Creating the best office environment isn’t only about arranging furniture and equipment, it’s also developing an ambiance that has a positive flow of energy. Consider laying out your workspace using office feng shui.
Imagine the benefits:
- Having a workplace with reduced stress
- Using appealing natural elements
- Maximizing employee comfort
- A cleaner and organized office
What is Office Feng Shui
The word feng shui means “wind” and “water,” and is based on the concept that we’re impacted by our surrounding environment. The most productive offices are planned and laid out with purpose and aren’t arranged in a haphazard manner.
Office feng shui design is meant to bring harmony between people and their surroundings. Nature plays an important role.
Finding Balance in Office Feng Shui
Feng shui incorporates five elements that create a balanced atmosphere when they’re used well together. This can be accomplished in an individual home office or in a corporate setting.
See how each element plays a role and blends with the others for a balanced and harmonious work setting.
Wood
Wood represents creativity and includes growth, birth, strength, and flexibility. Trees, plants, or green objects can represent wood. Feng shui practitioners don’t define wood as hard surfaces, but they look at what flows out of wood like greenery and flowers.
Photo: Nevins Leaf Living Wall
Now, let’s add boldness and energy into the mix.
Fire
As you might imagine, fire represents passion, energy, boldness and change or transformation. Natural light, candles, and the color red bring the fire element into a space. Feng shui practitioners say this element promotes leadership.
Now think about combining this leadership with inspiration.
Photo: Stylex Metrum Lounge Seating
Water
The element of water is linked to emotion and inspiration. Colors in shades of blue represent water. The incorporation of water in office feng shui balances personalities and temperaments, and encourages ideas and inspiration.
Photo: Stylex Free Address Table 2.0
Certainly so far, each element has a universal quality. Let’s look at strength as a foundation to build on.
Earth
Stability and strength are found in the earth element. Rocks, carpets, old books, decorative pottery or other items that are brown or tan in color capture the tones of the earth and provide stability and strength. Now, let’s focus and bring everything together with the next element.
Photo: Source International Lore Lounge
Metal
Metal is a unifying force with all the elements. It promotes focus and order. The colors of metal are white, silver, or grey.
Photo: Arcadia Worksmith Meeting Tables
Ideas for Using Feng Shui in Offices
Feng shui identifies and eliminates stress points and is compatible with biophilic design, or using natural elements at work. Basic initial steps are to get rid of unnecessary clutter and have good air circulation.
Browse ideas from 2010 Office Furniture’s Office Inspirations for ways to use colors and furnishings so you reach a result that promotes well-being among your team.
Discover how the elements blend together in green offices with an emphasis on nature. Or, combine the properties of residential and commercial spaces with a resimercial layout. The industrial space promotes strength while a minimal office lets you use the elements in subtle ways.
You can also decide how many of the feng shui elements already exist in your current layout and decide how many of each are needed.
If an office feels lifeless or drab, then use office feng shui elements to generate freshness and vitality. Is there an overabundance of one element, like wood and not enough of fire or water? Too many elements related to earth can create a sense of boredom or dullness.
Too many bold designs can be overwhelming.
The Use of Elements in Offices
If fire is related to leadership, then use red tones in specific workstations and executive offices. Blend with the needed strength and flexibility.
A graphics department, marketing, or other area needing a creative boost can decorate with blue and teal.
Photo: Source International Lore Lounge and Clever Plane Tables
If the office space has plenty of natural light but creates glare, don’t use heavy draperies or dark shades to block the light. An idea from Workplace Design.com is to use material that diffuses light so it shines in but reduces the stress of glare.
Feng shui will impact how furnishings are arranged. Desks have a power position when facing a door from the furthest spot in the room. Workers also need support. In feng shui, this can be conveyed behind a desk with solid wall and plants.
The elements of feng shui can also be found in the furnishings and brought together in one space. A helpful summary from Work Design.com shows a conference room with a large communal table that represents Earth.
A variety of light fixtures and natural light from the windows can bring in fire. Wood can be represented by using the material in communal table and chairs. A glass top on the table will introduce water, along with any blue chair, bench or sofa seating. Also, wall coverings that depict the image of gentle rain evokes the water element.
In the conference room, metal may be represented in the furniture finishes of the table, chairs, light fixtures and other objects. Wall treatments and art or photographs can represent metal, as well as the other elements.
Bring in Plenty of Plants
Plants contribute greatly in office feng shui. It’s said that bamboo conveys health, happiness and long life. Peonies help soothe emotional problems.
Succulents are seen as power plants, as they collect water in their stems, leaves, and roots. Feng shui practitioners believe the best places to set them are on desks, sunny terraces, and near windows.
Get Expert Input on Office Feng Shui
For further advice and input, contact our team at 2010 Office Furniture about feng shui and its benefits for your office.
The team members are experienced in office designs and space planning for corporations, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. 2010 Office Furniture also serves the Inland Empire.
Contact us with your questions and project needs.
Read Also: Checklist of Wellness Activities for 2019
Main Photo: OFS Riff Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia, Nevins, OFS, Source International & Stylex