How to Feng Shui Your Workspace
Lure luck your way at your workplace by arranging things according to the ancient Chinese design philosophy known as feng shui.
Up next in Office Survival Guide (57 videos)
Between crazy bosses and creepy coworkers, it's a wonder you get any work done at all. Here's a little help.
You Will Need
- A plant
- A desktop fountain or fishbowl
- Blue, purple, and red desk accessories
- A black briefcase or laptop bag
- Photos
- A desk lamp
Steps
-
Step 1
Get rid of clutter
De-clutter your desk and workspace, which is the most important thing you can do to balance the chi—or energy—in your office.
-
Step 2
Toss or fix anything broken
Repair or get rid of anything that’s broken—like a pen that’s out of ink or a flickering desk lamp. They block your chi.
-
Step 3
Get a plant
Put a plant on your desk to absorb energy-draining emissions from your computer. Just avoid cacti, whose pointy needles attract negative energy.
-
Try an orchid if your job requires you to suffer fools gladly. Feng shui experts believe orchids are symbols of patience.
-
Step 4
Have a view of the door
The placement of your desk and chair should allow you to see who’s coming into the room. Business and opportunity symbolically come to you through the door; so don’t turn your back on it. If you can, position your desk so a solid wall is behind you.
-
To 'watch your back' even more effectively, make sure your chair has proper back support.
-
Step 5
Get a fountain or fishbowl
Place a desktop fountain or fish bowl on or near your desk. These decorations activate the water element, inviting the flow of money and success. Feng shui aside, fish and fountains are relaxing. They’ll help calm you down when you’re stressed.
-
Step 6
Use the right colors
Use desk accessories and office supplies in blues, purples, and reds, which are the colors of calm, creativity, and recognition. Black is the color of money, so use a black briefcase or laptop bag.
-
Step 7
Arrange family photos
To promote harmony, place pictures of loved ones on the upper-right corner of your desk.
-
Step 8
Keep garbage away
Keep your wastebasket as far away from your desk as possible. If you must have one, place it at the bottom-left corner of your desk.
-
Step 9
Adjust the lighting
If your office has overhead, fluorescent lighting, try getting one of the bulbs removed to decrease the lighting intensity. Then, add a desk lamp that provides the right amount of lighting for your work area.
-
Disney executives consulted a feng shui master when building Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005, leading them to place several waterfalls around the park to accumulate luck and wealth.
