Anna Wintour at her Vogue desk. She has the feng shui going in a big way!!!
Feng Shui is the easiest to navigate on a desktop but the hardest to implement for people who “like to function in a mess.” Here is a handful of desktop feng shui tips to get your workflow in flow!
I find that the bagua map is the best place to start in understanding your desk and how to feng shui it to your advantage. When you look at the bagua map, place the bottom (the wisdom-self-compassion row) of it in the area where you sit and section off the rest of the bagua as it follows in the chart:
Now, some deliberate tips to take your desk to the next level.
THE FAR RIGHT: Your relationships. For some, a computer does well in this area. Photos of family members, spouses, lovers all of that good stuff is positive in this area. Broken computer equipment and/or your fiftieth jar full of staple removers and pens, not so great.
lava lamps can help you make strides in work!
THE FAR LEFT: Your money! And your self esteem, even more critically. Plants, the freshest flowers, a clean running fountain, even a lava lamp = all great motion, energy & building elemental energy.
A vision board of inspiration does not have to be crafty, it can be polished and totally decor-friendly!
DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU: Your power. You can keep this area very clean to have a great view of your space, add inspirational images (perhaps on your commuter desktop?) and/ or add objects that represent power and recognition to you. If can be neat piles of prep work for important speeches or meetings or clients, but it should not be where your inbox sits.
THE IN & OUT BOXES: I like inboxes on the right (creative) and outboxes on the left (represents production, completion and things DONE).
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU: Start the morning with your agenda right in front of your chair to set the pace for the day.
& some special notes:
- WIRES ARE BAD. Hide them, tape them, control them. You don’t need tangled messes in this area.
- Glass Desks CAN BE VERY HARD to produce solid work upon. Try a simple natural-colored linen tablecloth to make the table solid while you work. Its less “dreamy” and more concrete.
- YOUR DRAWERS MATTER! If you have a “junk drawer” in your office please leave that one little space for junk and keep the rest ORGANIZED!!!
- Your computer can be just as filled with clutter as your drawers (all about electronic clutter HERE) , so clean it out & keep it updated regularly!
Have fun getting stuff done!
xoxo Dana
********************
And, if you want to dive in to your own personalized feng shui in a modern, practical way, Say hello to Feng Shui 101. Its the guide I made for you to create your own personalized feng shui at home, in the office, wherever you may be… in 8 weeks. It’s not filled with strict rules or what you “must” do. Its filled with information, questions, exercises and even videos and classes to help you confidently create amazing spaces with killer feng shui and live with more flow. Learn more about the 8-week feng shui adventure & grab your copy to get started right HERE… And, as always, please let me know what happens!
Bravo Dana. It is a great blog!! Clean, informative, fun, handy, new age and esthetic. 10 thumbs up
Thank you Soooo much!!! xxx
I love your blog! Your really have a fresh, beautiful, but also practical take on feng shui! I have a question about my home office, situated in the south-east corner of my living room. I sit with my back to the wall, facing north. I have all my files and books in a book shelf in the corner on my right side. Is a book shelf in the “wealth” corner of the house bad feng shui?
thank you!!!! so much!!! and no, its not bad to have a bookshelf in your wealth area, just be mindful of the messages in the books on the shelf and keep it clean & clear (not overstuffed!!!) xoxo Dana
How would you arrange an L shaped desk? I’m just wondering how to apply your information to my situation. Thanks!
I am not sure what you mean by arrange the desk? But I will say this. Pick a side where you are stationed and a side where you work, if at all possible avoid positioning yourself in the interior corner of the desks. 🙂
Thanks for the practical advice. I also have an L-shaped desk. My computer is currently positioned there – is that a bad idea? Any other placement/arrangement advice would be very helpful. Something feels a bit off…
Its generally best- unless your desk ius curved, to avoid putting youtrself in the right-angled corner of the L-shape. Its very confining and the opposite of creative.
Hello,
I am trying to Feng Shui my office. I would like to add crystals in various places.
I want to hang a clear quartz in middle of the ceiling and maybe put hematite on top of the soil in my plants? Would that be ok to place hematite on top of the plant soil?
What would you suggest?
This is new to me, but I have applied the Feng Shui concept at home and it has made a huge difference. One more question, I was thinking of adding an air purifying plant to both my family room and study what is the ideal placement for the plant? Thanks.
you can put crystals in potted plants. i think hematite is ok- i don’t believe it dissolves in water, etc.
i’m happy feng shui is working for you!
There is no one right place for a plant, so sorry I can’t give you a general ideal 🙂 xoxo
I used 2 computer front to me and form a corner because they are together what is the best option since I can’t move from the position , what is good idea and what part I can place my garbage can , mi cubicle is u shape I my computers And chair is the right corner
I would position things first and foremost so that they are accessible. As long as the garbage is cleared daily it shouldn’t be a problem!
Very informative blog Dana. However, i have a question. My desk is up against the wall, and i don’t really have anywhere else to put it in the room or anywhere else in my home. My desk is also located in the career path of my home (I live in an apartment). I moved it a few inches from the wall to create some space and try to create a good flow of chi. I also have shelves of books on each side of my desk. I also centered my desk between the shelves where it is not touching either for space. I have a third shelf attached to the two of these above my desk from left to right (a few feet above the desk). So i have this empty space of the wall. I was thinking constructing a bagua for this area of the wall. What would you suggests I can do? Thanks.
Maybe add art? No need to get too heady with the feng shui bagua.
Very informative blog Dana!!! Would also like to ask help. My left side of the L shape desk is facing 2 other co workers directly. The right side is facing the wall. I am seated on the far right corner of the door. I can still see people coming into the office. My concern is, I am facing my co workers although they are both facing towards the door. I placed my computer in front of me so that I can’t see them directly. Any advice please?. One more thing, my boss is in the other room. If we take the wall down, I will be facing them too.
Hm. I would probably add some fire color to your desk in strategic positions by work (like red paperweights, or other red objects) that pull your attention onto your desk and away from them !
I am arranging furniture in my new small home office. I have a question about bookcases. Can I put them behind me (against the wall)? Thanks
yes!
Hey Dana. I have a u-shaped desk and can’t figure out good placement. my computer is in the top right corner (the desk in that area comes out at a different angle then the other side to accommodate seating) and my back faces the opening to my cubicle. I’ve reduced clutter and organized but I want to add objects to promote health, prosperity, focus, etc. Any help will be greatly appreciated. thank you!
id focis on getting a reflective object to show you what is behind you as you work, beside the computer, a mirror if possible. And treat the whole space you have with the bagua over it and make adjustments based on the grid being dropped over your entire cublicle area. 🙂
Please can you help me where to keep my computer ?? Please suggest the direction ? It would be great if you help me. 🙂
i don;t do feng shui with directions, but your compyter should be in a place where you are comfortable using it 🙂
Hello Dana, my work desk is made of glass. I tried to cover it with natural colour fabric; however, it feels like my laptop is not on a solid surface. Any suggestions would be thankfully appreciated.
yes- add something solid beneath your working space- glass isn’t very supportive.
How do I position the bagua map on a curved desk? The length of the desk is to the right with a small curve at the left where I sit.
don’t be too literal, just use it as an overall template 🙂