The feng shui of a creative process - be it painting, writing music or writing a book - always implies making space for that which is not here yet. In other words, it is like the birth of a baby - highly expected, painful, powerful and chaotic at the same time.

An ideal feng shui space is not the Zen-looking serene space. The ideal feng shui space is the space that has the best feng shui energy to support a specific activity intended for that space. For example, if you are applying feng shui for your meditation & yoga room, then yes, you are looking to evoke as much feng shui serene, peaceful energy as possible.

The ideal feng shui planning of a creative space will be able to hold both rhythms, because the creative process has both rhythms - the germination/dreaming/planning time and the actual manifestation time.

Before you focus on attracting the best feng shui energy into your creative studio, answer these questions:

1. What is the main energy I want in this space, what specific activity is this space intended for?
2. What works best for me and how do I need to feel in order to perform well this activity?

For example, my work consist of two main activities - I consult for clients and I write. The creative part of my feng shui work is to constantly come up with new, fresh ideas in applying traditional feng shui for my clients’ spaces; as well as write articles on various modern applications of classical feng shui. I love clean, calming colors and shapes, and I also absolutely love bright colors! So, the “backbone” of my home office - the wall color, the office furniture, the seating area - is all white colors, which create sort of a clean, white canvas feeling of a beginner’s mind, so to speak. The second layer, though, is full of color and movement - I have beautiful, vibrant art with bright colors, as well as a whole wall with various bright and inspiring images/clipping from magazines, ideas, specific words, etc.

My main desk surface has to always be clean; the other, lower desk surfaces usually hold a variety of current materials and projects I am working on. I have a very clear system of storing my files and I keep in view only the current ones. All the tools I need on a daily basis are in clear proximity. My office space has big windows and glass doors, thus a lot of natural light coming in; I also have many aromatic herbs and plants on my patio, along with unique natural crystals formations. This set-up brings a vibrant, fresh energy that helps me replenish my own energy when I take short breaks from work.

Clutter in feng shui is defined as items that you have not used for a long time, and do not actually need. No matter chaotically arranged all over the space, or blocking just one corner - the energy that is created by clutter is blocking the feng shui energy flow, thus draining energy from you.

Personally, I can be Ok with files, photos, floor plans, notes all over my working space for a couple days while I am busy working on a big project; it is a creative mess, so to speak, that is inevitable, and actually very helpful, while working. However, once I am done with the project or am moving to its next stage, all the materials get filed promptly. I cannot work or create in a sterile environment, but I also cannot stand clutter.

Please note that the creative tools you need, no matter how many or how you arrange them, are not clutter. You might have a very busy studio space, however, that does not mean that your studio is cluttered. If you do have a small space, though, clear organization is crucial to maintain the feng shui flow of creative energy.

To attract the best feng shui energy for your creative studio apply these basic feng shui tips:

Have elements from nature (plants, natural light, rocks from the beach, etc.)
Bring strong blocks of color and movement (art, music, small fountain, etc.)
Display representation of your successful projects.
Clearly organize all the tools you need.
Create a clearly defined “no-rules” area. Make it as big or as small as your space allows and let it contain various items you deem necessary with no restrictions. The only rule, though, is to revise and clean this area at regular intervals that work for you - be it every week, every day or every month.