How to arrange furniture in the office according to Feng Shui?

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui philosophy is based on the energy flows that appear around people. As a rule, the teaching implies the circulation of positive energy that can be attracted by the right layout of furniture, interior, accessories and elements surrounding people.

It is pivotal to create a pleasant atmosphere for people to work in as they spend the biggest part of the day at their workplace. They should feel at ease. Furthermore, the ancient eastern teaching Feng Shui can help people whose heart is completely at work get a promotion and the recognition of their top management, open financial streams and block any negative energy.

What to look for when organizing space according to Feng Shui?

There are a few moments that should be taken into account to attract positive energy to your office and improve not only each worker’s overall well-being but the whole company’s as well.

Layout

There are several types of layout:

• open or Open space;
• office;
• mixed.

If you are renting premises, for example, in a business center, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to change the office layout, which means you will have to start with the initial layout. It is possible and advisable to work with it if you know simple Feng Shui rules.

In case you are building your office from scratch, we recommend consulting your colleagues and finding out the most convenient type of layout. For instance, creative agencies will function better in the open space office, since there will be no obstacles for workers to communicate and interact with each other directly and without wasting time. Besides, this type will make it easier for you to apply Feng Shui principles.

The picture below shows an Open space office type.

The picture illustrates an office type layout that will suit companies dealing with confidential information.

All the examples above stick to the Feng Shui philosophy. You should choose the one that suits your company the most. Only then the design solutions will take effect, bringing financial success to the whole company, making employees and visitors bury the hatchet and reducing disagreements, and also stimulating high efficiency.

There should always be four corners in any type of layout, i.e. an office should either be square or rectangular. If there are more or fewer corners, it may cause energy imbalance. But it can also be fixed by moving furniture, accessories or partitions. 

Pictures and mirrors

Pictures are a necessary attribute of any office. They add beauty and make the working environment calmer and more pleasant by softening harsh corners. According to Feng Shui, pictures can depict:

• flying birds or aircraft (vertically or horizontally);
• water transport;
• nature;
• horizontal bodies of water.

Pictures with waterfalls are forbidden because they embody resources moving downward. It is a bad sign that should be avoided.

Also, you should stick to one style of colors and shades of your office interior when choosing pictures. In case of having second thoughts about buying a picture, it is better to consult a designer.

Talking about mirrors, there are several main rules:

• Do not hesitate when choosing a full-length mirror. It will block negative energy and keep positive energy in the office.
• It is not recommended to hang a mirror in the hallway or corridor so that it reflects any doors, including the entrance and the door to the restroom.
• Do not hang mirrors opposite each other. The energy will be stuck in place and will not move further than the mirrors.

Nature corner

Here we are talking about plants and fish tanks. They are the key to successful development of a company and relationships between the company and its partners.

Flowers and other plants will be good decor for your office, they will fill it with oxygen and improve employees’ moods and performance.

Fish tanks will help cleanse energy and channel it to the right place and relieve emotional tension. Modern offices can also boast about their artificial water bodies and small fountains. Clients will appreciate such details and think that your company keeps with the times and pays attention to office improvement.

What colors does Feng Shui recommend?

Here are basic colors of eastern teaching that should be mentioned:

• Yellow;
• Orange;
• Green;
• Cream;
• Light-brown.

These are all shades of warm color. They set a good mood and pleasant atmosphere. If you want to experiment with contrast, you can add blue or red accents, but you should be very careful with them.

The picture below shows a good combination of warm shades of cream, light-brown and orange. The wall color goes well with the selected furniture.

Feng Shui philosophy strongly recommends avoiding the dark side and using dark colors, especially black. It will provoke negative thoughts, and therefore unwelcome negative flows that will decrease efficiency and slow down achieving goals. Black can be used as an accent color. For example, you can paint window frames or doors black.

Qi energy and office space: what is the connection between them?

Chaotic arrangement of furniture is strictly forbidden. Firstly, consider the work triangle rule, when an employee has three objects within their reach: a work surface, a drawer for personal belongings and a file cabinet. Of course, the process of storing documents becomes easier with the introduction of computerization, but it does not cancel out cabinets and shelves in offices. Secondly, when arranging the spaces, it is necessary to take cardinal points and Qi energy into account. They play a significant role in arranging furniture.

