Hello!
This month, I’m revealing a powerful concept that most people feel but rarely discuss: the “ick” you sense in a room isn’t in your head—it’s real, measurable energy in your space that you’re feeling.
As a holistic interior designer, I’ve learned that what you feel in a space is every bit as important as what you see. That feeling, the heaviness, discomfort, unease, or tension, is energy in motion. We’ve all walked into a room after someone’s argument, or visited a home that looks fine but “feels off.” That’s not just emotional: it’s energetic. And science is finally catching up with spirituality and ancient Indigenous practices with the studies to prove it.
So don’t brush that feeling away the next time you feel the ‘ick.’ Your intuition is spot-on. Read on to discover the latest findings and learn how you can start transforming the energy of your own spaces.
As always, if you have questions, want to share your story, or need support with your space, I’m here—just hit reply. And if this message resonates with someone you love, feel free to forward it along 🙏.
Sending you lots of 💛,
What the Science Says: Vibes, Neuroscience & Dutch Findings
Science is finally catching up to centuries-old wisdom. Here are some of the most compelling studies that show how energy, environment, and our perception of “vibes” are not just “woo woo” – they are rooted in measurable effects.
A recent article in NeurologyLive explores how much of what we call “vibes” are actually neurological responses. Researchers show that when we walk into a space, our brains, especially parts like the limbic system (which handles memory, fear, safety), are absorbing subtle cues: tone of voice, previous conflicts, physical layout, lighting, even smells, that influence how safe or uneasy we feel.
A dutch study also supports the idea that ‘vibes’ are chemical, and are therefore potentially responsible for residual feelings in spaces – whether good or bad.
While more experimental data is still needed, this work supports the idea that the energy in your home (or any space) has real effects on mood, stress levels, and well‐being. When your intuition tells you something is off, your brain is likely picking up on signals that your conscious mind might not immediately see.
Why Interior Design Is About More Than Just Looks
Traditional design often emphasizes the aesthetic: color, style, furniture, finishes. Holistic design goes further: it considers how a space feels, how it affects mood, stress, rest, creativity, connection.
Some of the key energy disruptors in your home or office:
- Clutter, stagnation, and poor air and light flow
- Harsh artificial lighting or lack of natural light
- Synthetic or toxic materials
- Emotional residue—arguments, life transitions, stress—left unaddressed
- Layouts that block flow, crowd pathways, or feel cramped
Ancient Indigenous Wisdom: Saging & When to Call a Pro
For centuries, Indigenous cultures in North America and other parts of the world have practiced saging (also known as smudging) and similar rituals to cleanse and reset energy in a space.
What is Saging?
- Burning sacred herbs such as white sage, cedar, sweetgrass, or palo santo
- Using smoke to purify physical space, objects, or a person
- Often accompanied by intention setting, prayers, or ceremonial gestures
- Seen as a method to clear out what might be called “emotional or energetic residue”
Benefits Observed & Reported
- People often report a felt sense of clarity, calm, and freshness after saging
- It can help loosen tension or heaviness following emotional events
- Some studies suggest that burning sage may reduce airborne bacteria (less directly about “energy,” but relevant to feeling cleaner, fresher)
- Supports mental health by giving a ritualized way to mark transition, release, and reset
When the Energy Feels Especially Heavy: Hiring a Professional
Sometimes the “ick” is more than a little heaviness—it’s a lingering oppressive feeling, a sense of being weighed down in a space. When that happens, it might be especially helpful to hire a professional energy clearer or ceremonial practitioner. They can:
- Perform deeper energy clearing rituals
- Use sound, vibration, crystals, sacred herbs with more intention, knowledge and experience
- Help you reset a space completely—especially if you’ve moved in, have experienced trauma there, or major life changes have occurred
Other Ways to Shift the Energy in Your Home or office
Putting all this together, here are actionable steps you can take—whether lightly or deeply—to transform the energy in your home right away:
- Let light in – Open windows, use sheer curtains, layer lighting with warm natural tones
- Improve air and flow – Ventilate, introduce plants, move furniture to open circulation
- Declutter with intention – Keep what supports the energy you want; let go of items that feel heavy or bring negative memories
- Use sacred ritual – A saging session, sound bowl, devotional practice to clear out old energy
- Set intentions each time you clean, reorganize, or change something; your attention matters
- Brighten and beautify with grounding, natural materials—wood, stone, fiber, soft textures
- Consider professional help if there’s trauma, stress, or heaviness lingering—someone trained in space clearing, ritual, energy work
Your Home and Office Should Support You Energetically and Emotionally
Your home and office isn’t just a backdrop for your life. It holds your energy, amplifies or soothes it, and deeply affects how you move through your day, rest at night, and function in your life.
The next time you sense the “ick” in a room, don’t dismiss it. You’re sensing something real. Use your intuition, backed by what science tells us, and make your space something that helps you thrive.
