify every surface you’ll want to add something to. (If you’re new to this, it can help to actually add a Post-it note to each spot you’ll be styling. This will make it really easy to determine whether you have sufficient accessories to complete the room.) Keep in mind that your surfaces are intended to have a function while still looking gorgeous. For example, coffee tables and side tables should be decorated but also have enough clear space for guests to place a drink on them. Then begin with a goal of adding three things to each surface (this can change along the way if needed, but we’ll just use three as a jumping-off point): Let’s say a tray, a stack of three or four books, and a vase for a coffee table; a lamp, two books, and a candle for a side table; a few pillows and a throw for your sofa, and so on. The actual number of items you use will depend on the size of your surfaces. A good rule of thumb is that two-thirds of a surface can hold decor, while allowing one-third for function. (Sofas are the exception to this

The Living Room

152

rule. Although you do want to allow space for seating that is not completely covered by pillows, you have a little more flexibility here because the person who is sitting down will likely move the pillows anyway.)

A Word about Televisions While they are frowned upon as a ubiquitous “design feature” above the mantel, it is actually possible to interpret a TV as having positive energetic benefits. In feng shui, they are said to have very active yang (masculine) energy, so when placed on a north wall (the direction for career success), they can boost your career energy, and when placed on a south wall (the direction for wealth and fame), they can boost your recognition. (It’s important to note that these things are considered to be true when the TV is on, but once it’s turned off, you’ll need to see if it has a matte or reflective surface. A TV with a reflective surface behaves as a mirror and should be concealed if any of your seating is reflected in it.) In other energetic circles, TVs are considered to be giant transmitters of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation and positive ions that can turn into damaging free radicals. So, as with most energetic practices, consider what works for you, and go with your intuition when deciding whether to accentuate or downplay your TV.

Bringing It All Home

153

Once you have established a loose plan, it’s time to shop your staging area. If you need to actually check things off your list as you bring them into your room, feel free to do so. Once your eye is more familiar with the balance that your specific space calls for, this part will become like second nature to you. The beauty of using this process to style your space is that if you are new to styling, it provides a framework to avoid overwhelm. In time, you’ll be able to do most of this in your head, and the idea of using Post-it notes will seem completely unnecessary. Your eye will just see, and your brain will just know. So you’ve used your notes, you’ve shopped your in-house collections, and your surfaces still feel a little bare. This is the ideal time for some retail therapy—done intentionally, of course. By this point, you have a pretty clear idea of what types of things your surfaces still need, so your shopping list should already be quite focused.

Activate the Shui Now let’s add some shui to this space. Using your compass, determine where the east wall of your space is. The east is related to harmonious and healthy family relationships. It’s an excellent idea to activate this direction in your living room with current family photos or a large, very full, and leafy plant. Another traditional symbol of family harmony is the combination of red and gold. This is the type of activation that I like to intuitively adjust as needed for my design plan. If red and gold happen to already be part of your color palette, then it will be easy for you to include something red and gold. But what if your

The Living Room

154

Style Your Built-Ins

Are built-in shelving units a part of your space? I love to treat builtins as their own separate universe within a space. Allow yourself a bit more freedom with regard to color when styling your shelves. Also, remembering the rule of threes, try some unexpected positioning for anything on your shelves. For your large item, maybe try hanging some framed art on the back wall of your shelving unit instead of resting the frame on the shelf itself. Use short, horizontal stacks of books to create varied heights for styling smaller items. Also, it’s a great idea to edit the number of

Bringing It All Home

actual books on your bookshelves, if possible, and when positioning books vertically, try to leave some space between the books and the back of the shelf. This will allow for energy flow to pass through shelves and behind books, instead of getting stuck. And for your asymmetrical piece, anything goes! Try a ceramic container, a beautiful candle, an air plant, or a piece of kid-art pottery—the more unexpected, the better.

155

palette is ultra-tonal and layered with neutrals, or you’re going for something very feminine with a palette of pinks or greens? Adding something with red and gold would not only be very off-palette but also distract you. If it’s distracting you, it’s not creating harmony, and by adding something that takes away from harmony, you are inadvertently creating a block to the very energy you are trying to create. In that case, I’d use a very loose interpretation of red and gold, and go for a picture frame or a vase or container that includes gold or brass. Bonus if you add some fresh red flowers.

Living Room Checklist ☐ Place the sofa in command position. ☐ Leave space between the furniture and the walls to allow for traffic and energy flow. ☐ Create conversational vignettes. ☐ Use varied furniture shapes. ☐ Ensure a balance of decorated and functional spaces.

The Living Room

156

DIY

HOW TO STYLE A COFFEE TABLE Whether you’re a maximalist or a minimalist, coffee tables are an incredible opportunity to have some fun with styling. A good rule to guide you when designing your coffee table surface is to dedicate two-thirds to decor and one-third to function. Remember, guests need to have a space to rest their drinks. Try to include a balance of books, containers, a tray, something sculptural, and a vase of fresh flowers on your coffee table. The number of each of these will obviously vary depending on your styling preferences and the size and shape of your table, but aim to include these categories every time. For the maximalist coffee table, begin by creating height and dimension using stacks of books. Vary the heights of your stacks, and include displays of taller stacks composed of multiple smaller books, as well as larger, heavier books displayed on their own. Make groupings of containers on top of the books that look like “friends” but aren’t a matching set. Get creative with your shapes and sizes, and think well beyond vases. A grouping of containers could include anything from a terrazzo bowl to a ceramic trinket dish to a brass water pitcher. This is a place to get creative and include something unexpected. Not only is a tray a great piece to add interest, but it can also be functional if it needs to be. Miscellaneous small items have a

Bringing It All Home

157

way of collecting on your table, especially with family and kids in the mix. Having a tray readily available won’t exactly conceal the small bits, but it will help them feel contained and organized. A vase of flowers is the easiest way to bring color to a coffee table. Choose a vase that works well with the other colors and materials on your table, and fill it with flowers of your favorite color. On a fully decorated table, I like to keep the flowers somewhat tightly packed and contained, as a contrast to the abundance of things that are already on the table. Your “something sculptural” can be anything, literally anything, that adds an unusual shape to the mix. Go for a crystal, a small sculpture, or a Lego construction—the more personal and unexpected it is, the better. Be sure to keep scale in mind as you’re styling. Varying sizes is where you’ll find depth and dimension. A table full of large books, a large tray, and large vases will look crowded instead of considered and interesting. Give your eye something to explore. It might be helpful to use the rule of threes here (something tall, something horizontal, and something odd); repeat as needed until two-thirds of your surface is styled. For more of a minimalist approach to styling your coffee table, you’ll want to use the same ingredients, but fewer of them. Your decor pieces will be getting more attention, so choose each item carefully. Be intentional about the color palette, scale, and height of your “stuff.” If you’re looking to rein in your use of color, consider a single, larger vase full of sprawling, leafy branches. The scale and asymmetry of a bunch of branches create an abundance of interest while keeping to a more controlled color palette.

The Living Room

THE DINING ROOM

160

Dining rooms carry all the symbolism of bringing people together and sharing your abundance. After your living room, it is the happiest and most energetically friendly room in the house. Knowing a few energetically driven styling tricks can help you set up your dining area so guests feel welcome and linger. Remember that a beautifully designed space gets attention, and an energetically designed one holds it. Unlike having a quick meal at a kitchen island, eating in a dining room says, “Take your time and stay a while.” To begin prepping your happy dining place, start with an open, clean slate. It’s not uncommon for our dining areas (which are often extensions of other spaces and/or repurposed for other uses), to gather clutter or overflow from the kitchen or office. This is something to avoid. We know by now that a pile of clutter anywhere affects energy everywhere, and having an eyesore in such a central area is just stressful. So the first step, as always, is to clear any clutter. Open the windows, bring in the fresh air and sunlight, clean every surface, and consider adding a vase of fresh

Bringing It All Home

161

herbs for scent and air purification. (My favorites—eucalyptus and rosemary—are an excellent choice for the dining room.)

Choosing a Dining Table Choose a dining table that is slightly larger than what you’ll actually need on a daily basis. This isn’t just a good energetic practice; it’s also a practical one. Having a table that will fit a larger group will, symbolically and physically, encourage bringing people together. Now consider your table shape. This is one of those times where you’ll want to listen to what your space is telling you. There are benefits to both a round and a square or rectangular table, so let your intuition guide you. To help you envision what each would feel like, you may want to use blue painter’s tape on the floor to map out the footprint of the table you’re considering. Take into account things like distance between people when seated, traffic flow around the table, and how each table shape will relate to furnishings in view in adjoining rooms. You might be surprised to learn that you have strong leanings in one direction or the other. There is also a feng shui method for choosing a table, and it’s based on the direction that your table will fall in. If you’re having trouble deciding based on what feels right, determine what direction your dining area faces, and choose a square table if your dining room is in the northeast or southwest, or a rectangular table if it’s in the south. If your room is in the east or southeast, you’ll do equally well with a square or rectangular table. If it’s in the north, try a circular table. A dining room in the northwest or west directions will do well with either a square

The Dining Room

162

A Note on Open Floorplans Having your dining room near your kitchen or, even better, connected to it, is great energetically, allowing you to have an even larger space for gathering and for energy to flow freely. This works especially well with open design plans; they are intended for spaces (and energies) to blend and seamlessly join each other.

or round table. This is one time where there are so many “right” answers that I really advise beginning with your intuition and then checking your feng shui direction for confirmation. As you become more attuned to recognizing the energy of a space, you’ll likely notice that your intuitively driven decisions start to align more and more with some established energetic guidelines. I always love when this happens; take it as a sign that you’re strengthening your connection with the energy around you. Your table should be made of natural materials whenever possible. Wood and marble are excellent choices here, whereas glass is not the best. Glass is considered to be less stable, and as such, it can foster stress or anxiety for your guests.

