How to feng shui your home office

The Chinese practice of feng shui dates back thousands of years and involves finding a balance between the elements. This philosophy follows the belief that arranging your environment in a certain way can improve harmony and stimulate positive energy. In Chinese, feng translates to “wind” and shui means “water”, both of which are associated with good health. In simple terms, good feng shui equates to good fortune, while bad feng shui is linked with misfortune. Feng shui is most commonly practised in interior design, with many people using this philosophy in their own homes - including in their at-home workspaces. In fact, it’s thought that using the art of feng shui in a workspace can help increase productivity, creativity and even your earnings. So, if you’re keen to feng shui your home office but you’re not sure where to start, keep reading. Here are some tips on how you can organise this space, as well as useful hints on how to lay the room out, including the arrangement of your office furniture.

How to organise your home office

Maintaining a well-organised home office is a crucial part of the feng shui concept. For tips on how you can create a tidy workspace that’s enjoyable to spend time in, keep reading.

Get rid of the clutter

Clutter is a major no-no when it comes to feng shui, and it’s believed that disorganisation can “drain and dampen your best intentions”. If you have a messy desk, you may find that you’re easily distracted from the job at hand, which in turn can cause a significant dip in your productivity levels. As a result, it’s crucial to not let this kind of mess ruin your ability to work well. If your current setup is looking a little chaotic, start by having a clear out and get rid of anything you don’t need. This could include recycling pieces of scrap paper, throwing away pens that no longer work and removing dirty coffee mugs. By getting rid of the clutter, you should find that your workspace becomes a more pleasant, positive place to be.

Invest in suitable storage solutions

You can’t expect to maintain an organised workspace without suitable storage solutions, so it’s worth investing in a few key pieces. For example, an under-desk pedestal is ideal for keeping your office essentials out of sight but still within easy reach. This is especially beneficial as it also means you won’t need to get up and break your focus when you need something. You may also want to go for an open bookcase to organise filers. However, be careful not to overcrowd it as this could leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Schedule regular clean ups

Making sure your home office stays neat and tidy will require some effort on your part. One way to keep on top of cleanliness in your workspace is to schedule in regular clean ups. For example, you could try dedicating one evening a week to decluttering your desk. Not only will this give you the opportunity to get rid of anything you may have recently accumulated, but it will mean you can enjoy a clean, clear desk the next day.

How to design a home office layout

Aside from making sure your home office is well organised, it’s also important that the layout is just right. To help you feng shui the format of your workspace, it’s worth bearing these suggestions in mind.

Keep your office as far away from your bedroom as possible

According to feng shui guidelines, it’s important to keep your home office as far away from your bedroom as possible. If your home allows it, having a separate entrance into your workspace is ideal. However, if you’re not able to do this, don’t worry. Try to create as much of a division as possible between your office and your sleep space.

Think about air and light quality

Air and light quality are two good feng shui must haves. A poorly lit, badly ventilated room can seriously hinder your health and happiness, which can have an impact on your ability to work well. This means it’s important to think about these elements when it comes to the layout of your office space. To keep your mind and body feeling fresh and energised while you work, you may want to think carefully about where you set up your office. Ideally, you should choose an area that’s well illuminated, whether this is achieved by natural light coming into the room or with the help of artificial lights. You may also want to situate your office somewhere that you can open a window to give you some control over the ventilation of the room. The addition of plants can also help purify the air, as well as improve the look and feel of the entire space. In fact, it’s thought that these leafy accessories can help eliminate negative energy, which is an important part of the feng shui concept.

Consider the position of your desk

When it comes to situating your home office desk, it’s worth paying attention to the so-called feng shui ‘command position’. This is the idea of placing a main piece of furniture in such a way that you can see the door of the room without being in direct alignment with it. It also means positioning the furniture so that you do not end up with your back to the door, so bear this in mind when it comes to arranging your desk. Even though it could be said that feng shui is a complex concept, there’s no reason why you can’t take elements and apply them to your own home office to create a more harmonious, relaxing and positive space to work from.