El Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that focuses on harmonizing spaces to improve energy and promote well-being and prosperity. Applying Feng Shui principles in offices can help create a more comfortable work environment. productive and harmonious. When applied to an office space, it can make a tangible difference in creating a calmer, more productive workplace.
In this post we will tell you some keys on how to integrate elements of Feng Shui to bring more balance to an office environment, including home offices and shared work spaces.
What is Feng Shui?
It literally means “wind” (feng) and “water” (shui). This ancient Chinese philosophical system from 3000 years ago works with the laws of nature as a guiding principle, through which people harmonize their lives with their environment.
Feng Shui is a complex philosophy, so we cannot cover it all in this short article. But let's look at some basic concepts that are easy to work with to improve the flow of energy in an office.
With Feng Shui, the objects in a room are arranged according to the natural energy flow. The concept also involves the use of colors, materials and the layout of a space to create a favorable environment.
Many Asian businessmen go to great lengths to incorporate Feng Shui into their corporate environment. In a dated survey, 70% of Taiwanese companies valued this practice, with each company surveyed spending an average of US$27.000 on Feng Shui consultations, designs and construction fees.
The vital energy of Chi
The central energy that Feng Shui works with is called About (also written as Qi). Chi is the vital force that flows through all living beings. It is the same energy that people work with when practicing T'ai Chi, Qi-gong or breathing exercises.
El Ying and Yang They govern the flow of Chi. Yin symbolizes the passive, cold and feminine side of life, while Yang embodies the active, warm and masculine side. When Chi is in balance and there are no excesses in one sense or another, there is harmony and balance in the natural world, and vital energy of Chi can flow smoothly through space.
In this room of a management office the five elements are represented. Water, almost always the most difficult to obtain, is represented in the painting of a beach and in the blue lacquer of the door.
The five elements
Similar to the four Western elements (Fire, Air, Water and Earth), Feng Shui revolves around five fundamental elements that govern nature: Wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
Each of these elements plays a unique role in shaping the energy of the space around us. You have to think of them as building blocks of the universe that influence everything from nature to our mood and health.
Timber. This element channels creativity and growth. Trees, plants or green objects can represent wood.
The fire. It is the most powerful element. Create passion, energy, expansion, boldness and transformation. Candles or the color red can bring the element of fire to a space.
Water. This element is related to emotion and inspiration. Water elements or blue colored objects can represent this element.
Land. The element earth means stability and strength. The earth element is incorporated by introducing rocks, rugs, old books or things that are brown or tan.
Metal. Metal unites all elements and offers concentration and order. Use metallic or white, silver or gray objects.
El HEOS desktop Limobel Inwo is placed perpendicular to the entrance and next to the bay window, the optical location of the “command position”.
The desk position: “the command position”
The position of command or power is related to the placement of the desk. For optimal Feng Shui, the desk should be oriented toward the door but not directly aligned with it. This position allows anyone who enters the office to be seen, which symbolizes control and minimize surprises.
Ideally, there should be a solid wall behind the person and have a clear view of the entrance to the room. A well-located command post provides sensations of control, security, stability and foresight.
According to the principles of Feng Shui, it is not ideal for the desk to face directly towards a window, as it can lead to distractions and lack of support at work. Instead, position the desk so that the window is on one side, providing balanced natural light without direct glare. If the window is behind, make sure you have a strong supporting wall or some type of backrest that symbolizes stability and support in efforts.
Multi-work stations organized and divided by shelves with plants.
Shared offices
In the case of shared offices, the desks must be located in the centeror so that both employees have a clear view of the entrance.
You should avoid sitting back to back or face to face, as these positions can create conflicts. It is preferable stagger desks or create a small barrier with a plant or other object to break up the space.
If the space is large enough, you can even use open shelves or plants as natural dividers to create semi-private areas for yourself without blocking the flow of Chi.
Order and organization
A cozy, organized and aesthetically attractive office is another of the basic principles of Feng Shui. It is essential eliminate clutter in all areas of the office. This includes the desk, floor, and shelves. Experts believe that an organized office can increase efficiency and productivity, as well as provide mental clarity.
