After all the fun and revelry of Christmas and New Year's, it's no surprise that the majority of us might need a little help getting focused and realigned when it comes to going back to work for the New Year, none more so than those of us who work from home.
We've spoken to our Feng Shui expert for her top three tips on tweaking your home office space to boost focus and head into the new working year with a clear head and uncluttered space that maximizes motivation and productivity.
Here, she shares how to perfect your office Feng Shui.
3 Easy Feng Shui Tweaks for Your Home Office
1. Declutter
As Suzanne Roynon, Feng Shui consultant and interiors therapist, points out, 'It's important to use the time between Christmas and New Year to reclaim your space by decluttering – out with the old to make space for the new. This is as relevant for the home office as it is for your wardrobe.
'Clutter creates stagnation, not to mention bringing you down emotionally and contributing to those 'out of control' feelings,' which can, in turn, affect your home office productivity.
For this, Suzanne recommends decluttering your home office as an essential.
'Start with the desk and work your way through drawers, storage, and files,' she advises, paying particular attention to getting rid of paper clutter. 'Be ruthless. You’ll find you can discard much more than you imagine, and then archive anything that is now complete.
'Keep old tax records, invoices you have paid, and anything to do with financial outlay in the East, preferably in blue or black files or folders. The East represents the past, and blue mutes the spending energy.'
The Amazon Basics Classification Folder available at Amazon will keep everything neat when organizing paperwork at home. And, if you're unsure how long to wait before getting rid of important paperwork, our dedicated guide details everything you need to know.
'For new projects and income generation, use files in fiery colours or greens to represent positive energy and growth,' continues Suzanne. 'Put these in the North (Career), West (New Beginnings), or Southeast (Wealth) area of the room.'
2. Move Your Desk
'If your desk position means you face a wall with your back to a door, you’re impeding the ability to see the bigger perspective and likely experiencing obstacles in your work, as well as feeling a touch insecure,' advises Suzanne,' which is why it's crucial to consider Feng Shui furniture placement and, in particular, desk Feng Shui.
'Reorganise the space so you face out into the room with your back to a solid wall, so you can see the door directly or in your peripheral vision – this is known as the ‘control position’ and gives a greater sense of focus and purpose while supporting wellbeing,' she continues. 'If your desk is wobbly or not big enough, a firm, spacious replacement is going to help.'
We suggest the Caidence Computer Desk available at Wayfair as a worthy replacement, which is available in four colors.
3. Keep the Desk Top Clean and Fresh
It may seem obvious, but as Suzanne highlights, dusty paper-logged desks covered with coffee rings and a trail of biscuit crumbs will not inspire you to great things.
'They just feel tired and unloved, and it’s easy for that to become your daily experience,' she warns. 'Be sure to take everything off the desk and spritz it with an antibacterial spray [such as the all-natural Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray available at Walmart] at least once a week to keep you healthy and enthusiastic about your work.
'Generate good vibes with products that cleanse and uplift the energy within a space. Choose one which works for you or make your own DIY cleaning solution with a spray bottle and some energising aromatherapy oil.'
What to Shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This is the desk and filing cabinet combination that Suzanne suggests, which is large, freestanding, and available in six colors.
These folders prove that organizing important documents doesn't have to be plain and boring, with a tasteful botanical design and wipe-clean surface.
This antibacterial spray is made with citric acid and is tough on grease and grime yet gentle on surfaces.
One of the easiest ways to stop trash piling up in your home office is to pop a trash can under your desk – just make sure you empty it out regularly.
For any particularly important documents, this box is fireproof and offers 72 hours of protection in water up to eight inches deep.
These amber glass bottles are ideal for mixing up any homemade cleaning solutions, like a DIY vodka cleaner.
Meet the Expert
As with any space, it's just as important to avoid any Feng Shui design mistakes in your home office as in any other space. You can also start the New Year with a new habit, including writing morning pages.