Activate the Shui Your dining area is one spot where a mirror can really bring in the good vibes. Mirrors multiply energy and increase it, so in a space like a dining room where more is better, a mirror can bring the feeling of a large, happy gathering, no matter how

Bringing It All Home

163

small your group is. Hang a mirror on the wall to reflect as many of your seated guests as possible. With regard to dining room color, I always like to take a cue from what’s happening in the adjoining spaces. If your home has an open design plan, you’ll want to create a natural transition from one space to the next. This doesn’t mean that you need to match your living room or kitchen exactly, but you’ll want to have a few common elements to tie the spaces together. For example, if your kitchen is primarily navy and white with some warm wood finishes and brass hardware, let those colors spill over into your dining area in a clever way. Maybe your navy kitchen cabinet color is replicated in a bold wallpaper in your dining area. Or maybe your brass hardware finishes are used to inform a gorgeous chandelier over your table. The objective here is flow and cohesiveness, rather than exact duplication.

Dining Room Checklist ☐ Declutter frequently. ☐ Anchor your space with a large dining table, which symbolizes abundance. ☐ Incorporate natural materials into the room through your table, chairs, or accessories. ☐ Use a mirror to amplify high vibes. ☐ Align your palette with that of any surrounding spaces.

The Dining Room

164

Tips for a High Vibe Dinner Party

Your dining room is already a high vibe, good energy kind of place. Assuming that you’ve already decluttered and cleansed your space, try including some of these energetic boosts the next time you bring your friends and family together.

◐ Start with scent. Before anyone arrives, open the windows, light some aromatherapy candles, or diffuse some essential oils in any room where you expect guests. Try peppermint or rosemary for something energizing, or combine orange and cinnamon for a cozy, warm feel. ◐ Position guests in command positions around the dining table. This just requires not having anyone sit directly opposite a bathroom door or main entrance. If overhead beams are a factor, avoid having anyone sit directly underneath them. ◐ Bring in a few more mirrors! Working mirrors into your tablescape will amplify that “gathering” energy even more. Try using them underneath candles in the center of your table.

Bringing It All Home

165

◐ Include fresh herbs in your floral arrangements to attract high vibes. Eucalyptus, rosemary, or lavender would all be perfect additions to enhance calm and ward off negativity. (Just make sure these scents don’t mix with that of any candles or essential oils you’ve already put out.) ◐ Place some black tourmaline at the entrance to your home. Black tourmaline is a crystal that is said to keep negativity at bay by transmuting it before it comes into your space.

they should position themselves in to amplify their “good fortune” in four main categories: health, wealth and prosperity, relationships, and wisdom (spirituality). Learn the birthdate of each guest, do a quick search online for a kua number calculator, and seat your guests so that they are facing any one of their “good” directions.

◐ Employ some feng shui. To really take the high vibes to the next level, seat guests according to their kua number. In feng shui, a kua number is an ancient system of numerology that uses a person’s birthdate to determine which compass directions

The Dining Room

THE OFFICE

170

Let’s consider how to make your office space conducive to productivity, focus, and success.

Even if you don’t have a full office setup inside your home, it’s likely that you have a designated space where you work on your laptop as needed. A few small considerations regarding direction and decor can help enhance whatever business you need to do from home. Before we jump into how to best arrange your work area, let’s take a quick look at two spaces that are best not used for business or schoolwork: the bedroom and the kitchen. The bedroom is a bad idea because the energy of the activity (work) is not aligned with the intended energy of the room (rest). To get a restful night’s sleep, you’ll want to create a bedroom

Bringing It All Home

171

environment that is calming, relaxing, and secure. This is opposite to the very active energy that is needed for success at work. Likewise, kitchens are considered to be purely functional and are best kept as neutral spaces due to their energy-draining attributes: the actual drain in the sink and the fire energy of the stove (for more on this, see page 226). If you find that you have occasion to work at home but need to do so without a full office setup, the best locations are either your dining room table or the southeast area of your living room. With that in mind, there are some tips and tricks that can help you focus, feel motivated and inspired at work, and even attract new business, whether you are designing an entire corporate office, a home office, or a small corner or designated area for the occasional work project.

Organize Your Space Arrange your office (or cubicle) to enhance calm and productivity. These qualities may seem to cancel each other out, and indeed in some energetically toxic work environments, they do. Even a high-energy workplace can benefit from giving employees the opportunity to recenter and decompress during the day. To that end, it’s becoming more common for corporate work environments—specifically tech, healthcare, and finance companies—to host meditation workshops and include holistic and wellness practices as part of their benefits package. That in itself is incredible progress. However, returning to a shared office space or open plan with cubicles after your midday meditation can snap you right out of your blissed-out state. No

The Office

172

Dealing with Noise-Clutter Noise-canceling headphones are a fabulous tool in a shared work space. They’re great when you’re actually listening to music and want to minimize ambient background noise, of course, but they’re also amazing for just tuning out distractions! I highly recommend using them anytime you need a little help reducing noise-clutter, refocusing, and channeling your most productive energy.

matter how small or open your work area is, there are some things you can do to create a bubble of good energy at work, beginning with your desk. Begin by organizing every last thing in your space. File or throw out any stacks of papers. Edit any collections of office supplies; keep only what you’ll need at your disposal. Allow yourself one gorgeous but small tray or jar to hold a few pens or a couple of items, and store the rest out of sight. If your setup already includes drawers, you’ll only need some organizers to compartmentalize and contain small objects. (Don’t skip this part. Clutter equals stress, even if it’s hiding inside a drawer!) If your storage space consists of open shelves, invest in a few matching boxes or baskets to stash supplies in. And—I realize that I’m going against conventional wisdom with this—opt for

Bringing It All Home

173

containers that are opaque or in a pattern that you love instead of the clear ones. Clear boxes are brilliant for storage if you have a cabinet or somewhere out of sight to hide them, but if not, they are no better than a contained mess on display for all to see. Choose something beautiful that you can’t see through, and the mess will actually disappear. No matter where your office is located, you’ll want to have a system set up to keep clutter at bay. If I’m in a temporary space, I like to use a movable desk organizer to hold pens and supplies that can easily be stored in a closet at the end of the day. If, in a designated office space, you have the opportunity to install a closet or some shelves for storage, I recommend buying more boxes or containers than you think you’ll need. (If they’ll be on display, remember that looks count! Pick something that adds to the decor of your space instead of just a clear storage box.) Make sure they are easy to get in and out of your storage area. Give every category of office supply its own box, even if you have only one or two items in that category. It’s much better to have zero stress when trying to find something than to conserve space by filling a box completely. A full storage container has the potential to morph into your office junk drawer, which is basically just stressful clutter in a box.

Spruce It Up Once your stuff is out of sight, you’ll just need a little decorating to make a difference. Here are a few easy-to-do ideas for sprucing up your desk space.

The Office

174

Try adding a miniature plant, air filter, or—if your office neighbors don’t mind—a tiny oil diffuser. (Some use a USB to plug right into your computer, and they’re so cute!) If your desk is far from any natural light source, it’s totally OK to go for a fake plant. This is the rare case in which ambience outweighs authenticity! Adding a little bit of soothing color can also go a long way. A throw in a neutral shade or pale aqua folded over the back of your chair would be a great way to sneak in some calming color and deal with aggressive office air-conditioning. If framed photos are allowed, consider printing out your favorite affirmation and framing it. An affirmation or reminder can sometimes be just what you need to bring yourself back to calm after a lengthy or energetic meeting. Use a frame in a color that you’ll love looking at, and keep it small and personal. If frames are a no-no, try this hack: Print your affirmation using a label maker, and stick it on your notepad, your bulletin board, or somewhere where you’ll see it regularly. It’ll be your little Zen secret! Finally, add some crystals. I recommend doing this sparingly, both to keep the number of “things” around you to a minimum and because some crystals are better than others in a work space. I recommend a combination of selenite, shungite, and black obsidian for a cubicle, and not much else. Selenite is known for its clearing properties, shungite for reducing EMF radiation given off by electronics, and black obsidian for transmuting negativity coming from others. The one thing that these have in common, which may surprise you, is that none of them are quartz crystals. Quartz is generally thought to be

Bringing It All Home

175

a universally good crystal to have in any situation, and most times it is. But when you’re specifically looking to reduce stress and boost calm in an office full of technology, quartz-based crystals are the last thing you want. Quartz is a conductor and an amplifier of energy. It makes other things work better, stronger, and faster, and it conducts the energy of whatever is around it. You may work in an office where you don’t actually want to multiply the type of energy that surrounds you, and you definitely don’t want to conduct EMF radiation toward you or your space. In fact, you want to disrupt it and deflect it away from you, which is precisely what the shungite will do. And shungite dealers have caught on and begun selling slices of shungite with an adhesive back that can be stuck right on a phone or laptop, so it’s easier than ever to inconspicuously ward off those bad energies.

Activate the Shui Command position is clearly important in a work setting, but equally so is the concept of bright hall. As a reminder, command position is the placement that allows for security behind you (such as having your back close to a wall, or sitting in a tall chair that supports you) while you are facing, but not blocking, the entrance to your space. Bright hall is what’s created when you allow for a large open area in front of you by placing your desk in command position. The open space is symbolic of allowing room for opportunities to come to you, and you can increase this energy even further by placing two chairs intended for clients in front of your desk. (This may seem like something

The Office

176

extra if you’re working from home and you don’t ordinarily have clients coming to your house, but try it anyway! This is all about symbolism, so even if there are no physical clients sitting in those chairs, you are creating an energetically aligned space where symbolically they are welcome.) In the event that you are “unofficially” setting up an office space in a section of a room of your home, you may not even have the opportunity to position a desk in command position. If this is the case and you find yourself with a somewhat less-than-ideal space to work in, try placing a mirror behind you for a boost of energy to mimic command position, and just focus on keeping your area organized and free of clutter. Also consider your trash can placement! This is a small but very significant step. If possible, store your trash can in a closed cabinet, or at least use a can that has a lid. An open trash can, especially one placed directly next to your desk, symbolizes the disposing of opportunities. To activate the southeast—the general direction for boosting wealth and success—try placing a large, green, leafy plant; hanging any diplomas, awards, certificates, or sales milestones; and displaying something in a gold or brass finish. Placing your credentials in a gold frame would be a great way to incorporate two significant feng shui activations without making them a prominent design feature. If your office is in a separate room, you could also consider activating the north area in your office, symbolic of work and career, with something in a blue color, an image or piece of artwork featuring water, or an actual water feature like a fountain or aquarium.