According to Feng Shui teaching, Qi energy must circulate in the office, as it is the positive energy contributing to financial and performance growth. Thus, it is important to arrange furniture so that it helps good Qi energy circulation. Cardinal points, doors and windows will come in handy for this.

Workspace

A work surface and adjacent objects, i.e. a chair, desk, drawer, shelf, cabinet, are an important part of any office. It is believed that these elements influence further career development of employees. In order to arrange furniture correctly, use the following rules:

• Determine the northern side of the office space and place the desk there.
• Try to choose a comfortable large mobile desk. This can be a transformable desk that folds and unfolds. It is good if it is on wheels. The larger the surface of the desk, the wider the possibilities of the person who will work behind it.
• To let Qi energy into the office, place the desk in the northern part (if possible) so that it stands at an angle to the door.
• Do not clutter the space in front of the desk or, consequently, behind it. The space in front of it will represent freedom of choice and unlimited possibilities. But the place behind the desk is necessary at least so that the employee can move freely.
• According to the teaching, you cannot put the desk on the same level with the window and door. The energy will not linger in the office. It will completely evaporate from the workspace.
• It is also not recommended to place furniture and especially to seat personnel under large chandeliers or beams. Heavy objects hanging from the ceiling are a source of danger and pressure. People will not be able to concentrate on their work tasks. They will be disturbed by the energy of Sha.
• If there is a mirror in the office, it is good, but you should not seat a person in front of it to work. It is also strictly forbidden to arrange the workplace in such a way that the silhouette of an employee, even from the back, is reflected on any surfaces, including a mirror.

Regarding the placement of personnel, it is worth adding that people are not recommended to sit with their back against a window or entrance. It is better to add backing and place a worker with their back against a wall. Thus, a person will feel support and safety.

Chair or armchair

There are also some moments that should be emphasized:

• A comfortable chair is a primary factor. It should be comfortable, multifunctional and mobile. Casters will be a good solution for this concern. But you should not forget about the proportions of the chair or armchair in relation to the work surface. A person should not sit too high or too low. Firstly, they will feel uncomfortable, and secondly, such a position will direct incomplete performance of necessary tasks.
• The chair must have a back and armrests. Feng Shui philosophy says that this type of support symbolizes not only physical but also moral support. A person will feel protected and confident in their own strengths.

The pictures below show good examples of chairs that will not only be convenient for work but will also suit any interior.

Riva Chair 8075

IQ black chair

Executive office

Any layout presupposes a separate workplace for an executive. And it is not about secrets and confidentiality but about comfort for both parties, a superior and the subordinates. According to Feng Shui teaching, it is best to locate the mentor's office in the northwest part of the office space. It is believed that this cardinal point represents wisdom and justice. Thanks to this, the person who occupies a higher position will make right decisions.

An ill-advisable location for the executive’s office is in the west and southwest, as the space in these parts has negative energy. This will cause a decrease in productivity not only of the superior, but also of the entire office.

As for the colors typical for the northwest, they are:

• Silver;
• White;
• Gold.

Black, brown and graphite are also good choices. They can be skillfully combined with each other and create the impression of status, wealth and prosperity.

Work surface

It is better to choose a large and spacious table. Opt for correct shapes - rectangle or square. Extra corners and rounded shapes may not always fit into the interior. They will make it a complex visual eyesore. 

Decor

Naked walls seem empty. It is better to ornate them with the images of calm water bodies like ponds, seas or rivers. You can purchase pictures with ships or airplanes (flying either horizontally or vertically). Another popular image depicts a soaring eagle or blossoming meadow.

According to the philosophy, it is not recommended to buy canvases with images of bare trees, people, storms, or deserts. 

If we talk about flowers, we recommend taking a closer look at Ficus plants and philodendrons. It is believed that they help make right decisions and solve complex problems. Ficus plants have Yang energy which accelerates goal achievement. But philodendrons will definitely bring success to the company and attract business partners.

Conclusion

Feng Shui is not just a set of rules, but a real art, thanks to which you can not only comfortably arrange your office space but to attract positive energy, fill your workplace with spaciousness, oxygen and comfort.

This article covers everything that has something to do with office arrangement according to Feng Shui and is supposed to wrap it all up for you. Apart from just following the advice, also try to think in a positive way, bringing in all the qualities and spiritual tools you need at work. 

Remember, the energy that circulates around your workspace is the one you create yourself. Furniture and decorative objects only facilitate the process.