Feng Shui Tips for Your Office
Feng Shui Tips for Your Office
Thre are ots of ways to make your work environment more inviting and productive. But have you considered feng shui?
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art that involves creating a space that’s harmonious with the environment. It literally means “wind” (feng) and “water” (shui).
With feng shui, objects in a room are arranged according to the flow of natural energy. The concept also involves using colors, materials, and the layout of a space to create a favorable ambiance.
The practice originated in China more than 3,000 years ago and has been embraced in Asian-Pacific places like Japan, Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. In recent years, the feng shui philosophy has become increasingly popular in Western countries as well.
Many Asian businesspeople go to great lengths to incorporate feng shui into their corporate environment. In a dated survey, 70 percent of Taiwanese businesses valued feng shui, and each company in the survey spent an average of $27,000 (U.S. dollars) on feng shui consultations, designs, and construction fees.
Read on to learn how to arrange your office according to feng shui.
Whether it’s a home office or an outside workspace, you probably spend a lot of hours in your office. Feng shui proponents believe that employing its principles in your office can bring about productivity and success.
An office that’s inviting, organized, and aesthetically appealing can make work more enjoyable.
While there are anecdotal stories of success as a result of using feng shui, the outcomes of the practice have not been scientifically evaluated.
In feng shui, there are five elements that attract energy and need to be balanced. These include:
Wood. This element channels creativity and growth. Trees, plants, or green objects can represent wood.
Fire. This is the most powerful element. It creates passion, energy, expansion, boldness, and transformation. Candles or the color red can bring the fire element into a space.
Water. This element is linked to emotion and inspiration. Water features or blue items can represent this element.
Earth. The earth element signifies stability and strength. Incorporate the earth element with rocks, carpets, old books, or things that are brown or tan in color.
Metal. Metal unites all the elements, while offering focus and order. Use objects that are metal or white, silver, or grey in color.
From incorporating specific colors to placing your furniture in the proper spot, there are many ways to bring feng shui to your office. Here are some tips.
According to feng shui, you should place your desk so that you are sitting in the “power position.” This is the furthest spot from the entrance of the room. Arrange your desk so that you can see the door when seated.
You can produce strong feng shui backing by positioning your chair so your back is against a solid wall. If this isn’t possible, try placing a row of lush plants behind your seating area.
A comfortable chair with a high backing is ideal for feng shui. It’s believed that a high back creates support and protection.
Experts believe incorporating water features and plants into your workspace can creative positive energy. Try placing a fountain with moving water in your office. A live plant can also help improve indoor air quality.
Surround your office with images and objects that are inspiring, such as pictures with mottos or images that symbolize what you want to accomplish.
When possible, use natural light from windows. Yellow-tinted and fluorescent lighting can bring about fatigue. If you must use artificial light, opt for incandescent, full-spectrum light bulbs.
A professional consultant can help you organize and decorate your office according to the feng shui principles and elements.
The International Feng Shui Guild provides a directory, so you can find a consultant in your area.
How to bring feng shui to your cubicle