Bringing It All Home

177

Office Checklist ☐ Place your desk in command position whenever possible. ☐ Decluttering is essential; keep your office organized. ☐ Invest in storage that is functional and beautiful and is scaled to the needs of your space. ☐ Keep desks and tables clear. Allow only your immediate tools to remain out while you’re using them. ☐ Add a plant, crystal, diffuser, affirmation, or other item that will subtly remind you to come back to center throughout the day. ☐ Activate the southeast direction whenever possible by adding a leafy plant or displaying relevant credentials.

The Office

THE BEDROOM

180

Bedrooms, by nature, are intended to be quiet and restful spaces.

Hideaways. Safe havens, even. It can be tempting, though, to go a bit crazy in a bedroom, thinking, “It’s my personal space, and no one but me will see it!” or “I really love bright colors and patterns, and I’m not afraid of some pattern mixing!” These are some things that I’ve heard from clients during the early stages of bedroom planning, and while I admire that courage, I recommend those clients experiment in their bathroom or dining room instead. A high vibe bedroom is a restorative bedroom. Here, we’ll look at the colors, textures, feng shui principles, symbols, plants, and even smells that will foster a calm, tranquil environment in your bedroom.

Bringing It All Home

181

Color While I deeply appreciate a fearless approach toward color and pattern, it’s helpful to keep the idea of a quiet, restful hideaway in your mind when you’re choosing your bedroom colors and textures. The most important thing when designing your bedroom is creating a room where your conscious mind and your subconscious mind are both able to rest and recharge. Not everyone equates a minimalist, pale color palette with a feeling of serenity. If you feel that a strong color has a relaxing, calming vibe, then I encourage you to work with it—provided that you balance the rest of the space by keeping the color palette very tight and by choosing patterns, textures, and accessories very mindfully. I like to limit a bedroom palette to three colors, along with some neutrals, while using accessories to bring in subtle shade variations. Adding texture and dimension by mixing fabrics, while sticking to your edited color palette, is my favorite trick for keeping any tonal space looking layered and personalized. For example, I once designed a bedroom in which the predominant color was a very intense, almost electric blue—not what most people think of when they hear the words “relaxing bedroom.” To offset the intensity of the blue, I paired it with a palette of whites and off-whites, a bit of black, and some well-traveled flavor with unlacquered brass metal light fixtures. I mixed patterns by combining a statement wallpaper that informed the electric blue walls, along with an embroidered pattern on the bedding and a Moroccan design on the rug. I used a wide range of materials and textiles, including velvets, linens, shearlings, and a high-pile shag area rug that is heaven

The Bedroom

182

on the feet when stepping out of bed. The result was a cozy, moody jewel box of a room that drew your eye in to explore, while also creating a sense of privacy and security. The reason why this worked so well was the very controlled color palette, which was carried through every single element in the space.

Activate the Shui and What to Avoid Once you have your color story feeling just how you like it, energetically arranging a bedroom is much like putting puzzle pieces together. Like living rooms and offices, bedrooms rely on command position as their most important starting point. This means that your headboard should ideally be against a wall, placed so that you can view the door without being directly in line with it. (Keep in mind that command position in the bedroom looks a little different than it does in the living room. This is due to different functionality, but the concept is the same: protection behind you, awareness in front of you. In a bedroom, you’ll typically be working with a smaller space, so pulling the bed out from the wall as you would a sofa in the living room just isn’t conducive to easy traffic flow. Also, living rooms are intended to be spaces for gathering and conversation, so while employing feng shui from an energetic standpoint, you also want to place your furniture close enough together so that it’s optimized for socializing. This isn’t something that needs to be considered in the bedroom, hence the slightly different process.) Other important energetic bedroom design considerations include avoiding reflective surfaces that can be seen while in bed. Reflections from TV screens, windows, and mirrors can

Bringing It All Home

183

unintentionally amplify the energy of a space. Amplified energy is active energy, and active energy is the opposite of what we want for sleep! To minimize this, I always advise keeping TVs out of the bedroom if at all possible. Not only do TVs negatively affect the energy in your bedroom—which will create a chaotic space in which it can be difficult to relax, let alone sleep or be romantic with your partner—but they also have been scientifically proven to adversely affect your REM cycle and sleep patterns. The blue light keeps your brain active and awake, preventing you from drifting into dreamland. With less distraction and disruption to the energy, your space will feel more Zen. So, skip the TV in the bedroom. If you can’t avoid it entirely, use one with a nonreflective surface, and consider unplugging it for sleep. To mitigate reflections from your windows, which also cause active energy, use window treatments such as curtains or shades. Curtains can add softness to your bedroom, as they provide subtle movement in a space. Solid shades are functional and can work well with a clean, modern aesthetic. If you choose to use a more traditional horizontal blind, just be sure to have an additional layer like a Roman shade on top. Without one, blinds usually let in a bit of light and create shadows that disrupt a Zen ambience. Lastly, mirrors! I love using mirrors in design, especially in smaller rooms, as they create the feeling of a much larger space. If you’re using them in a bedroom, though, consider their placement. Position mirrors so that you cannot see your bed reflected in them. Instead, place them alongside your bed or

The Bedroom

184

opposite a window, which will also create the illusion of a more spacious room. Being cognizant of these three features—TVs, windows, and mirrors—will ensure you create the most cozy, sleep-friendly environment—which is what we’re all searching for in a bedroom, right?

Plants in the Bedroom While we’re talking about amplified energy, I’d like to address something that can be a little controversial: plants in the bedroom. Plants are amazing. They provide beauty, color, and life, and they improve air quality. What could possibly be bad about having plants anywhere? I hear this almost every time I speak about holistic and energetic design, and it’s a fair question. I’m sure you’ve seen those images on social media of the editorially styled, abundantly plant-filled bedrooms that look like a chic and very cozy rain forest. As stunning as those spaces are to look at, the energy of them is all wrong if you’re actually hoping to have a restful sleep. That quantity of plants confined in one space, and the way they tend to be artfully draped from varying heights, creates far too much energy swirling around, which is a recipe for insomnia. Plant energy isn’t detrimental to us when we’re awake and consciously observing our plants. In fact, I personally believe that having plants near us keeps us connected with nature, even when we’re indoors, which is definitely beneficial to humans and animals. However, if we consider that plants are actively growing, providing oxygen, cleaning the air, and emitting and

Bringing It All Home

185

redirecting energy 24 hours a day, this means that they are highly active while we are seeking calm and rest overnight in our bedrooms. And that can counteract any efforts you’ve made to create a tranquil space that encourages sleep. Try to design your bedroom so that it is free of plants. Experiment and see how it feels to you once it’s completed, without plants, and then bring some in and reevaluate. Maybe even test your room overnight while sleeping, and see if you get a better night’s sleep with or without plants in the room. If, after these trials, you just can’t imagine your bedroom without plants, I’d advise planting them in pots and planters that are easy to transport and just moving them out of the room before bedtime. They don’t have to go far—just around the corner into a bathroom, closet, or hallway overnight. Then bring them back in for the day, and feel great about the creative, intuitive design solution that you just created!

Art, Symbolism, and Sleep Finally, be aware of the symbolism of any images or artwork that you place in the bedroom. In general, you’ll want to keep images of single animals out of the bedroom. Animals are typically very active, and having one in your bedroom will prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep; also, a “single” creature detracts from any energy of partnership. An interesting thing about energy is that it doesn’t stop just because our eyes are closed. If a type of energy exists in our space, our brains can perceive it even while we sleep. A sleeping brain—without engaging the physical function of

The Bedroom

186

A Bedtime Routine for Your Best Night’s Sleep

Holistic design and principles of feng shui are a great start for getting a peaceful and restorative night’s sleep, but adding a healthy pre-bedtime routine will help you feel ready for sleep as soon as you climb into bed.

Bringing It All Home

◐ Set a regular bedtime. Allow yourself to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night. ◐ Begin your routine an hour before bedtime. What makes up “your routine” will vary based on your environment, but the important thing is to be mindful and deliberate about beginning to wind down for the day. If you’re a busy parent, your end-of-day prep may focus on organizing your space and taking a quick shower; for others, it may be about wrapping up a work project or getting a quick workout in. Whatever your routine is, be sure to devote some time to concluding your day and providing yourself with a calm and relaxing setting for sleep.

187

◐ Avoid electronics. For at least 30 minutes prior to going to bed, skip the technology and resist the urge to unwind by watching television. Make sure your bedroom is free of plugged-in and charging laptops and phones. ◐ Try using a diffuser with essential oils. Prior to bedtime, turn your diffuser on while you practice any skin-care or self-care routines. ◐ Dim the lights. This sends a signal to our brains that it’s time to prepare for sleep. Lower the lighting slightly while prepping for bed, and allow yourself to feel that your day is complete and you have nothing left that needs to be finished.

◐ Take a few minutes to write down three things from the day that you are grateful for. This can be a win of any kind and any size, from landing a new account at work to remembering to empty the washing machine. For the purposes of this exercise, all wins are equal and worthy of celebrating. ◐ Choose an activity that will help you fall asleep. A few minutes of reading a book, listening to some music, or doing a guided meditation is likely all you’ll need to drift off easily and wake up feeling restored and well rested.

