I've taught the concepts of Design Psychology for many years, and I know how much it can empower a person, and allow them to create a fabulous home that sustains their emotions. Since it’s based on science, I know that Design Psychology is effective at turning plain spaces into happy places.

I discovered Design Psychology in 1985, when my husband and I purchased an 1878 Queen Anne Victorian and began a major renovation. After tearing everything out of the kitchen, we rebuilt the entire space, using concepts I'd learned while studying interior design. But when the project was complete, the feeling of the space was all wrong, so I began a fifteen-year search to learn about how design details influence our emotions.

Although I know a number of interior designers, Design Psychology differs from "traditional" interior design in that it acknowledges how our senses can profoundly react to many other factors besides those of basic interior design. The concepts of Design Psychology address elements of the human psyche that interior design doesn't take into consideration.

Design Psychology also differs from the ancient practice of Feng Shui, although the two concepts are totally compatible. There’s no reason at all that homeowners can't use both the techniques of Feng Shui and Design Psychology to enhance their homes. But after years of study, I have come to believe that Design Psychology is superior to Feng Shui, in large part because Feng Shui is based on superstition, while Design Psychology draws its concepts from science.

Through the use of Design Psychology, my husband and I have bought and sold 27 houses, to date. We begin by creating an overall design plan, based on our target market and selling season. Then, by using particular colors, patterns, props, and staging methods, we're able to sell our homes quickly, and for thousands of dollars more than our competition.

Our senses react to the design choices we make, so choosing the wrong colors or patterns in wallpaper, fabric, or paint can negatively impact our senses. Design Psychology works, and if you’ll just take a little extra time to avoid making design mistakes, you’ll save MONEY and sell your home more quickly, both of which will have a significant effect on your bottom line when your sign the closing papers!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm