In Feng Shui, the desk is one of the “big three” interior pieces that has a major influence on our lives. One of the most critical, life transforming, empowering and productive choices you can make when setting up your home or work office is to place your desk in the Power Position. This is a pretty big claim, but here’s the Feng Shui to support this opportunity.
This vantage point allows you to rule the roost, seeing all that happens before you like a general on the battlefield. You are in command, unchallenged, and therefore in charge and ready for anything that comes your way.
This diagram shows several possible favorable placements for the desk in this office. The yellow stream indicates one area to avoid since it is in line with the flow of Ch’i from the door. This accelerated flow can be unsettling to the calm, focused attention that is required when at our desk.
The tan area designates where you are unable to see the door comfortably from the desk. If you need to turn your head to the side to get a glimpse of the door, you are not in the Power Position. I’ve had many a client try to negotiate keeping their current desk position by asking if they could simply turn their head almost totally behind them to see the door. It just doesn’t work.
You will really boost your Feng Shui capital if you are able to incorporate these two additional factors into your placement:
Have a solid wall behind the desk
A solid wall provides stability and support to the person at the desk. When there is a window behind the desk, the Ch’i can exit through that opening, creating more movement and unrest. It is similar to having a modified door behind you. The diagram below shows the number of favorable desk positions in this office after we factor in the windows and allow for a solid wall behind the desk. There are still several good options available so the occupant can be focused and productive.
If there is no way to have both a view of the door and a solid wall behind the desk, apply a Feng Shui remedy. “Block” the window by sitting in a high back chair, put the window shade down while seated at the desk or put a large plant in front of the window.
Place the desk a comfortable distance from the door
If you have a choice to be close to the door rather than further back in the room, opt for the back where your view commands both the door and the widest part of the room at the same time. If the office is in an oversized room, a distance of 8-12 feet from the door would be preferable.
The heart of any office, what makes it productive, is the desk. It represents so many facets of our lives – our work, purpose, finances, internal and external organization to name just a few. Where is your desk situated? Would it be beneficial to move it? Your desk in the Power Position places you in the best spot for success.
Have fun!
Carol
Carol, What if the desk is built in and your back is to the door. Had that situation where I last lived. ET
Great question Elizabeth. When the desk is built-in it usually means the person at the desk will have their back to room behind them with no view of the door. In this instance, mount a small mirror at eye level close to the desk in a position where you get a view of the door in the mirror. You will catch a “glimpse” of movement when someone enters and your nervous system will be alerted. Knowing that the mirror is “on guard”, your nervous system will not need to be on high alert wondering if someone is approaching from behind. You should feel more at peace. That is the objective of good Feng Shui.
If there is a window, should I put the desk under it? It looks great having the nature in front of me when I study.
Hi Neeli. So many people have asked me this question! Facing out a window while sitting at the desk may give you great views but not good Feng Shui. Can you turn the desk 90 degrees so the window is to your left or right? Then you can occasionally glance outside but still see the door while seated. That would be a much more powerful location for you.