The Bedroom

188

vision—doesn’t discern between an image and the real thing. Let’s say that you have an image of a strong, beautiful, powerful, running horse directly over your bed. When you’re awake, you look at this image and admire it for its strength, unaware of the high amount of energy that your brain is receiving from it. While you’re sleeping directly underneath it, your brain is still receiving the energy of the running horse. But now that you are asleep and unaware, you are more vulnerable to an animal charging directly at you. Obviously, to someone who is awake and conscious of the fact that the horse is just an image, this doesn’t present any danger. But your sleeping brain—not aware that this is just an image—is now on high alert, which will inevitably lead to disrupted sleep, and that’s not good for overall health. Very personal art, especially anything you created, works well in a bedroom. Images that depict any type of safe, protective energy, such as a mountain in the background, or those that promote partnership or romantic relationships, such as pairs of animals, are also ideal in this room. Family photos, especially those of kids, parents, and in-laws, are best placed in the living room.

Tying It All Together Once you’ve gone through your “Bedroom Checklist” (page 190), you’ll want to repeat much of the living room styling process here in the bedroom. Place your furniture to allow for a free and uncomplicated traffic flow (while maintaining command position, of course). In a bedroom, this just means placing your

Bringing It All Home

189

bed so that you have a view of the door without being directly in front of it, ideally against a wall to maintain the feeling of protection and security, and making sure that any other furnishings like a chair, a bench, or a dresser allow for easy movement. In the event that your bedroom’s size or architectural design won’t allow for command position, try using a footboard at the end of your bed as an energetic “barrier” between yourself and the door. In the bedroom, your nightstands offer a visually important styling opportunity, just as the coffee table does in the living room. For functionality, consider the ratio of two-thirds styled to one-third open space. You might style a nightstand with a stack of two books, a small ceramic dish for rings and small things, and a framed painting or photo hung on the wall, just above the surface of the nightstand. A table lamp can also be great here, provided you still have about one-third of your horizontal space free. As with any space, you’ll want to vary your furniture shapes and visual weight. A balanced room has differences in scale and dimension, with a healthy amount of tension between design features. Imagine a bedroom with a large, heavy bed frame in a wood finish. This bed feels substantial and definitely takes up some significant space in the room, both physically and visually. Now imagine that you have equally heavy and substantial nightstands on either side of the bed. Suddenly, these three items start to visually morph together into one blocky shape. Finally, add some seating. Let’s say it’s an upholstered chair with a very solid frame that extends all the way to the floor. When you step back and take a big picture view of this room,

The Bedroom

190

it feels overstuffed. There are no differences in scale or visual weight. It’s likely that so much heavy furniture actually impedes traffic flow and that navigating through this room means taking an awkward path around the bed so as not to trip over it. The usual cause of this kind of overstuffing is the misconception

Bedroom Checklist ☐ Place the bed in command position. ☐ Avoid placing the bed on a wall that has a toilet or sink on the opposite side. (Read more on why to avoid this on page 230.) ☐ Use a controlled color palette. ☐ Embrace texture and a mix of patterns and textiles. ☐ Eliminate or cover the TV and reflective surfaces while sleeping. ☐ Refrain from having plants in the room. ☐ Opt for complete darkness, either with blackout curtains or an eye mask. ☐ Use a diffuser with lavender or cedarwood essential oil. ☐ Keep temperatures cool.

Bringing It All Home

191

that bedroom furnishings have to match. Let’s bust that myth once and for all. They don’t. More to the point, they shouldn’t. The most interesting rooms have pieces that draw your eye in and encourage you to keep going. They have visual peaks and valleys that take you on a little adventure as you notice everything inside. When all the pieces of furniture have too much in common, you lose this important layer of depth. Beyond this, a room full of heavy furniture is an energetic dead end. Energy can come into this room, but it stops short. Just like people, it can’t maneuver in this space, and it gets stuck. And stuck energy is the opposite of what we want in a bedroom. To avoid this, I like to vary my furnishings by including something weighty, something lighter, and something that’s a bit asymmetrical. (Is that a rule of threes again? Why yes, yes it is.) To remedy our heavy bedroom, let’s imagine that we hold on to the heavy bedframe, seriously lighten up those nightstands by using something with a glass shelf and more delicate legs, and add a chair that has a really special or unusual feature. Maybe it’s not a chair at all. Maybe it’s a bench with a Windsor back, or a pair of poufs or ottomans. Just by making these two changes, we’ve altered the feel of the space completely. There’s interest and lightness, and enough actual physical space for energy to flow around the room without getting stuck. In this new version of the space, your rug, lighting, art, and accessories will have a strong foundation to accent instead of being drowned out by overpowering furnishings.

The Bedroom

192

A Word about Rugs

I love using rugs to bring color and definition to a space. You could argue that some areas, like kitchens or hallways, look lovely with an uncovered hardwood or tile floor, and that wouldn’t be wrong. But I personally love the warmth and extra bit of pattern and texture that you’ll get from adding a rug. In my own home, I often layer one on top of the other, just to amp up the texture and pattern play even more. To get the maximum impact from your rugs, follow these three rules. Buy the largest area rug that you can to fill your space. If this is a new idea to you, you may be surprised to learn that large rugs are not just for incredibly massive spaces. A rug that is too small for

Bringing It All Home

193

a room will give you the vague feeling that something is off. Aim for a rug that extends at least 6 inches [15 cm] beyond the edge of your bed on either side. If a larger rug isn’t in your budget right now, don’t worry. Either buy two (coordinating, but not matching) rugs of a smaller size and layer them, or buy one rug that is approximately the same size as your bed, and place it in a perpendicular position under the foot of the bed, extending at least 6 inches [15 cm] beyond the legs and to about the middle of the mattress. This will allow your room to feel sufficiently filled by the rug, because it will extend out from the three most visible sides of your bed, and much of the visual real estate near the head of the bed will be filled by your nightstands. Remember to include the color, pattern, or texture of your rug in your design plan. A rug should appear to be a feature that was chosen intentionally, rather than as an afterthought just to cover the floor. A uniquely patterned rug

can actually be enough of a standout that it can drive the design for the rest of your space. Take your time when choosing your rug; there are virtually unlimited options available, including a flat weave, a Moroccan Beni Ourain, a shag or sheepskin, a cowhide, something vintage, and even a jute or sisal. Allow yourself to research different materials and textures and enjoy the process. Consider the amount of foot traffic through your space. In your own bedroom, it’s likely that a softer textile, like a silk and wool blend, or a lighter color would fare well and not have to withstand too much wear. In a child’s bedroom or another frequently traveled area, though, you’ll want to choose something that can stand up to frequent use and frequent cleaning. For these spaces, I prefer to go with natural materials like sisal, jute, or wool, in colors that won’t show marks or stains too easily.

The Bedroom

194

COLOR PALETTES

BEDROOM EDITION

Choosing your bedroom’s color palette can seem like a daunting task. On one hand, you’ve got limitless colors to pick from, and on the other, you need something that can check a lot of boxes. Your bedroom needs to feel restful and calming, it needs to be something you won’t tire of looking at, it needs to be flattering to be in, and it likely needs to work with some existing furniture. It’s no wonder that people often give up and settle for something neutral that works but just isn’t very inspiring. The struggle is real! Here I share some of my favorite palettes. If you use them as a jumping-off point and adapt them as needed to accommodate any pieces you already own, you’ll finish with a bedroom that is as beautiful and energetically aligned as it is functional. Keep in mind that while I will be sharing paint color names with you, in no way is it necessary to paint all of the colors below in one room! The intent is to use one color to paint the space and a second color for painting a smaller detail, should it be necessary (window trim, molding, baseboards—a small but important feature); then use all three colors together as a reference for choosing decor like bedding, window treatments, rugs, and accessories.

Bringing It All Home

195

Black and white This isn’t just any stark black and white. The trick to making this palette work is to go for a slightly off-black (like Farrow & Ball’s Railings) paired with a warm, flattering, but neutral white that’s free of any green or yellow undertones. (Benjamin Moore’s Cotton Balls is my all-time favorite white for any space, and I’ve definitely experimented with quite a few whites. You’ll hear me reference this color all the time because it is just that good.) I like to pop in what I call a “noncolor color” here: a color that is so adaptable that it reads as a neutral and blends in while also lifting the room and adding dimension. In this case, a very pale blush, like Benjamin Moore’s Pink Damask, does the trick. This is a super warm and flattering palette that invites layering in mixed textures, patterns, and materials. The colors are neutral enough that the odd bright accent as a detail on an accessory can still feel perfectly at home. Get super tactile with this palette. Embrace velvets, fringe, shag, and a mix of natural materials. Keep the vibes and the aesthetic elevated by bringing in finishes of marble, unlacquered brass, and mixed woods.

Layered neutrals This palette can truly work in any space, with any aesthetic. It’s as great for the maximalist as it is for the minimalist. It consists only of a clean, neutral white (dare I say Cotton Balls again?), a slightly warmer off-white, such as Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace, and—here is the genius part—a very slightly darker neutral that can lean either toward beige or pale gray. What you choose for this third color will completely transform the first

The Bedroom

196

two. For a more modern spin, opt for the gray and use Benjamin Moore’s Paper White. For a more nature-inspired or even a coastal feel, use a pale beige, like Benjamin Moore’s Winter Sky or Pristine. (Again, no need to actually use all of these as paint. Consider these as colors that you’ll bring in through materials.) If you’re aiming for a calm, serene, neutral setting, stick with these three, add warm metallic finishes, layer in warm textures, and you’re done. If, though, you’re more of a collector who loves a bright mix of colors, this palette can still be just right. There’s nothing better to highlight a multicolored, maximalist collection than a clean and bright backdrop of layered whites and neutrals. Stick with your neutral palette for all of the larger items in your room, like walls and window treatments, and embrace an eclectic mix of colors and textures through bedding, rugs, and accessories.

