Have you ever felt stressed, cramped or cluttered due to the layout of your workspace? a full-time employee spends 40 hours or more each week in her office. With such a large amount of time in this environment, it pays to optimize your workspace for success by using office feng shui practices.
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese system for arranging your environment in a way that promotes harmony and a sense of well-being. those who are more spiritual practitioners believe that everything has a “chi”, or a certain energy, and the way objects are arranged can affect different aspects of our lives. When done correctly, this organizational system will help you create a successful, vibrant energy in your space.
Reading: Best color for home office feng shui
Even if you don’t believe in the spiritual aspects of feng shui, your comfort, productivity, and convenience may be enhanced by the way your space is organized. feng shui is all about benefiting you, so what do you lose? Let’s start reorganizing!
tips for effective feng shui in the home office
Any office space, whether it’s a home office or a workplace, should be organized in a way that encourages efficiency and focused creativity throughout the workday. Let’s learn how incorporating each of these feng shui tips into your office can have a positive impact on your work.
clean up your mess
Clutter can be exhausting! having a cluttered desk can have a negative impact on employee productivity by restricting the ability to concentrate. not only that, but it also increases the amount of time an employee spends searching for the items he needs. Getting rid of any clutter in your office is an important first step to a more inspiring, productive, and successful space.
By clearing clutter, you reduce stress, save time and improve efficiency. use a filing system to keep your things organized and a logical flow system to keep papers, pens, notebooks, and other items in their own places within easy reach. A good rule of thumb to follow is that 50 percent of your desktop should be stuff you’re using to work on your projects, while the other 50 percent should be able to see your physical desktop. While this creates balance, it also helps keep desktop clutter under control. remember, less is more.
put your desk in a position of power
In home office feng shui, location is key. when setting up your workspace, keep in mind the position of your desk. it should be in a commanding position, which keeps your energy stronger and more protected. you should be able to see the door and anyone entering when you are sitting at your desk. if possible, position the desk to see as much of the room as possible. the purpose behind this positioning is to keep you in control of the room, whereas having your back to the door would make you vulnerable as you are unaware of what is going on behind you.
See also: Feng Shui Shapes and Their Meanings – Buddha & Karma
In addition, the materials and colors of your desk and chair should also promote the energy you want your office to have. A sturdy wooden desk can help create a sense of strength in the space, as opposed to a glass-topped desk that is more fragile. be sure to use a chair that creates stability and support. Not only is this important for your physical well-being, but it can also help you feel more energized. try to use a chair with a high back to support most of your back. even the color you choose can play a role in the energy it adds to the space. use a bold color like red to bring exciting energy to your workspace, or a dark brown to give you a grounded feel.
desk feng shui
While the location of your desk in the room is important, so is the location of objects on your own desk. In feng shui, there is a concept called a bagua map, which presents the areas of a space at nine key locations. you can use it to place items on your desktop that represent each of the areas on the map. this is an example of what a bagua map looks like.
Each of these areas represent a different aspiration, such as your career, family and prosperity. On your desk, you should have the items that represent each of the aspirations placed in these specific areas. For example, a family picture could be placed in the top right corner of your desk, where love and relationships are found on the bagua map.
decorate with works of art and appropriate objects
When decorating your workspace, it’s important to use artwork and objects that inspire you and keep you productive. surround yourself with things that you find beautiful and relaxing, such as nature or images that symbolize the goals you want to achieve. if you don’t have a window, hang a picture of a landscape to give the effect of one. everything you put in your workspace should have a positive effect on you and reflect your personality.
use appropriate feng shui colors
The colors you surround yourself with can affect your psychological well-being and create a certain energy in a space. When decorating your work space, consider the feel you want the space to have. then choose colors for the space that give off those psychological effects.
For example, if you want to have a calm environment, blues and greens are two of the best colors for home office feng shui. blue tones help relax the mind, while greens inspire positivity and bring fresh energy to the space. incorporate light grays and whites into the space to increase clarity and mental focus. you can also use rich browns and earth tones to stabilize the space.
Best colors for home office feng shui include:
- pastel yellows
- sandstone
- pale golds
- light oranges
- light greens
- pastel blues
- blue-grays
See also: 2015 Chinese Animal Predictions for the Monkey – Feng Shui Store
These colors can make your office feel calm, while bringing positive energy to a space. Pick a color scheme that brings the desired energy to your office and stick with it. cohesion is key to limit distractions.
add stress relievers
Decrease stress by decorating your space in a way that promotes peace and relaxation. avoid using strong lighting or choosing furniture with sharp edges. You can also add relaxing music, scented candles, or essential oils to keep stress to a minimum.
A zen garden is a handy office stress reliever. Typically made with natural elements like white sand, stones, and small plants, Zen gardens promote relaxation. touching the smooth stones and moving the sand during a short break can have therapeutic effects that help clear the mind of stress.
keep the space clean and tidy
a clean workspace is a happy workspace. at least once a week, clean your entire workspace. Dust all surfaces, vacuum and disinfect your keyboard, computer, phone and anything else that contains germs with a disinfectant wipe. working in a clean, uncluttered space promotes a clear mind and eliminates unnecessary stress.
These home office feng shui tips shouldn’t be limited to just your home workspace. try incorporating them into your business office as well. who knows what could come of that. increased productivity and success at work? maybe new potential customers?
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This post was originally written on August 15, 2018 and was updated on May 29, 2020
See also: A Guide to Feng Shui Colors [Meanings & Combinations]