Feng Shui Your Office or Workspace with This How-To Guide

While mainstream waited till the 1990s to adopt Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement boasts a 5000-year-old history. Promoting positive energies, Feng Shui suggest that the placement of objects affects our body, mind, and soul. But while Americans continue to paint their doors red and decorate their homes with fountains, mirrors, and plants, their offices remain sterile and cold.

With Americans spending more waking hours at work than at home, building positive energies in the office or workspace can affect your overall attitude and health. If your job’s got you down, it may not be your work – it may be your space. Taking the time to implement a few Feng Shui guidelines to your office or workspace may make the difference between dreading your morning commute to looking forward to your career.

COLOR is very important in the art of Feng Shui. Offices and workspaces are often painted a stark white. This color is associated with death, and therefore not the most productive to work around. If you’re unable to paint the walls, try incorporating color through decorations. Shades of reds, pinks, and purples are believed to promote happiness, while green is associated with growth and success. No matter what colors you chose, though, avoid dark colors. Feng Shui believes that dark colors are too heavy to use on interior spaces.

SECURITY plays a large role in the flow of positive energies in your office or workspace. Does your desk face the entrance? If not, then you may be feeling vulnerable and nervous. Try moving your desk around or adding a mirror that will allow you to see the door or entrance. Having your back towards a window can also bring on feelings of insecurity. Hang blinds or curtains to ward off this feeling.

LIGHT is essential for a happy work environment. Replace fluorescent bulbs with full spectrum bulbs. If you’re unable to do this, then try bring in your own lighting with floor and desk lamps.

PLANTS help bring nature and air into an area. Always work with an odd number of healthy plants. If you’re office or workspace is not square or rectangular, then place plants at the irregular areas to bring a more regular shape to the space. Nine is the ideal number, but any odd number will do as space permits.

WATER at the entrance of your workspace or office promotes peace in the room – this is why so many find it appealing to have one in their front yards. Put a small fountain or even a picture of water near your entrance to achieve this calming effect; a small fish tank is another option.

WOOD is another important element in Feng Shui. Place pictures in wooden frames and use wooden desk, chairs, and shelves wherever possible. Metal is associated with heat in Feng Shui is not the ideal element to achieve calm, positive energy in your office or workspace.

PERSONAL HYGIENE also plays a vital role in the success of your Feng Shui office or workspace. Avoid skipping showers before work and dress for success.