Pink and green Admittedly, this palette does have the potential to go a bit too far if we don’t use some restraint. But if we consider the pink to be a very faint, warm neutral, and the green to be a shot of moody intensity, the results can be stunning. Begin with Benjamin Moore’s Cotton Balls. Use this white for the ceiling, and decide if you want every wall in your room to be pink, or if you want to dial it back and stick with white for the walls as well. The pale pink, in this case Benjamin Moore’s Mellow Pink, can be used on an accent wall, or just for bedding or window treatments. This color combo is also a great high vibe combo for a bedroom, representing the energies of love (pink) and

Bringing It All Home

197

health (green), which are both aligned with the heart chakra. Next, layer in a deep, rain forest–inspired green, like Benjamin Moore’s Forest Green, through furniture, rugs, or even light fixtures (a green velvet upholstered chair would be fabulous in this space!), and combine all three colors through soft accessories like pillows and throws. Add some neutrals through natural materials, like a sheepskin or maybe a vintage cane headboard, pair with some warm brass hardware finishes, and enjoy your new cozy and restful space.

The Bedroom

198

How to Mix Patterns Like a Pro

The term “pattern mixing” is something that designers tend to throw around casually, but there is definitely an art to a successful mix of patterns. Like most things that appear to be casual and effortless, a good pattern mix is actually very carefully considered. In “The Living Room” (page 145), we covered how to expertly mix accessories when styling a coffee table, and we discussed the importance of coordinating the shape, scale, and color palette to bring seemingly unrelated items together. The same principles apply to mixing patterns within a space.

Bringing It All Home

199

Mixing patterns is a brilliant way to add depth and interest to a tight color palette, and it’s one of my favorite styling tricks. Using the pink, green, and white palette on page 196 as an example, imagine that we have a grouping of three pillows and a throw to style together. We could go the safe route and choose three solid colors and a single pattern, possibly a striped pattern on the throw. This configuration would keep to our palette, and it would look fine in our bedroom, but it wouldn’t be anything special. It’s a wasted opportunity to give your eye something to get excited about. Now imagine applying the rule of threes to those same three pillows and throw: We’ll need a pattern that’s large and vertical, one that’s smaller and horizontal, and one that’s asymmetrical. Imagine pairing a large vertical stripe with a horizontal floral pattern. And to add something asymmetrical, let’s try something unexpected, like a leopard print. (Yes, you can actually find leopard print in pinks and greens! If you have trouble finding

pillows with exactly the patterns you want, know that pillow covers are one of the easiest pieces to have made or to sew yourself. Find some gorgeous fabric that works with your palette, and before you know it you’ll have your own custom pillows.) With this much pattern happening on our pillows, it’s completely OK to have a solid-colored throw, but if you’re feeling brave, try to work in one more pattern. A throw with a pompom or a tassel in a contrasting color would be fabulous. Style the pillows all together at the head of the bed, drape the throw across the foot of the bed, and you’ve just mastered your first pattern mix. The depth and contrast happening just in those four items really bumps up the visual interest.

The Bedroom

KIDS’ SPACES

202

Full disclosure: Kids’ rooms are my absolute favorite spaces to design.

From a design point of view, kids’ areas are full of opportunities to experiment, to go wild with color and pattern, and to get creative with styling. From an energetic perspective, they’re even better. Kids just are good energy. They live for fun, exploration, laughter, and love. They are the embodiment of all of the positive energy that you could possibly hope to bring into a space, and there is nothing like the joy that’s returned from creating a magical place that brings joy to a child.

Bringing It All Home

203

KIDS’ BEDROOMS If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to design a child’s bedroom, jump in with both feet and soak up every minute of that creative process. It’s truly good for the soul. Partnering with a child on creating a design plan is like an adventure. Let them lead you through their wishes for their space, and let their enthusiasm be contagious. You’ll gain a super clear idea of the type of magic that they’ll love waking up to every day, and it will without a doubt be your most inspiring design brainstorming session ever. Of course, there are practical concerns that you’ll need to address, but you’ll take care of them along the way. By now you’re likely familiar with some of the energetic must-haves when styling a bedroom: maintaining a clear path for both traffic and energy, using command position, keeping the room free of plants, balancing the number of items displayed using our two-thirds/one-third rule to add interest without appearing cluttered, and using colors that are supportive. Your kid’s room design plan should begin with these principles, but there are a few kid-specific differences that you’ll want to keep in mind. First, kids may have a very different idea about color than you do. What you might see as beautiful and sweet, they may see as boring. I define a successful kid’s space as one that they can’t wait to be in, so wherever possible, I like to take their color requests seriously. This doesn’t mean that if the child I’m designing for loves neon colors that the room will feature a full spectrum of them—that would definitely not be conducive to a good night’s sleep! But it does mean that I make

Kids’ Spaces

204

sure to include some favorite colors through accessories and materials, and allow for a broader color palette. There’s no reason why a kid’s room can’t be sophisticated and lovely and energetically aligned. Actually, I’ve always found that it’s the more design-driven or slightly “adult” pieces that make kids feel like they have something special. They are already super familiar with bright colors, kid-friendly imagery, and even their favorite characters, so chances are these are all of the things that they’ll have on their room wish list. But if you surprise them with something that feels grown-up, while incorporating their favorites, then they have the best of both worlds. They have a space that feels at once familiar and fun, but also special and unique to them, and this is the winning formula for kids’ room magic. One way that I love to accomplish this is by using kid-size versions of adult furniture. Creating miniature seating vignettes with a daybed or small upholstered chairs and a table gives them a cozy spot for reading and playtime that is just for them.

Case Study: Working with Kids to Design Their Own Spaces My first experience designing a child’s room was, not surprisingly, for my daughter. She’d outgrown her toddler room while our family was in the midst of an incredibly lengthy and involved home renovation, so she was very ready for and deserving of a truly amazing space of her own. She was four years old at the time, so during our “client interview,” she confirmed that she wanted some pretty typical four-year-old design

Bringing It All Home

205

features: a room full of fairies, mermaids, and the colors pink and purple. Now, I know this “client” well, so it was easy for me to read between the lines with this request. But even so, regardless of the specific palette or decor involved, every kid wants something that feels like it’s theirs alone. They want to see themselves represented in this space. They want to be surprised and delighted and have things to discover. Even if the “things” they’re discovering are already theirs, they’ll love seeing them displayed in a new way or being given a new “home” in their room. So for my daughter’s pink-and-purple magical-fairymermaid room, I began my process much as I would with any other space. I took inventory of what we already had and what we’d need to accommodate, and I determined what new pieces we’d need (in this case, just about everything!). Using her wish list as a starting point, I decided that her wall color would be a very pale, almost neutral, shade of pink. Energetically, pink is a bit more comforting and restful than purple, so I made the executive decision to use purple as an accent. I opted not to use wallpaper at the time, purely for practical reasons. (Although I absolutely love using wallpaper to bring a level of sophistication to a kid’s room, paint is easier to change when the time comes.) From there, I began my search for rugs. For this space, I knew I needed something with color and pattern in a wearresistant material and a very large size. It took me months to find, but I did eventually find something that checked every box: a vintage, overdyed wool, flat-weave rug with a bohemian feel that was full of colors I knew she’d love. In fact, it was such

Kids’ Spaces

206

a hit that it ended up informing some of the color choices for the bedding and accessories throughout the space. This rug was one of her “grown-up surprises.” It felt similar to rugs she’d seen in other areas of our home, but with colors that spoke to her, and it was all new, just for her. With so much color and pattern already happening in the space, the rest of the decisions were incredibly easy. I used a vintage-inspired metal bed, a mid-century modern credenza for both toy storage and styling of her special items and artwork (form, function, and adult-like surprise—a triple win!), and fulllength floor-to-ceiling curtains for some drama—all in white. I found bedding that just had to have been created for her: a pale lilac quilt with an appliqued mermaid, surrounded by embroidered stars. Lastly, I accessorized with a glittering, gem-covered chandelier, cushions, artwork, mobiles, and string lights for a sparkly, magical feel. The end result was something that was calm, soothing, beautiful, spacious, and—most importantly— hers, while addressing everything that she’d initially asked for. While this specific space was designed with a girl in mind, the concepts at play here are the same whether you’re creating a space that feels traditionally masculine, feminine, or more gender neutral.

PLAYROOMS Kids love spaces that feel like a secret. An indoor tent, a princess canopy, a secret door, a castle, or a playhouse—these spaces evoke imagination and magic for them. What we see as a bunk bed, they might see as a spaceship or rain forest. This creates a space that feels safe and secure and, most

Bringing It All Home

207

importantly, exclusively theirs. This is the kind of energy that we’re striving for in a kid’s playroom. It may not be purely restful, but it is joyful, and to a child, joy and peace can be very much the same thing. It’s impossible to overstate the value of fostering creativity and imagination in a kid’s space. For them, this is wellness. The joy of curiosity and creating will grow with them, and encouraging this while they’re young will give them an outlet for expression, inspire them to explore new activities and sports as they get older, and eventually turn into a love of learning that will serve them well for a lifetime. Encourage children’s natural abilities of learning through play by designating an area that’s just for them. A whole room will definitely make organizing and containing the mess easier for you, but as far as they’re concerned, it just needs to be a space. A couple of walls, a corner bookshelf, or a section of the living room is all they really need. Opt for toys that prompt them to use their imagination: perhaps a kitchen where they can “cook,” a doctor kit so they can give their stuffed friends (and family) checkups, blocks and tiles for building, and plenty of DIY craft supplies. Store these in a way that’s both easily accessible for them and quick to put away for you. For this purpose, I’m a big fan of multiple baskets that can be tucked into a closet or cabinet at the end of the day. Inspire a love of reading by creating a library for your children, but use some restraint here. Like many parents, I’m a huge advocate of beginning to read to kids when they’re very young, and I love the thought of having a limitless number of books on hand to spark interest in my young readers. However, I’ve learned that more is not necessarily better in this situation.

