Chances are you’ve heard of the phrase “Feng Shui,” but have no real idea as to what it is or how to achieve it. Feng Shui is the practice of bringing harmony to an environment for everyone involved. It may seem like an abstract concept, though in practice it actually works. Have you ever conducted a quick scan of your work environment and noticed that some employees seem more upbeat and positive than others? That may be due to the fact that your work environment is not Feng Shui. The good news is there are quick modifications that you can make to truly change the way your work environment runs as it pertains to the people who are a part of it. So let’s get Feng Shui with these tips:
Color Me Happy
Did you know that certain colors of walls are more Feng Shui than others? Have you ever sat in an office and felt immediately drained? Conversely, have you ever sat in an office and felt immediately charged? It could be due to the wall colors. Blues, purples, earth tones. These are all great Feng Shui colors. So is the color green, which is this year’s Pantone Color Standard. It could make a big difference to paint your office walls these colors to promote Feng Shui. If you’re not into anything too drastic, opt for a nice white too. White is Feng Shui as well.
Declutter, Declutter, Declutter
This is a simple enough practice that few invest their time into. When your workspace is in disarray, so is your mind while you work. In order to make everything run smoothly within your office, decluttering and organizing everything is a must. Now, you may have the occasional messy employee whose desk looks like a bomb hit it, but it’s important to stress tidiness for reasons beyond it being visually appealing. Express to your team how physical clutter means mental clutter, and watch them clean right up. For spaces beyond their control, make sure you keep those parts are neat and organized as well. And most importantly, promote a dust-free environment.
Desk Side Is The Best Side
The position of desks makes a huge difference when it comes to Feng Shui. All desks should be in what’s known as a “power” position, i.e. facing the door and with the greatest view of the office space as possible. In office environments, open space is often the way to go, so make sure desks (even with cubicles) are positioned so they can visually view everything and not appear locked in. This is true for individual offices as well. Staring out a giant window doesn’t always promote Feng Shui, contrary to popular belief.
Add Feng Shui-Friendly Art And Furniture
There is a certain balance that should be achieved when it comes to Feng Shui and that includes the elements of wood, metal, water, fire, and earth. This can be achieved in a number of ways. Perhaps through wood furniture, metal cabinets, a water fountain in the office and earth toned wall colors with a painting of fire or even a small office mantle. Now, you may not be able to strike that exact combination, but aim for the balance of those elements. In addition, this can include inspirational artwork for the walls or interesting office accents. Make sure to incorporate words and imagery that you hope to achieve within your office. Speak it into existence with décor.
Get The Stress Out
Perhaps you can play some relaxing music at times during the day or even nature noises. Maybe you can add diffusers with essential oils or even candles placed in areas with no piles of paper nearby. Even short meditation breaks fall into this category. The point is that managing stress within your office is important for Feng Shui, and if you are going to go the extra mile for your team to promote harmony, then de-stressing is just as important. All of the physical modifications are very necessary, but so are the mental and emotional ones. Make these changes, and watch your office grow.