Guest Blog (Andrea Leiper): Your Space, Your Energy - How Your Environment Reflects What’s Going on Inside
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 17 minutes ago
Do you ever walk into a room and instantly feel your shoulders creeping up around your ears?
Or maybe you’ve stepped into someone else’s home and thought, ahh… this feels good - like you could happily curl up, kick off your shoes, and stay for hours?
That’s the power of your environment.
We often underestimate how much our homes and workspaces affect our mood and energy. They’re not just walls and furniture - they hold our stories, emotions, and daily habits. They either support us… or quietly drain us.
And I say this as someone who’s walked into a fair few homes over the years - including my own at times - and thought, yep, this space is shouting louder than the person who lives here!
How Our Spaces Mirror Our Minds
Over the years, I’ve noticed that our surroundings are often a reflection of where we are emotionally.
When we’re overwhelmed, our spaces start to mirror that chaos.
When we’re calm and grounded, our homes tend to follow suit.
I remember one lovely client, Sarah, a small business owner who told me her kitchen table was buried under unopened post, half-finished projects, and what she called her “later pile.” She told me she couldn’t focus or make decisions. Once we cleared that space and gave everything a home, she suddenly found herself feeling lighter, and even made a few big business moves she’d been putting off for months. She said, “I didn’t realise how much that clutter was weighing on me until it wasn’t there.”
Tom, a graphic designer working from home, was constantly exhausted. His desk faced a blank wall, his chair squeaked every time he moved, and his lighting was harsh enough to rival an airport security check.
We moved his desk towards the window, added a plant, and changed his bulb to a warmer tone. Within a week, his creativity was back, and he told me, “I actually want to sit here again!”
And then there was Emily, a mum running her own wellness business. Her spare room had become a dumping ground for everything she didn’t want to deal with - emotionally and physically. Once we created a calming workspace in that room, she said it felt like reclaiming her confidence too.
Our environments are often metaphors for what’s going on inside. And once we start shifting the space, something within us starts to shift too.
Draining Environments vs. Re-energising Ones
Here’s a little comparison that might ring true -
Draining Spaces
Stuff everywhere, and not the good kind
Harsh lighting that could double as interrogation
Air fresheners that make you cough
Rooms filled with “shoulds” - gifts you didn’t like, furniture that’s just there
People who drain your energy faster than your phone battery
Re-energising Spaces
Surfaces with breathing room (and maybe a vase of something pretty)
Soft, layered light that feels kind on the eyes
Fresh air, open windows, and a hint of nature
Rooms filled with things you genuinely love or that tell your story
People who cheer you on, listen, and make you laugh until you snort
We don’t need perfection - life isn’t a show home. (Mine certainly isn’t. If you ever popped round unannounced, you’d likely find a trail of dog hair and a cup of cold tea somewhere it shouldn’t be.)
But when a space supports you - when it feels nourishing - your whole energy shifts.
The People in Our “Spaces”
And while we’re talking environments - let’s not forget the people in them.
Some people feel like sunshine - you leave them lighter, inspired, maybe even laughing.Others… well, let’s just say they could drain a solar panel.
One client, Emma, realised her home office wasn’t the problem - it was who she kept on the other end of the phone. She was constantly saying yes to things she didn’t have energy for. Once she set boundaries and started saying “no” kindly but firmly, she said her home started to feel calmer - even though nothing had physically changed.
Our emotional environment is just as powerful as our physical one. When we make space for peace, purpose and the right people, everything shifts.
My Top 5 Ways to Instantly Lift Your Space
(and Your Energy)
You don’t need to redecorate or spend a penny. These are small, soulful tweaks that make a big difference - starting right now.
Clear one small area.
Don’t go full Marie Kondo; start with one spot that’s been bugging you - your bedside table, your desk, or that kitchen corner that collects everything. Once you’ve cleared it, add something you love - a candle, a plant, or a framed photo that makes you smile. You’ll be amazed how one calm space sets the tone for the whole house.
Open the windows.
Honestly, this one’s underrated. Fresh air changes everything. It clears the energy - and sometimes the cobwebs (literal and emotional). Even five minutes can shift the whole mood of a room.
Bring in life.
Plants, flowers, herbs - anything green. I once had a client who swore she couldn’t keep plants alive, so we started with a sprig of rosemary from her garden in a jar. A week later she said, “It smells so lovely, I think I might buy a proper plant.” That’s the ripple effect.
Create a “you” corner.
A little sanctuary spot that’s yours alone. A chair with your favourite blanket, a journal, your go-to playlist, a cup of tea. It doesn’t need to be Instagram-perfect; it just needs to feel like you.
Release something that feels heavy.
That gift you kept out of guilt? The pile of clothes that remind you of another time? Let them go. You’re not the same person you were when you bought them - and that’s a good thing.
The Bigger Picture
Our spaces hold our stories. They tell us what we value, where we’ve been, and where we’re heading next. When we start paying attention to them, we start listening to ourselves.
So today, take a slow walk through your home or workspace.
Notice where your energy dips, and where it lifts.
Ask yourself
-Does this space drain me or support me?
Does it reflect who I am - or who I’m becoming?
Then start small. Open a window, clear a surface, make a cup of tea, and begin again.
Because when your space feels good, you feel good.
And when you feel good, you show up as the version of yourself that’s ready to shine.
Andrea Leiper
Considered Sustainable Wellbeing Interiors
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If you want a structured, supportive space to apply these ideas in practice, the Women's Wellbeing Lab offers psychology-informed tools designed to support improved wellbeing in real-life conditions.
Inside the Lab, you'll find psychology-informed tools designed to help you understand what's driving how you feel, organise competing demands, and respond with intention rather than reaction.
Bring this knowledge to your decision-making and coaching sessions to make faster progress toward your goals.
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