Kids’ Spaces

208

Though my kids liked to read a handful of books repeatedly for a couple of weeks, they also liked to sort through the entire library every day. This resulted in quite a few casualties: Covers were ripped off, pages were torn out (until I learned about board books), and in general my kids used books as a type of toddler sketchpad. I realized that having all the kids’ books displayed within their view was not only unnecessary, but would soon result in our having a lot fewer books. From that point on, I adopted a “less is more” policy for our books—at least for the ones on display. I suggest that you do the same. Designate a small area on a shelf that your children can reach, and stock it with their current favorites (no more than ten books). Store the others separately, and rotate them often. Not only will this energetically feel lighter and less cluttered, but it will reduce the stress of cleaning up and will preserve your book collection. Another important fact of life with kids’ spaces is this: They will be multifunctional. There will be toys, so having accessible, beautiful, organized toy storage is nonnegotiable. Kids will play. Toys will accumulate. And if they love their rooms, kids will bring toys into their rooms and play with them there, even if that is not the “official” home for their toys. I’ve learned to embrace this and be grateful when they love their spaces so much that they just want to be in them all the time. So, to keep their rooms beautiful and fun, I make sure to include plenty of storage for toys. Kids love to be self-sufficient, so I look for storage solutions that they can use on their own. Excellent toy storage options include large baskets or bins that can be stored inside a closet (as opposed to clear draw­ers or labeled boxes that need to be kept a bit more organized), low cabinets

Bringing It All Home

209

or shelves, and boxes that are beautiful enough to be left out. Remember that a clear and organized space is essential to maintaining high vibes. Organization will be good for your mood and sanity, as well as your children’s, even if they don’t realize it. Lastly, I love displaying kids’ artwork in their bedrooms and playrooms. Instead of trying to choose imagery that will be considered good feng shui, have your children create art in their favorite colors. Have it professionally framed, and display it on the south wall of their space. The south wall is the sector for achievement and recognition; by displaying their work in a position of recognition, we can help boost their confidence and self-esteem.

Kids’ Bedrooms & Playroom Checklist ☐ Place the bed in command position. ☐ Have sufficient storage to avoid clutter. ☐ Use organization (such as bins, boxes, or easyto-reach shelves) that is easy for the child to maintain on their own. ☐ Use a color palette that the child finds soothing. ☐ Include a few elevated, more “adult” pieces. ☐ Create a “secret” and protective space for them. ☐ Frame pieces of their own artwork on the south wall.

Kids’ Spaces

210

To further energetically align a kid’s space, display something aligned with the element of metal on the west wall of their bedroom or playroom, as the west is associated with metal and is the area of kids and creativity. This can be as simple as displaying their artwork in a metal frame. Family photos may seem like an obvious choice here too, and while a framed photo of your child on the west wall wouldn’t be detrimental, the best place for photos is really in the living room, where the family gathers together.

NURSERIES Possibly the sweetest, coziest, happiest space you’ll ever design is a nursery. A nursery holds lots of symbolism: It’s a baby’s first landing place, it’s their place of quiet and calm and protection, and it’s their space to grow and rest and, above all, receive love. In this way, nurseries are already set up to be high vibe spaces that hold amazing energy. Babies are born with the best energy, full of love and high self-esteem, and it’s our job to cultivate and amplify that energy for as long as possible. Designing a baby’s room energetically will help them have more restful sleep, feel more safe and secure, and in general have a calmer, happier experience. To create a high vibe, soothing, and supportive nursery, you’ll want to begin by using all of the bedroom techniques that we’ve covered: Crib | Place the crib in command position, meaning far from

the door, within view of but not facing the door. Avoid placing the crib on a wall that has a toilet or sink on the opposite side. (Read more on why to avoid this on page 230.)

Bringing It All Home

211

Clean | Keep the room free of clutter and plants. Lighting | Opt for darkness for times of sleep and soft lighting

for waking hours. Color | Adopt a supportive color palette. Storage | Ensure that you have a designated storage area for

toys, clothes, and baby-care supplies. In addition, there are a few extra baby-specific considerations. The first thing to decide on is the location of the nursery. If you have a separate room chosen, be sure that it’s not facing a noisy street, sharing a wall with a noisy neighbor or television, above a garage, or in general connected in any way to a source of noise that you won’t be able to control. If the space that you’ve chosen is in fact subject to one of these situations, you may want to consider a different room, if possible. Another option is to set up this room as your “official” nursery and create a separate, small sleeping area in another room in the house. It’s very common for newborn babies to sleep in their parents’ bedroom for several months, so you may find this happening anyway, even if your chosen nursery is in an ideal location. A few additional factors come into play when placing a crib in a space. After placing the crib in command position, you’ll want to check that it’s not pushed into a far corner of the room. This can have a stifling, overwhelming effect on a baby. Space permitting, the best position for a crib is centered against a wall, not in a corner and not under a window. If you are building a home and creating a new room for a nursery, then these considerations would all be completely possible. If you are working

Kids’ Spaces

212

with an existing structure, achieving all of these things could prove to be tricky. Take a deep breath and remember that the most important thing is command position; “cures” can lessen the effects of everything else. Finally, check to see if your crib placement is directly under an exposed beam or ceiling fan. Beams and fans are said to have compressing or cutting energy, which can feel heavy and disrupt sleep. If this is unavoidable in your nursery, consider hanging a canopy high above the crib. Make sure that it’s well out of reach of the baby, that it’s securely attached to avoid any danger of it falling or being pulled down, and that it conceals the view of the beam or fan. The canopy will essentially reshape the profile of the ceiling above the baby’s bed into something that is soft, fluid, and easy for energy to flow around. Mobiles and hanging decor are a common feature in nurseries. They give babies something to focus on, which helps them develop their eyesight, and they can provide a nice distraction from mundane tasks like getting dressed. Beyond that, just as hanging wind chimes or crystals in our spaces can help raise vibes by gently steering energy, hanging things in a nursery will help keep energy flowing through it. A mobile or two hanging in the path of a breeze from an open window will create energetic movement, as will playing music very softly or running a small, noiseless fan. Make sure that anything hanging in the nursery is soft or rounded, as sharp shapes and angles can send an aggressive energy toward anything that they are inadvertently pointing toward. Often the first thing we think about when imagining a happy, secure nursery is color. It’s human nature, especially for

Bringing It All Home

213

us “visual people.” We tend to see things in color first, details second. Color evokes feeling, so it makes sense, then, that the thought of creating a nursery that is happy, calm, and soothing can materialize in our brains as something calm and neutral, using lots of whites and pale colors. These colors remind us of softness, and they’re gentle and safe, which are all qualities that we want in a nursery. Followers of feng shui would agree that stark color differences could be considered jarring and should generally be avoided. This is where I, intuitively, differ strongly from feng shui. While we may associate soft colors with safety and security, babies have no such preconceptions. They actually require contrast for healthy eyesight development. Contrasting colors help their depth perception develop, whereas a sea of soft colors that blend into one another can be hard for them to discern until their eyes are a bit more developed. To this point, many toys that are geared for newborn development (as opposed to those that are intended more for decor) come in deliberately jarring color combinations. So while adults, myself included, may love the feeling of an all white or neutral nursery, I always try to include even a small amount of contrast in all of my nursery palettes. In the following DIY, I’ve included some of my all-time favorite, genderneutral nursery palettes for inspiration.

Kids’ Spaces

214

COLOR PALETTES

GENDER NEUTRAL NURSERY EDITION The key to keeping any nursery palette feeling gender neutral is to rely heavily on white. As you may have noticed, my favorite white is Benjamin Moore’s Cotton Balls, and it pairs perfectly with any of the following palettes.

White with accents of black and kelly green Soften this palette with furnishings in natural wood finishes, woven rattan, or cane.

Layered mixed whites with lots of texture You can mix shades of white, ranging from bright white to warm ivory. Pair with mixed metallics in brass, silver, or rose gold and an abundance of texture. Try emphasizing a bohemian or global aesthetic, and bring in color through hanging decor like pom-poms or flag garlands and framed art.

White with strong pops of teal and cherry red Teal and cherry red are opposite each other on the color wheel, so they provide some natural contrast, while the depth of each shade keeps the palette feeling sophisticated instead of stark.

Bringing It All Home

215

White with . . . a rainbow! You just can’t help but get excited about a space with a rainbow theme. To keep it calm, ground the space by using white on all of your larger areas: walls, window treatments, crib, and even the rug (although white with a multicolor pattern would be perfect in this space). Then bring in color with the bedding, furniture, storage, light fixtures, and accessories. This isn’t to say that every one of your smaller items should be in a rainbow motif (although an actual rainbow pillow or throw would be lovely), but rather that each one is small enough in the scheme of your room that it can come in a different, solid color of the rainbow. For example, if you’re planning to include a chair or glider, pick your favorite color for this since it will be your largest item. Let’s say it’s blue. Next you need a light fixture—maybe a pendant or a pair of sconces? Go for something bold, like a kelly green. Work your way around the room in this way until all of the rainbow colors are represented equally.

White with sage green Sage green is one of those “noncolor colors” that works like a neutral, but better. Combined with white, sage lends itself well to serving as a backdrop for a flora and fauna inspiration. It works just as well for a fairy-inspired room as it does for a rain forest or dinosaur room. Try combining it with pale neutrals for a soft, bohemian feel, or make it more of a standout feature by combining it with a deep navy blue.

