Most of us have heard of Feng Shui; the ancient Chinese Philosophy of arranging living and working environments to suit the flow of energy and balance out good and evil. Whether we like this philosophy or not, there's often no denying that rearranging a room to suit the laws of Feng Shui will often make it feel more harmonious and comfortable to be in. Perhaps it's just a better use of space, but either way we have devised a guide to Feng Shui in the workplace, so you can make the most of the space that you work in and concentrate better too...

Firstly, try not to have your back to the door when you're working. This will make you feel uneasy and always prepared to turn around to see who is entering the room. Instead, try to have a desk coming out from one of the walls, or facing the wall which the door is on, so you can see it out of the corner of your eye. Similarly, try not to work with your back to a bookcase as this stops the energy of knowledge from working with you. Instead, you are turning your back on the knowledge those books hold.

Minimalist is best for a workspace, but not so much that you don't have at least one item of luxury. The aim here is to always have enough space on your desk for new paperwork or new computer peripherals without it becoming chaotic. Keep pictures above your head so that you focus on them on break and not distracted during work.

Try keeping your working area decorated in a light color. White or cream is great but you need a signature color to bring the area together and to match things with – so perhaps you could use this as a border or paint your desk drawers the same color as your chair seat. Pale green is best for creative roles or for those who work with children. For the business minded blue is a better color and pale pink for those who deal with emotions, love and families.

Anyone who knows about Feng Shui will tell you about the importance of plants. Not only do they look great, but they produce positive energy and filter the air to give you more oxygen. If you have a large space in the corner of your workspace try putting a pot plant there. Or, if you have shelves above where you're working this can be the ideal spot for a spider plant that droops over the edge. Plants with plain green foliage are best for a work environment, unless you work with people and their emotions, in which case flowers with brightly colored petals can really help the mood.

To make Feng Shui apply to your workplace can mean a lot of rearranging, redecorating and investing a lot of time, but it needn't be expensive and once the process is complete you should find the time was well spent. A good work space means more productivity, which should increase the amount you are earning and bring harmony to all areas of your life.

Stan Tian

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