The role of natural light
Natural light enhances energy and mood of people, so it has incalculable value in Feng Shui. In fact, recent data indicates that office lighting can significantly impact employee satisfaction, alertness, comfort, and safety.
The big windows or even mirrors Strategically placed they can help maximize natural light levels.
Whenever possible, use the natural light from the windows. Yellowish and fluorescent light can cause fatigue. If you have to use artificial light, opt for full-spectrum incandescent bulbs.
The wood tone and light blue, added to the green of the plants, create a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
Colors in Feng Shui
Feng Shui considers that Colors enhance or inhibit certain behaviors. Broadly speaking, he describes light colors as bringing calm and tranquility. While dark ones promote opposite sensations, managing to reduce performance levels and directly affecting creativity.
For this reason, bright and strident tones should be avoided. Feng Shui colors for offices should create balance without being overwhelming, such as blues, greens, or even earthy browns or beiges, to encourage calm and concentration.
Additionally, each color is related to one of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal or water).
El orange and red are colors of fire. They are associated with vitality and passion. Although they promote creativity, they are not very suitable for a job, since they reflect aggressiveness and block the possibility of concentration. So we should avoid them unless it is for spaces where we want to generate activity such as game rooms or common areas.
El white and gray are metal colors. White is a very bright color, it symbolizes purity, trust and tranquility. Generates orderly, clean and visually attractive environments. Promotes objectivity, concentration and intellectual work. It is a highly recommended color for offices and for all types of environments, although it requires complemented with another color due to its lack of warmth. The most appropriate thing to do is to combine it with other soft colors. He Grey It is a very good option for the office, especially when combined with other warmer tones, since it can be too cold alone, but it adds seriousness to any environment.
Complementary colors to blue and gray: light green and terracotta.
El yellow evokes feelings of joy and sympathy. However, certain shades of yellow can cause anxiety. So it should be used moderately. The blue On the other hand, they are highly recommended colors since they help concentration and also make us feel better. They remind us of open spaces, the sky, the sea and give greater spaciousness in narrow spaces, so it can be an ideal color for an office.
In turn, the Verde It is a very natural color and symbolizes for Growth. It turns out very relaxing in spaces with good natural light since it evokes nature. And if it is light tones, it is ideal to prevent visual fatigue The color green is a driver of new and ingenious ideas, which is why it is interesting and beneficial for those who are setting up a company and require creative and inspiring ideas to do their work. Also, the water green or lavender are Ying tones and are beneficial to promote the mental concentration.
Colours natural and earth tones They convey a feeling of containment, stability and help to overcome fears and future worries. Some details can be entered in vibrant colors that provide Yang energy to maintain lucidity and dynamism, for example in decorative objects, paintings or textiles.
The blue staircase acts as an aquifer element in this office, like a fountain.
Natural and organic elements
Experts believe that incorporating water features and plants into the workspace can create positive energy.
The Facilities They are always an element that symbolizes purification and nature, which is why they are highly appreciated in Feng Shui.
Natural materials such as clay, bamboo and natural fibers They are positive energy enhancers and represent the elements earth and wood.
Another good idea is to place a water source in the center of the space to provide calming energy and keep stress at bay.
Also the shapes organic sinuous, curved or rounded They are considered beneficial for the flow of Chi energy. That is why furniture with sharp angles and straight lines should be avoided.
Although this image reproduces a Zen garden, Japanese philosophy and Chinese Feng Shui have many points in common, since in both the order and balance of energy is sought.
Decorative objects
Instead of cluttering the room with randomly placed objects, it is better to carefully choose a few beautiful feng shui objects that symbolize your aspirations, and leave plenty of open space for Chi energy to flow around them.
Decorative objects must be incorporated that balance the five elements of Feng Shui (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) in its decoration. For example, candles or incense (representing the fire element) are widely used in Feng Shui, as well as campaigns (metal element) or amulets.
Finally, the mirrors They have a very important role, since they enhance or block the flow of energy. For example, you should avoid placing them in front of the door because the energy bounces and does not enter the room. In addition, you have to take care of the reflection in the mirror, so that ugly, broken or messy things are not seen.
There are interior design and Feng Shui consultants that can help develop a project and design the flow of energy in a workspace. We always recommend going to the experts!
