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Feng Shui Your Home Office and Take on the World
These design tips will help you create vibrant energy in your work-at-home space for maximum efficiency and success
Think about your home office as a place of power; it’s where you run your personal empire, so everything about it – the colours, lighting, furniture and position – should reflect this. Feng shui is the art of arranging your environment to attract more positive energy, as well as success, into your workspace and life. Follow these feng shui principles to get started.
Place your desk in the ‘command position’
This is one of the most important elements to consider in your home office – where is your room’s most powerful ‘command’ position? Make sure you can see the door but that you’re not sitting directly in front of it. If possible, there should be a wall, not a window, behind you. This is the command position – the place where you’re solidly supported from the back while at the same time able to maintain a commanding view from the front.
This is one of the most important elements to consider in your home office – where is your room’s most powerful ‘command’ position? Make sure you can see the door but that you’re not sitting directly in front of it. If possible, there should be a wall, not a window, behind you. This is the command position – the place where you’re solidly supported from the back while at the same time able to maintain a commanding view from the front.
The next best thing
Sometimes it’s near impossible to be in this command position because the design layout of your home office just doesn’t allow it. Instead, if there just happens to be a window behind you, the best thing you can do is to put plants, shades or furniture there. These will act as a buffer between you and the window. If you’re not able to sit facing the door, try placing a mirror on or behind your desk so that it reflects the door.
Sometimes it’s near impossible to be in this command position because the design layout of your home office just doesn’t allow it. Instead, if there just happens to be a window behind you, the best thing you can do is to put plants, shades or furniture there. These will act as a buffer between you and the window. If you’re not able to sit facing the door, try placing a mirror on or behind your desk so that it reflects the door.
Choose your ‘throne’ wisely
Make sure your ‘throne’, the all-important office chair, is the most comfortable chair in your world. Choose one that has great lumbar support, is solid and fits your body well in every way – that way you can concentrate on the task at hand without the distraction of an aching back or other forms of discomfort.
Make sure your ‘throne’, the all-important office chair, is the most comfortable chair in your world. Choose one that has great lumbar support, is solid and fits your body well in every way – that way you can concentrate on the task at hand without the distraction of an aching back or other forms of discomfort.
Clear your clutter
If you want to welcome powerful, productive chi into your home office then you need to keep your space clear of clutter. Positive energy cannot navigate its ways through piles of papers, files, and various office equipment so you need to stay organised if you want to attract success. Find a strategy that works for you and stick to it.
More: How to Declutter Your Office Space
If you want to welcome powerful, productive chi into your home office then you need to keep your space clear of clutter. Positive energy cannot navigate its ways through piles of papers, files, and various office equipment so you need to stay organised if you want to attract success. Find a strategy that works for you and stick to it.
More: How to Declutter Your Office Space
Express yourself
Find colours, artworks and decorative pieces that will inspire you while you work. They can be bold and powerful if you like but ensure they channel your professional goals and aspirations and keep you inspired.
Find colours, artworks and decorative pieces that will inspire you while you work. They can be bold and powerful if you like but ensure they channel your professional goals and aspirations and keep you inspired.
The shape of things to come
Sharp angles and corners are hard to avoid in most office spaces, with most desks, bookshelves and storage units either square or rectangular in shape. In feng shui, these sharp angles and edges are known to promote irritation and aggression so it’s best to soften or camouflage them. When you’re looking for the right desk for your space, choose a design with rounded corners or, better yet, opt for a circular or oval table. The latter is known to support harmony in meetings.
Sharp angles and corners are hard to avoid in most office spaces, with most desks, bookshelves and storage units either square or rectangular in shape. In feng shui, these sharp angles and edges are known to promote irritation and aggression so it’s best to soften or camouflage them. When you’re looking for the right desk for your space, choose a design with rounded corners or, better yet, opt for a circular or oval table. The latter is known to support harmony in meetings.
Size – does it really matter?
The answer is yes. When selecting your desk or work table, assess your needs carefully before deciding on which size and design works for you. Think about whether you need one large surface or several smaller ones. Know the height that you like to work with – especially if you spend time standing as well as sitting while you work.
The answer is yes. When selecting your desk or work table, assess your needs carefully before deciding on which size and design works for you. Think about whether you need one large surface or several smaller ones. Know the height that you like to work with – especially if you spend time standing as well as sitting while you work.
Let there be light
By far the best form of lighting in an office is natural daylight. Our bodies rely on light for Vitamin D and it keeps our natural rhythms on track.
By far the best form of lighting in an office is natural daylight. Our bodies rely on light for Vitamin D and it keeps our natural rhythms on track.
Just add plants
Plants are not only known to lift your spirits, some even have purifying properties and can remove small amounts of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Any house plant will use carbon dioxide and put oxygen back into the air, and can help create a more comfortable level of humidity in dry atmospheres.
Plants are not only known to lift your spirits, some even have purifying properties and can remove small amounts of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Any house plant will use carbon dioxide and put oxygen back into the air, and can help create a more comfortable level of humidity in dry atmospheres.
TELL US
Have you implemented any feng shui design principles in your home office? Has it had a positive effect on your work? Tell us about it in the comments section.
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Have you implemented any feng shui design principles in your home office? Has it had a positive effect on your work? Tell us about it in the comments section.
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If your work is action oriented then ensure your office is positioned towards the front of the house. On the other hand, if your work is more contemplative, the ideal location is towards the back of the property. Not only is it important to consider what works best for you and your line of work, but that your work space is located in a quiet and private zone of your home.