Whatever Zen is...maybe it's like fung shui, but there is something so oxygenating about not tripping over a thousand things to get to the easel.  Anyway, not only did I declutter, I also painted the walls!  What an agonizing decision.  You don't want something neon green as my daughter suggested, but you don't even want something that's too golden of a beige, or too dark that may be depressing on rainy winter days.  So I chose this kind of warm mid-gray.  I know some portrait and figure painters use a dark greenish gray, which is actually great with a model that you shine spotlights on.  But for my everyday landscapes and sometimes still lifes I went with the color in this pic.  When we moved in (eight and a half years ago!) the room was this pastel blue, which was unoffensive, but reminded me of my childhood bedrooms in Methodist parsonages--something that would do for me, and the next occupant in four years.  I had dabbed some golden beige behind my still life set up at one point, but by now, just wanted the walls to all be the same color!  Now I'm hoping to be able to maintain the minimalistic decor.  What with Christmas presents in the closet and emergency stashing that we do in there when company comes, it will be a challenge!