You may be thinking that feng shui is just for decorators and bored housewives. But it can also be incredibly helpful for those trying to climb the corporate ladder—and their bosses.
Not convinced? Consider that Hong Kong, which has one of the most intriguing skylines in the world, relies as much on feng shui consultants as it does on architects. Good energy flow equals good business. Or at least that’s the theory.
What is Feng Shui?
Feng shui considers how the placement of things and objects affect the energy flow (called Chi) in your work or home environment.
You don’t want your Chi to flow right out of your office. Nor do you want it to get blocked. The goal is balanced Chi that promotes a creative, productive work environment.
1. Make Sure Your Desk Is in the Right Position
If you’re looking to get ahead, make sure your desk is in what’s called the Power Position. That means situating your desk so that you can see your office door when seated, with as much distance as possible between you and the door. Generally, the corner farthest from the entrance to the room is the ideal place.
In an open floor plan with many desks, desks should be situated so that employees are facing the main door. If you share an office, avoid sitting back-to-back or face-to-face.
2. Strive for a Good Balance of Yin and Yang
That means a mix of light and dark colors, soft and hard surfaces, and smooth and rough textures.
3. Keep it Light and Bright
If you own the business, make sure your lobby and communal areas are well lit, which brings energy and allows good fortune to grow. Same goes for your own office. Make sure there are no dark corners and, is possible, avoid florescent lighting.
4. Bring in Art
Just because your office is small, that doesn’t mean your artwork has to be. Choose a bold, oversized piece of art and see how it instantly adds energy to the space. More importantly, select pieces that inspire you.
5. Add a Water Element
Water is a powerful symbol and an important element of feng shui. It’s also a rather tricky thing to pull off in an office. It’d be great if you could get permission to set up an aquarium, but even a print of the ocean or some other body of water would work.
6. Bring in Some Green
Potted plants add a touch of nature and also purify the air you’re breathing all day. Consider a palm, fern, lily, jade, rubber plant, or English Ivy.
If you’re a business owner, add larger potted plants or trees in communal areas and hallways. It’s OK if they’re silk, as long as you keep them dusted and looking good.
7. Clear Your Desk at the End of the Day
Stat the day out right by making sure that you’re walking into an office with a tidy desk each morning. It will only take a few minutes the day before—and will keep your energy fresh and flowing the next day.
Getting More Space: Feng Shui for the Office
Just like a home, offices can accumulate too much stuff. Boxes stacked in hallways, overcrowded storage areas, and messy offices create the kind of clutter that, according to practitioners of feng shui, zaps energy and creativity.
There is, however, an easy and affordable solution. At StorageMart, we pride ourselves on our clean and well lit self storage units that are available to rent on a month-to month basis. The extra space will solve your clutter problem and send good Chi your way. Check out our storage unit guide or rent a unit online today.