THEY say confidence arrives at a person’s life when the self is transformed from within. For many, this comes at middle-age. It is also the age when thin creases begin to mark the face, hair strands start to turn white and the realities of the aging process throw us into abandoning many false definitions of ourselves and instead, open us up to the many creative forces within. This we otherwise understand as the “Age of Confidence.”

These creative forces are best tapped when given a home to flourish. For many, a space at home or at the workplace makes for the creative space where thoughts can grow and change can happen. True to its purpose, the creative space has no definitive characteristic only that it provides an environment that both quiets down and inspires the soul.

Small corner For some, a small corner is more than enough space for creative endeavors. Decorated with its user’s favorite things and inspiring memorabilia, a large enough work surface and a comfortable seat, it is sufficient enough to incite the creative juices to flow.

In my case, my vanity table, devoid of all décor or accessories, is the sparse space where I sit for a few moments at the start and the end of the day – with pen in hand instead of a hairbrush – to clear my mind and allow quiet inspiration to come and be transformed into tangible art. With materials like laminate, glass and solid surface, my little space is crisp and clean, perfect for starting and ending a day that is usually wrought with the chaos of design: materials, colors and a multitude of drawings to look at.

For others, the kitchen is where their imagination runs wild and allows for both skill and self-expression to produce an assortment of gastronomic wonders. Fortunately for this generation, kitchens have advanced into beautiful yet functional workspaces. Unlike the huge production spaces that were last generation’s kitchens, today’s personal kitchen is smaller, better laid out to cater to every function, and with the most advanced equipment.

Contemporary kitchen hardware is probably the greatest thing that happened to this generation. Today, we can have tall pantry larders with shelves that swing or slide out, deep drawers for large bowls and pans that won’t eventually sag, flip-up cabinet doors that get out of our head’s way and other hardware that support kitchen gadgetry like racks and hydraulic platforms for small appliances. All these make the art of cooking stir both mind and soul.

Then we have the quieter and more sedate spaces – a bedroom or a den – where one can read a good book with soft music or sit in silent stillness. A good chaise lounge, massage chair or sizable sofa gives comfort to these moments. And to make the experience even better, mood lighting tops the list of essentials. Floor lamps or accent lights can provide sufficient task lighting while keeping the rest of a room in a more somber yet soothing mood. For many, this is the start of the creative moment: when the mind is quiet and free of clutter.

Space for inspiration Not to be forgotten is the ultimate space for inspiration: the bathroom. Literally washing off the grime from the day’s activities and all the unwanted dirt in our mental and emotional wells, bathrooms have gotten bigger and function more like relaxation rooms. While bathtubs are great for loosening up, the shower is yet the simplest and most uplifting bathroom appurtenance.

The popularity of rainshowers can be credited to the experience of having small streams of waters softly wash down the body rather than throw water at it. With indirect lighting and a choice of lightly colored tile finishes, the experience can be ethereal.

Creative forces come from within, and when external forces like the perfect space complement it, the possibilities become infinite. And more so during the mid-life when vitality bounces back with resiliency, wisdom and discernment. This is The Age of Confidence.