Feng shui, which is growing in popularity, is the ancient art of arrangement and color usage that is presumed to promote balance and the flow of energy in a given space. Even if you don’t believe in the philosophy of
Feng shui, which is growing in popularity, is the ancient art of arrangement and color usage that is presumed to promote balance and the flow of energy in a given space. Even if you don’t believe in the philosophy of feng shui, applying some of the basic principles of this practice to your home office can help you operate your virtual corporation more efficiently—and may make it a pleasant place to spend the better part of your day.
Here are some quick feng shui tips tailored to the home office space, but you can apply these techniques to any office.
• Location: Situate your home office as close to the front door of your house as possible. The first floor or higher is preferable, because energy flows upward.
• Desk placement: Position your desk so that you are facing the entrance to the room, with your back toward the wall or a corner. Even outside of feng shui considerations, sitting with your back to the door is disruptive because you won’t know who is coming into the room.
If there are windows in your office room, try to place your desk so the window is to your left if you’re right-handed, and to your right if you’re left-handed. Never position your desk in the center of the room.
• Color scheme: Feng shui recommendations for color in the home office vary according to your goals. If your business relies on selling or making deals (marketing), aggressive red is a good choice. Yellow promotes discipline and stimulates mental activity and clarity of thought—a solid color scheme for any home office. Warm colors such as orange and tan represent collaboration and cooperation. This is an excellent option for offices with more than one team member. For writing and other creative businesses, blue-green is soothing and promotes creativity. Above all, your office should be a comfortable and positive environment.
