More Americans than ever have found themselves working from home in a post-covid world. If you’re one of the many full-time workers spending 40 or more hours per week in a home office, you know how important it is to cultivate a space that is conducive to concentration and productivity. Drawing from the tradition of feng shui is one way to make that happen.
Making thoughtful, intentional choices about the arrangement and design of your office will facilitate the harmonious union of you and your physical space. Here are some pointers on using the principles of feng shui for home office spaces.
Get Home Warranty Quotes
from Top Rated Authorized
Partners
Get a Quote
10 Feng Shui Tips for Home Office Spaces
1. Find the ideal space for your office desk.
A sturdy, functional desk is an office’s primary piece of furniture. For a feng shui home office, desk direction and placement matters. Position your desk in a manner that imparts a commanding presence. If possible, set your desk in the middle of the room. When seated at your desk, you should be able to see the door without facing it directly.
If the layout or size of your office can’t accommodate a desk in the middle of the room, set the desk against one of the walls that are adjacent to the wall with the door. Ideally, a solid wall should be behind you when you are seated at your desk.
With your desk placement decided, all other office design decisions can follow.
2. Embrace natural lighting.
Sunlight brings a natural and soothing energy to an indoor space. An abundance of natural lighting can boost your mood and productivity.
Select window treatments that admit plenty of sunlight. Light sheer curtains can provide privacy and reduce glare without making a room too dark and dreary. Make the most of your office’s natural lighting by decorating with light colors.
For a feng shui office with no windows, opt for quality artificial lighting. Fluorescent lighting or overly bright lighting can imbue a room with an unnatural glow that is harsh on the eyes. Smart light bulbs are ideal because they give you control over brightness, temperature, and color. Illuminate your office with soft, warm, yellow light, and choose fixtures with rounded lamp shades or upward-facing illumination.
3. Declutter your space—including your drawers and closets.
Your physical space and your mental state are in constant interplay. A crowded, cluttered environment facilitates a disorganized state of mind. Keep your home office tidy and organized. Avoid tangles of wires, messy stacks of papers, and piles of clutter.
Resist the impulse to haphazardly toss your belongings into a closet or desk drawers. You may find that a superficially tidy office with hidden mess will manifest as suppressed stress and anxiety. Keep your closets and drawers as organized as the rest of your office space.
4. Make your goals visible.
Set yourself up for success. Furnish your home office with messages or reminders of what you have achieved and what you hope to achieve in the coming years. Even when you’re focused on other tasks, these totems of success act as sources of subconscious motivation.
5. Be intentional about colors and patterns.
Colors are an important component of feng shui. Different shades are aligned with elements and feelings and can be used to provoke certain states of mind.
Greens and lighter blues are associated with youth and growth. Brown suggests stability and confidence, while white is associated with clarity of thought and precision. Maybe you want to introduce some yellow to your office space to evoke power and health, or shades of darker blue and purple for prosperity and wisdom.
Choose a color scheme that puts your mind at ease and makes you feel confident and industrious. That scheme should inform your design choices when it comes to selecting rugs, cushions, throws, ornaments, and other office furnishings.
6. Include plants in your office space.
Foster a soothing atmosphere in your home office with plants. Leafy greenery cleans the air and promotes calm and relaxation. Plants are associated with the feng shui wood element and represent growth, life, and rejuvenation.
There is an abundance of options, even for those of us without a green thumb. Ferns, pothos plants, bamboo, and crotons are all possibilities. For a little color, consider flowering plants such as orchids or peace lilies.
7. Invest in a good chair.
Don’t underestimate the value of a quality office chair. You’re spending a substantial portion of your waking hours in your office chair—you deserve something that provides support and comfort. An uncomfortable chair will leave you feeling stiff and achy after several hours. You might feel pain in your seat or back. You’ll find yourself shifting in your seat, distracted from your work.
A proper chair should provide ample support for your lumbar region. It should be adjustable to suit your frame and your desk. Choose a style that fits your office’s aesthetic.
8. Think elementally.
Earth, wood, metal, fire, and water are the five elements that are integral to feng shui. Keeping these elements in balance is key. You can introduce water with physical water, but blues, curves, and even images of the sea can meet this need. Candles can add a touch of fire, and browns or crystals some earth. Bring in some metal with gold, silver, or brass, and balance everything out with wood by including some plants in your office.
9. Maintain a sense of flow.
A home office feng shui layout should be easy to move around in. You don’t want to step over anything to reach your desk. Any physical obstacles can translate to mental or figurative blocks that prevent you from achieving your goals.
10. Introduce soothing fragrances.
A comfortable office should engage your sense of smell too. Use flowers, diffusers, quality scented candles, or potpourri to introduce calming fragrances. Appealing aromas are often reminiscent of nature and put your mind and body at ease.
Prev Post
