Feng shui is the art of creating harmony and balance in your living and working environment. It is the ancient Chinese theory of design and placement – and stands for the flow of wind and water. Whether you work from home full-time or part-time, this article lists several ways to refresh your workspace for increased productivity and positive flow of energy, or “Chi.”
Position Desk to Face the Door
Your desk position is most important in feng shui. The placement of your desk should be in view of the door, to ensure full visibility of who is coming in and out of the room. This placement is known as the command position. It is highly important as it decreases anxious feelings and enhances a sense of control and ease while working. Make sure the desk is in a spot furthest away from the door (at the eastern corner if you can) rather than right next to it, as this will be distracting. Ideally there will be a decent gap surrounding the desk area to create a spacious feel, and a solid wall behind your seat.
Window to the Left or Right of the Desk
The best position to place your desk is adjacent to the window. If the space you are working with is too small, ensure the position that you choose is limited by distractions.
Decorating Your Home Office
Feng shui suggests to hang artwork facing in the northern direction as this is considered the career development zone. Choose a calming piece of art that infuses subtle tones of blues, whites and even black. Alternatively, you can choose to hang up a motivational quote. Likewise, placing a family or couple photo on your desk inspires productivity while working. Try to find a metal or wooden frame as these elements boost feng shui.
What items should you add to your desk?
The top left-hand corner of your desk is the wealth corner. Here is where you can place: crystals, items made of metal, live plants, and a ceramic tea mug. Crystals such as clear quartz, onyx, citrine, obsidian, amber or jade absorb feelings of stagnation and promote positive choices throughout your workday. It should also be noted that placing tall items such as your monitor on the top left side of your desk is a good practice as this represents a position of empowerment. The bottom left side is perfect for placing study material, as it represents knowledge and wisdom. On the opposite right hand side, you can place items such as your phone, picture frame, financial recordings or an item that will spark creativity such as a book. Plants are also a great addition to a workspace, as the lush green tone can help with stress, creativity and replenish focus.
Choosing the Right Colours
Have a look at these colour meanings below to help you decide on your workspace décor colours: 
Accentuate your workspace with colours and materials that align with your profession. For example, if you are a graphic designer or a writer, white and pastels colours are believed to help with creativity. Alternatively, people who work in fast-paced jobs that involve communicating with clients and meetings, would benefit from shades of green and blue. Delving further into the practice of feng shui, you can choose your colour palette based on the cardinal direction your workspace faces. First step is to use the compass on your phone to distinguish if your workspace faces North, South, East or West. Once you pinpoint the cardinal direction, refer to the table below to discover which colours to include in your space.
| Home Workspace Cardinal Direction | Element | Properties of the Element | Colours to Use |
| North | Water | Wisdom, sense of connection and insightfulness | Shades of blues and greens |
| South | Fire | Inspiration and enthusiasm | Reds, oranges, and yellows |
| East/Southeast | Wood | Growth, strength, and flexibility | Browns, tans, and greens |
| West/Northwest | Metal | Mental clarity and intelligence | White, grey, and metallic accents |
| Southwest/Northeast | Earth | Balancing and grounding, ease stress and anxiety | Light yellow, light brown and shades of tan/beige |
Abundance of Natural Light
Bright light is essential for a home workspace. No matter the line of work you do, a glass sliding door or window that draws in abundant natural lighting is crucial. In addition, artificial lighting is also necessary however be sure to avoid fluorescent lights. Lighting should come from the side of your desk. For those that are left-handed position your desk so lighting is drawn in from the left, and vice versa if your are right-handed. If you are looking for a lightening accessory, a floor lamp placed next to your desk could be a great option as it believed to help with stress reduction.
Upkeep your workspace by keeping clutter to a minimal
- General good rule of thumb for your desk: clear your desk at the end of each day. This is a wonderful habit to start as each morning you can come into your workspace with a sense of calmness.
- Make sure to remove damaged or expired items on your workspace, such as broken pens, clocks or out of date calendars.
- Bookshelves should be placed out of view from the desk. Leave space on your book shelf vacant as this will allow good energy flow.
Feng shui principles can help create a desired workspace that makes you feel comfortable and inspired to do your best work. Refresh the colours and décor, switch up the layout in your workspace and unleash the best of your creativity and enthusiasm to begin your day.
References
Henwood, B. (1997) Feng shui how to create harmony and balance in your living and working environment. AUS: LANSDOWNE.
Lauren, A. (2022) Feng Shui Office tips for maximum productivity, Real Simple. Available at: https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/tips-techniques/feng-shui-office-tips.
Zamora, M. (2022) Feng Shui office – the ultimate guide – BT office furniture, BT Office. Available at: https://btoffice.co.uk/feng-shui-office-the-ultimate-guide-bt-office-furniture/#:~:text=Wood%3A%20Wood%20symbolises%20loyalty%20and,eastern%20corner%20of%20your%20office.
Myriam Balerio (no date) Tips to Feng Shui your office, PA Prive. Available at: http://pa-prive.com/tips-to-feng-shui-your-office/.