Feng Shui Home Office: Furniture Placement

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice that involves arranging objects, buildings, and spaces to promote harmony and balance among the five natural elements: fire, water, metal, earth, and wood. The placement of furniture in a room is essential to achieving good feng shui, and this is especially true for the home office, where the desk is said to symbolise your career and prosperity.

The 'commanding position'

The commanding position is a foundational concept in feng shui, referring to the place in a room that empowers you. It is the place where you have a clear view of the door and an overview of the room, putting you in control of the space and your own energy. This concept can be applied to any space, but it is most commonly applied to the bedroom and office space.

There are three keys to achieving the commanding position:

• Place your bed or desk so that you can easily see the door. Being able to see the door allows you to psychologically relax as you are not vulnerable to surprises and are not in a perpetual "fight or flight" mode.
• Ensure your bed or desk is not directly in line with the doorway. Energy, or chi, flows through the home in a meandering way, without straight lines. Having your furniture in line with the door can cause distractions and force energy in a straight line, which can be harmful to the body.
• Place your bed or desk with your back against a solid wall to provide support and security. This is known as strong backing and offers protection and strength.

If you are unable to achieve all three rules, the third is the least important and can often be resolved. For example, if there is a window behind you, drapes can be used to create an illusion of security. Alternatively, a high-backed chair or a bed with a high headboard can also provide stability and support.

The commanding position is important as it allows you to be in control of your energy and the space around you. It helps you to feel calm, still, and at ease, increasing your sense of security and allowing you to face anything head-on.

Natural light

When possible, it is recommended to use natural light from windows. Natural light has been shown to increase productivity and is an essential part of creating a harmonious and positive environment that promotes productivity. If your office has no windows, you can try to get full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs, which have a more blue caste to the light, closer to natural light. You can also add incandescent lighting with table and floor lamps—directing at least one light upward is said to lift the chi of your office.

According to feng shui, your desk should be within a clear line of sight of the door, and the room should have good natural light and remain clutter-free. Ideally, you should put your desk in the command position, which involves placing your desk and chair in front of a solid wall, with your back to the wall, and facing the door diagonally. This way, you can see people entering and feel supported and protected.

If your office is in your bedroom, it is recommended to use a separate room or divide the space with a room divider, bookcase, or curtain. If you can't separate the space, be sure to put away your work supplies at the end of each day.

Clutter-free spaces

To create a clutter-free space in your home office, start by asking yourself what the function of your home office is. This will help you determine what furniture is necessary and ensure that you only have functional pieces that contribute to your productivity and focus.

Next, address any existing clutter. Go through your space and identify areas that you haven't touched in a long time or that are full of things you haven't looked at in years. These areas may be blocking opportunities and creativity, as well as decreasing mental clarity. Start by giving these areas some attention and stirring up the qi (energy).

When addressing clutter, it's important to understand the difference between yin and yang. Yin qi is related to death, so you want to avoid having too much of it in your space. One way to balance the energy is by bringing in natural elements, such as plants, to enhance the yang energy.

Finally, maintain your clutter-free space by being mindful of what you bring into your home office. Ask yourself, "How can I get rid of this?" instead of "Where can I keep it?" This will help you avoid accumulating clutter and ensure that your space remains clear and energised.

Plants and water elements

Plants (Wood Element)

Plants represent the wood element in feng shui, symbolising growth, strength, and flexibility. They harness creative energy and bring natural energy into your space. When incorporating plants into your home office, consider the following:

• Place plants in your home office to enhance the energy of the space. Plants like bamboo, Boston ferns, English ivy, and rubber trees are great options.
• Position plants (also known as the wood element) around your desk for support.
• If you have a specific career intention, you can write it on a slip of paper and place it under a fountain or tape it to the back of a picture/artwork of flowing water to magnetise it towards you.
• Avoid dead plants as they do not have any positive or life energy left in them.

Water Element

The water element in feng shui represents good fortune and abundance and how well energy flows and circulates in your life. When incorporating the water element into your home office, consider the following:

• Add actual water to your home office, such as aquariums or fountains, to increase the flow of energy and good fortune.
• Use watery colours like hues of black, blue, and dark shades of any colour family to represent the water element.
• Incorporate free-flowing wavy lines, soft edges, and curves in your home office design, as these shapes and lines also represent the water element.
• Place a water feature near your front door or in your wealth area to attract new opportunities.
• If you have a pond or fountain, consider adding red cannas to represent the fire element.
• Use mirrors, which embody the water element, to reflect elements of nature like rivers (water element) and trees (wood element) into your office.
• Avoid too much water, as it can wash away or drain energy instead of accumulating it. Balance is key when working with the elements.

Colour and decor

According to feng shui, a room's ideal colour should align with the cardinal direction it faces. If your office faces north, choose pale shades of blue and green to accent the water element. If it faces south, opt for reds, oranges, and yellows, which represent the fire element. For east or southeast-facing rooms, browns, tans, and greens are ideal, representing the stability of the wood element. West and northwest-facing rooms are energised by the metal element, so choose white or grey. If your office faces southwest or northeast, light yellow, light brown, or shades of beige and tan are best, as these rooms accentuate the earth element.

In addition to choosing colours based on direction, you can also select colours that align with the five elements of feng shui: fire, water, metal, earth, and wood. Each element invokes a unique mood, and incorporating them into your space in a balanced way is key to achieving good feng shui.

The fire element evokes expressiveness, boldness, inspiration, and enthusiasm. Add this element to your space with red or pink accent colours, or by welcoming in more natural sunlight. Just be careful not to add too much fire, as it can lead to irritability and impulsiveness.

The water element is associated with emotions and spirituality and can bring a sense of wisdom and insightfulness to your space. Incorporate it with dark tones, wave-like patterns, and water features. However, too much water can be overwhelming, so use it sparingly.

The earth element generates a feeling of strength and grounding. Shades of green, brown, or sand will help you achieve balance and feel more organised and stable. If you tend to feel anxious or worried while working, adding the earth element to your space can help to create a sense of ease.

The metal element brings characteristics of focus and organisation and can help with mental clarity and intelligence. Add this element to your space with colours like white, grey, and silver. Be mindful not to overdo it, as too much metal can lead to hasty speech and overly critical thinking.

The wood element symbolises growth, strength, and flexibility and harnesses creative energy. If you feel like your office space has low or slow energy, increase the wood element by adding the colour green or incorporating houseplants or natural fabrics.

When it comes to decor, feng shui expert Laura Cerrano recommends a rectangular wooden desk, as it brings natural energy and a nourishing and vibrant quality to your space. If you prefer a standing desk, consider a wooden design. In general, the size, style, and colour of your desk should depend on the overall room structure and the intended office environment.

In addition to your desk, choose a comfortable office chair with a high back to represent more support in your work life. Select your chair colour based on the five natural elements and the energy you want to invite into your career.

To enhance the positive energy in your office, place things that make you happy, such as family photos, beautiful artwork, eye-catching plants, or a small water fountain. You can also add a feng shui money frog and money plant if these items resonate with you.

Frequently asked questions