Kids’ Spaces

THE KITCHEN & BATHROOM

218

Kitchens and bathrooms have similar energetic profiles.

They’re both practical spaces with draining features—sinks, toilets, tubs—that need to be contained to avoid any potential negative energy. Because of their similar energetic properties, we’ll look at both in this chapter, starting with the kitchen.

Bringing It All Home

219

THE KITCHEN Styling your kitchen from an energetic point of view is more about avoiding potentially negative aspects than increasing positive ones. Kitchens, in large part due to their need to be highly functional above all else, carry some energy-draining aspects that it’s best to contain. (This is true of bathrooms too, but we’ll get to that!) In feng shui, the kitchen is said to represent the health and abundance of anyone living in your home, so limiting any detrimental aspects is of extra importance in this space.

Color in the Kitchen You want any functional space to be gorgeous but also supportive of any of the tasks that you’ll need to do there. In the kitchen, I love a clean and simple color palette; beautiful, uncomplicated hardware; a mix of natural materials; and statement lighting. Your palette can feature a strong color, but its use should be straightforward. Solid colors and clean shapes will really allow the brilliant function to be the star of your kitchen. You want to choose a color that you won’t become bored of looking at and that will still feel fresh a few years on. For this reason, you can’t go wrong with an all-white kitchen. It’s clean and bright, it’s utterly timeless, and it sets the stage for other standout design features. A white kitchen can really show off a beautiful material like a marble countertop or backsplash. Also, a kitchen doesn’t have to be composed 100 percent of white to be considered a “white kitchen.” You can mix in neutrals, shades of off-white, wood finishes, or even black to

The Kitchen & Bathroom

220

avoid your white kitchen feeling stark while maintaining the overall white aesthetic. Likewise, a black kitchen can also be stunning, simple, and surprisingly warm. It too can be mixed with neutrals, wood finishes, or smaller bits of white to soften the aesthetic while holding on to its monotone feel. Another super versatile kitchen color is anything in the blue family. Blue naturally has a calming, tranquil feel that instantly puts people at ease, which means that everyone will love gathering in and around your kitchen. Muted shades like a grayish cornflower blue, a dark navy, a light denim, and even an ultra-pale aqua will all provide a boost of color while still being neutral enough to feel timeless. Something that will for sure influence your color decision is your choice of materials. The sky’s the limit when it comes to kitchen materials, and as with most spaces that we’ve covered here, the beauty is in the mix. The biggest decisions that you’ll need to make with regard to materials are countertops, cabinets, and floor and backsplash tile. I advise you to pick first the one thing that will be your standout feature, or the one that you’ll be most attached to. If you know that you absolutely must have a Calacatta marble countertop, then this decision will guide your other decisions. Likewise, if you just cannot have a kitchen without a patterned Moroccan encaustic tile, the color, pattern, and price of this selection will no doubt affect your other decisions. Here are some of my favorite kitchen material combinations. The nonwhite white | white marble countertop + white stained

wood cabinets + zellige tile backsplash + black and white tile floor + unlacquered brass hardware

Bringing It All Home

221

The tuxedo | white quartz countertop + white stained wood

upper cabinets and black stained wood lower cabinets + offwhite fish scale ceramic tile backsplash + patterned encaustic (concrete) floor tiles + unlacquered brass hardware The modern classic | white marble countertop + navy painted

upper cabinets and dark walnut-stained lower cabinets + navy and white patterned tile backsplash + vintage wide-plank hardwood floors + stainless steel hardware

Lighting Lighting is one of my favorite elements in any space, and a kitchen gets so much use that it absolutely calls for some truly gorgeous lighting. Obviously, you’ll need purely functional lighting like recessed or under-cabinet lighting to properly light your work space, but what I’m talking about is the statement lighting. A standout light fixture will end up being one of your kitchen’s only accessories, so make sure it’s super good. No matter what the layout of your kitchen is, there’s always an opportunity to dress it up with your light fixture. Kitchen islands call for a row of pendant lights or, with a higher ceiling, a chandelier. Long countertops can use a decor hack that I absolutely adore: a table lamp on the counter. And kitchens in apartments or smaller spaces, or those with lower ceilings, can totally get in on this lighting party with a decorative flush-mounted or semi-flush-mounted fixture. To choose your statement lighting, take stock of what is already happening in your kitchen. If you have a ton of pattern and color through your tile and cabinets,

The Kitchen & Bathroom

222

opt for something that is a bit simpler. If you have more of a spare or minimalist kitchen, you could go for something that’s a bit flashier. Also, take into account the aesthetic of any spaces visible from your kitchen. If your space has a natural, coastal, or bohemian feel, then something using natural materials might be the perfect fit. But if your kitchen and the adjacent spaces feel a bit more modern, you could go for more modern lighting to complement it—or you could go for something completely unexpected and really make a statement. One of my all-time favorite pieces that I’ve ever seen in a kitchen was an oversize vintage disco ball that was retrofitted with a light fixture. It was slightly tarnished, which just added to its charm, and completely stood out from the rest of the space. It fit perfectly and was definitely memorable. So feel free to go a bit wild with your statement lighting. Be confident, and have fun with it.

Activate the Shui Traffic flow is one of the most important considerations when designing a kitchen. The “kitchen triangle” is a common principle that, provided you have enough square footage, is used to improve kitchen workflow by positioning the stove, sink, and refrigerator all within arm’s reach of one another. This kind of proximity works as well with a separate kitchen island as it does with connected countertops, as it serves to streamline the home chef’s flow in the kitchen. The important equipment is placed far enough apart so as to prevent crowding, but close enough that you can jump from refrigerator to sink to stove quickly. Improving traffic flow makes your kitchen run more

Bringing It All Home

223

smoothly, which helps keep stress levels low. Even though we are not trying to activate energy in the kitchen, a wellorganized traffic flow does in fact contribute to good kitchen vibes! Sufficient and easy-to-access storage is also very important in a well-designed kitchen. Designating a home for every utensil, pot, and pan that is out of sight but also easily accessible at a moment’s notice will keep your kitchen clear and free of clutter. It will also allow your cooking projects to run smoothly. (Anyone who’s ever burned something in the oven because they couldn’t find an oven mitt quickly enough will relate to this. A few seconds can be the difference between a culinary masterpiece and a raging oven fire.) Ideally, you want a kitchen with completely clear surfaces, from both a functionality and an energetic standpoint, so if storage space permits, I always like to have everything that I’m not currently using put away. There are very few exceptions to this, such as things that are just too large or heavy to lift every time you need to use them (I see you, stand mixer), but in general I like to display just a vase of flowers or a bowl of fruit (citrus has fabulous abundance energy!) and keep everything else out of sight. Our kitchen is the place where we store and prepare our food, and in ancient China, an abundance of food was considered an indication of wealth. For this reason, a fully stocked, clean, uncluttered kitchen speaks to good health and abundance, while a kitchen that is unclean, houses empty jars of food, or has a trash can in view can signify illness, loss of money, and arguments in the home.

The Kitchen & Bathroom

224

COLOR PALETTES

KITCHEN CABINET EDITION

When time or budget just doesn’t allow for a full kitchen renovation, updating your existing cabinets with paint and new hardware will have a transformative effect and cost much less than a total remodel. Consider pairing the colors recommended here with white as part of a two-tone kitchen plan. Combining a strong color with white is an easy way to add a bold update, while keeping the overall feel clean, modern, and friends with any surrounding spaces within sight. For more of a statement effect, choose a color that complements any features that you’ll be keeping (such as tile), and paint both upper and lower cabinets in a new, moody hue. Darker colors can add some “edge” to otherwise traditional and transitional kitchens, making them feel current. In addition, darker colors are super functional and great for concealing stains from messes and spills. Here are some of my favorite shades for a kitchen cabinet update. They’re all from Benjamin Moore.

Bringing It All Home

225

PEALE GREEN

a deep, tropical green

H A L E N AV Y

dark and muted blue that is so intense it’s nearly a neutral; it has been described as “the world’s most perfect navy”

B L AC K B E A U T Y

a warm and cozy off-black

G R AY O W L

a deep, warm gray

R AC C O O N F U R

an intense, dark blue-gray

The Kitchen & Bathroom

226

Kitchens contain both fire and water energy. These are both very potent elements, and while it’s necessary for them to coexist in this space, they have the potential to cancel each other out. This is why we focus on channeling these energies instead of amplifying them. The “fire” in your kitchen is created by the stove and oven. In small doses, fire is perfect for cooking food and adding warmth, so fire energy in the kitchen for this purpose is a good thing. A cold, dark kitchen represents illness, so we want a small amount of fire energy in the kitchen at all times. (Keep a dim light or nightlight on overnight to maintain the fire energy 24/7.) Amplifying it, though, as with an actual fire, could be energetically catastrophic. For this reason, we avoid things that would amplify the fire energy, such as mirrors or highly reflective surfaces positioned toward the stove and oven. Water energy, originating from the sink, just needs to be separated from the fire energy of the stove. If the two energies mix, they are said to cancel each other out. In a space that relies on its fire energy to promote life by feeding people, this is considered a detrimental aspect, not a positive one. Unless you are building a new kitchen, this decision has likely already been made, and it is probably not something that you’ll be able to do much about. If you are embarking on building a new kitchen, you have the advantage of being able to integrate some design features for great energy. First, include an island. A kitchen island offers the effect of command position and allows for wide passages for better traffic flow. Next, you have the opportunity to include elements that most kitchens lack. The strength of fire and water energy is so potent in the kitchen that

Bringing It All Home

227

they tend to overshadow any smaller instances of the metal, wood, or earth elements. In designing a new kitchen, you can bring all of these elements in really easily. Stainless appliances and metal hardware finishes will give strong metal energy, cabinets can boost your wood energy, and if you use marble tiles or a marble, granite, or quartz countertop, you’ll easily have your earth element covered. Still, even with all of these additions, you will want to mitigate the potential for too much fire or draining water energy, but including these features will be a great energetic upgrade. If your sink and stove are in very close proximity, all you need to do is hang something like a crystal, mobile, or set of wind chimes from above to disrupt the direct flow of energy. Sinks are said to drain energy from a space, so the goal is to not supply too much energy that will be drained away from your home’s center of health and abundance. For this reason, it’s ideal to keep kitchens free of energy-bringing design elements like large plants, water features, or other activations that we might bring into other spaces, since their energy will simply be sapped by the drain.

