Career Advice: Feng Shui Your Office and Get Ahead at Your Job

If you work in an office, you probably spend eight hours a day (at least) cooped up in a tiny, drab cubicle. While you may feel resigned to your fate, there is hope for this dreary existence. We’ve laid out five steps to feng shui your office that will make it a more productive environment, so you can get ahead at your job—and enjoy your surroundings in the mean time.

1. Color—Color can play a huge role in your office environment. Colors like blues and greens are calming, which can be helpful when the boss is driving your blood pressure through the roof. Red can be an empowering color and is great for those in business or sales, but can also increase stress, so use it sparingly. Yellow is good for people who need discipline in their space. Feng Shui expert Angi Ma Wong recommends a red or purple focal point on your desk (opposite your chair). Ways to incorporate color include photos and picture frames, rugs, furniture, mouse pads, any small items on your desk—try to work in color wherever you can and you'll get ahead at your job.

2. Plants—Not only do plants increase the oxygen in a room, they’ll boost your energy as well. Put fresh flowers or a leafy plant on the left side of your desk to create good chi (energy). Or put a money tree or jade or prosperity plant in the Southeast corner of your desk or cubicle. Horticulturist Jessie Mack Burns from the DIY Network suggests Chinese Evergreen, Rubber Plant, Pothos, Wheat Grass and Peace Lily plants for the office. Avoid cactuses, which create difficult work relationships and bonsai trees, which will stunt career growth.

3. Where you sit—Where you sit and the arrangement of your office and furniture can have a huge impact on your workplace energy. While you may not have too much choice in the matter, try to adapt as best you can. If you want to get ahead at your job don’t sit directly in line with the door or you could be in the path of negative energy. And never have your back to a door, as that’s where business and opportunity enters. Try to sit in the corner farthest from the entrance to the room to have a “command” position and keep your back toward a corner or wall for support. If your back is to a window, sit with a tall building behind you to provide support. If the IT guys don’t mind, put your computer in the North or West area of your office to enhance your creativity or in the Southeast to generate income.