Create a Dynamic Workplace

Your home office is your sacred space. As a work-from-home entrepreneur, you want your home office to be a place you enjoy spending time in—mostly because you’re going to be spending a lot of time there! Whether you have a dedicated room or just a corner to yourself, you can use home office feng shui to increase your productivity and lift your spirits while you work.
Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is the ancient Oriental art of arrangement and color use that promotes the flow of energy and balance in a given space. Using home office feng shui not only makes your home office a pleasing place to be, it also helps you become more organized and reduces stress. Follow these tips to implement feng shui principles in your home office:

• LOCATION: The physical location of your home office is an important feng shui principle. You should locate your home office as close to the front door as possible, as that’s where the energy flow is strongest. Home office feng shui advocates that you don’t locate your office in the basement, because energy travels upward. If you must use the basement, be sure to paint the walls and ceiling a bright white and install a fan to promote energy flow.
• DESK PLACEMENT: Your desk is the hub of your home office. There are many feng shui rules dictating desk placement, but they’re quite simple. When seated at your desk, you should be facing the entrance to the room with your back toward a wall or corner. This is less disruptive, as you will be able to tell who’s coming in. Never place your desk in the center of the room; home office feng shui principles state this practice makes you feel too open, and therefore unable to concentrate. Finally, if there is a window in your home office, situate your desk to the left if you’re right-handed, and to the right if you’re left-handed.
• CLUTTER: A cluttered home office blocks energy flow and makes you unproductive. Keep your workspace and surrounding area as free from clutter as possible. A good way to control clutter is the “one-time” rule: once you pick up a piece of paper, decide then and there what to do with it so you only move it once. Home office clutter also extends to your computer and desktop: keep your desktop neat and organized, and scan your computer for viruses once per week.
• COLOR: The color scheme of your home office should depend upon the type of work you do. Red is recommended if you’re involved in selling or making deals, as it is an aggressive color. Creative entrepreneurs such as freelance writers should surround themselves with blue-green color. Yellow is an appropriate choice for any home office; it stimulates mental activity and promotes self-discipline. Use warm colors like orange or tan to promote teamwork in a joint venture home office.

Home office feng shui is an excellent tool for work-from-home productivity. You will find yourself with less stress and more energy when you implement these simple principles in your home office.