BATHROOM The bathroom is another space that is highly functional and unavoidably an energetic drain. The physical function of sinks, bathtubs/showers, and toilets is removal, and this steps into the energetic realm as well. We can’t get around this, nor should we, but the draining energy of these fixtures is not something that we want flowing out of the bathroom. Keeping the door to the bathroom closed is a good way to contain it.

The Kitchen & Bathroom

230

Kitchen & Bathroom Checklist ☐ Keep surfaces clear and free of clutter. ☐ Design for functionality, and keep accessories to a minimum. ☐ Use statement lighting as a prominent decor feature that is also functional. ☐ Channel fire and water energy; keep draining energy contained.

To avoid inadvertently activating energy in the bathroom, keep every surface as clear as possible. Some styling here is OK—for example, art on the walls or some candles around the bath—but in general, the things that are left out in your bathroom should be kept to a minimum. I love to see a bathroom with only a chic container for soap on the countertop, with everything else stored out of sight. The draining energy of the toilet is considered the strongest of the three fixtures. To that point, you want to be mindful of anything that is placed on the other side of a wall that holds a toilet. Energy is not contained by walls, so the draining effect of the toilet extends to anything that’s on any side of it. The same holds true for any space underneath a bathroom. Have a look at your floor plan, and consider what rooms are on the other side of the wall, or floor, from your toilet. Any space that’s directly

Bringing It All Home

231

next to or underneath the toilet will require an extra boost of energy (“a cure”) to offset the unwanted draining properties. If it’s a bedroom, you’ll want to place the bed on a wall that’s not attached to the toilet. If you can’t move the bed, or your toilet is opposite an entryway or shares a wall with the stove in your kitchen, the best cure for this is warm, bright lighting in the adjacent room to offset the “suppressed” energy. Now, with all of those energetic pitfalls in the bathroom, you might be thinking that it’s best to just run in and run out without spending too much time in there. While I do advise against any feng shui activations to boost health or prosperity in the bathroom, indulging in some self-care is absolutely fine; in fact, it’s necessary, and I am all for it. Light your favorite candles or incense, play some quiet music or even a guided meditation, and enjoy. To take your bath or shower experience from basic to restorative, consider including some eucalyptus. In the shower, try hanging some eucalyptus branches from the showerhead and allowing the steam to release it into the air. If you’re more interested in a long soak, either allow the eucalyptus to steam as you fill the tub, or just diffuse some essential oil while you’re getting ready.

The Kitchen & Bathroom

232

COLOR PALETTES

BATHROOM EDITION Choosing the best palette for your bathroom starts with considering what feeling you want your space to convey. Are you looking to create a Zen oasis for self-care, or are you in need of a super clean and functional, brightly lit, and energizing space? If you’re designing a powder room, you might feel willing to make some less practical, more aesthetically driven choices. For a spa-like, relaxing environment in your master bath, try a palette that is tonal, soothing, and inspired by nature. Palettes with layered neutrals or soft, coastal-inspired colors will work well. A quiet, tonal range of colors that lends itself to candlelit baths at the end of the day will help you create your own personal sanctuary. If your master bath needs to be more of a doublefunctioning staging area for your day, consider a palette that’s light and bright, energizing, and a good backdrop for skin-care and cosmetic application. An all-white bathroom is, of course, perfect for this, while a brightly colored vanity or floor tile can add life and keep your space feeling energized. To make your pop of bright color feel intentional, find a way to sprinkle it throughout the space. For example, if your palette is a mix of whites with a bright green and a little black, choose three places to layer in the green. Your tile or vanity will already be a prominent placement, and by repeating the color through lighting fixtures,

Bringing It All Home

233

wallpaper, towels, or accessories, you’ll give it enough of a presence to feel deliberate. Ground your bright color with a more subtle use of your dark one—in this case, black. This can be done with hardware finishes, window trim, or accessories. This type of subtle but specific layering of color will draw your eye around the space and keep your palette feeling considered. When it’s a powder room that’s getting an upgrade, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Powder rooms are usually not the primary bathroom, due to their lack of bathtub or shower, and they aren’t primarily used for cosmetic application, so this is one space where just about anything goes. Now’s your chance to use a statement wallpaper, a strong color, or dark and moody lighting. Once you’ve decided on your palette, it’s time to sample your paint colors. At your local paint store, choose three shades of your selected color: one you think will be exactly right, one shade lighter, and one shade darker. To test these, I always like to paint samples on pieces of white poster board instead of painting directly on the wall. I find that by painting swatches on poster board, I can view my new color in any type of daylight from any part of the room, which is a bit more efficient than painting a swatch on every wall. Once your swatches have dried and you’ve evaluated them in all different types of light, it’s time to let your intuition take over and just go with whatever you’re the most drawn to.

The Kitchen & Bathroom

234

Meditation Prompts for Self-Care

Maintaining a daily meditation practice can have significant mental and physical health benefits. Once you’ve created an energetically supportive space, say, in your bathroom, keep those vibes high with a meditation practice that focuses on self-love. If you’re just beginning your journey with meditation, a recorded guided practice or meditation prompts can be a great way to get started. The next time you’re in the bath or getting ready in the morning, ask yourself one of the following questions to inspire greater awareness and self-care.

◐ What am I grateful for? ◐ What is my most positive quality? ◐ Imagine it’s a year from today. What’s changed? ◐ What can I do differently to become 5 percent healthier? ◐ What can I let go of from my daily schedule? ◐ How can I embrace more creativity? ◐ How can I create greater connection to family and loved ones? ◐ What accomplishment am I most proud of? ◐ Which of my gifts would I like to enhance? ◐ How can I contribute more to my community? ◐ How can I cultivate greater presentmoment awareness?

Bringing It All Home

236

Resources

By now you know that there’s so much more to shopping than just buying to fill a space. Whether online or in person, treat shopping as an adventure where your end goal is inspiration. If something inspires you, it will always work in your space. These are some of my favorite sources.

The Future Perfect | thefutureperfect.com Homenature | homenature.com Ikea | ikea.com Jungalow | jungalow.com Lulu and Georgia | luluandgeorgia.com Organic Modernism | organicmodernism.com Rejuvenation | rejuvenation.com Room and Board | roomandboard.com Serena and Lily | serenaandlily.com Target | target.com

Furniture & Decor 1st Dibs | 1stdibs.com

West Elm | westelm.com Wyeth | wyeth.nyc Zara Home | zarahome.com/us/

ABC Carpet and Home | abchome.com Anthropologie | anthropologie.com Article | article.com Blu Dot | bludot.com CB2 | cb2.com Chairish | chairish.com Crate and Barrel/Crate and Kids | crateandbarrel.com

Rugs Annie Selke | annieselke.com Etsy | etsy.com Jonathan Adler | jonathanadler.com Loloi | loloirugs.com Madeline Weinrib | madelineweinrib.com

Design Within Reach | dwr.com

The Rug Company | therugcompany.com

Dyphor New York | dyphorshop.com

Rugs.com | rugs.com

Furbish Studio | furbishstudio.com

Stark | starkstudiorugs.com

Resources

237

Lighting

Candles & Scents

All Modern | allmodern.com

Anthropologie | anthropologie.com

Arteriors | arteriorshome.com

Baja Zen | bajazenusa.com

Circa Lighting | circalighting.com

Bright Black Candles | brightblackcandles.com

Schoolhouse Electric | schoolhouse.com Y Lighting | ylighting.com

Wallpaper

Byredo | byredo.com Copper Wings Candles | copperwingscandleco.com Diptyque | diptyqueparis.com

Cole and Son | cole-and-son.com/en/

Gilded | gildedbody.com

De Gournay | degournay.com

Harlem Candle Company | harlemcandlecompany.com

Divine Savages | divinesavages.com Ferm Living | fermliving.com Flavor Paper | flavorpaper.com House of Hackney | houseofhackney.com Hygge and West | hyggeandwest.com Pierre Frey | pierrefrey.com/en/ Scalamandre | scalamandre.com Schumacher | fschumacher.com

Homesick Candles | homesick.com  Lafco | lafco.com Nest | nestnewyork.com Olphactory Candles | olphactorycandles.com Saje Wellness | saje.com Trudon | trudon.com Unlax Candles | unlaxcandles.com

Voutsa | voutsa.com

Resources

239

Acknowledgments This book, and my journey toward it, would quite literally not have been possible without the influence, words, wisdom, and support of so very many people along the way. These are just a few to whom I owe my endless gratitude: Lola and Ruby. Mom, Dad, and Chicken. Jay and Virg. Miss Hill. Fred. Arnold. Kelsey. Susan. Claire and the entire team at Chronicle, especially Lizzie, Magnolia, Cecilia, Maddie, and Meghan, who took a massive chance on me, Judith, Tami, and Margo for their keen eyes for editing, and Tara for beautifully capturing what it means to style with high vibes through her lens. Thank you.

Acknowledgments

241

A NOTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kirsten Yadouga is an interior designer and a Reiki, feng shui, and meditation expert. She began her career in fashion, where she worked with clients such as Coach and Madewell, before opening her holistic design business, The Interior Intuitive. She lives in New York with her two daughters.

Want More Chronicle Ebooks? k

H e r e ! C Cli

Get

freebies, discounts, and more!