How to Use Feng Shui to Arrange an Office Bedroom Combination

In an ideal world we all have our own bedroom which is used for a variety of pleasing activities, sleep among them, work not. There are, however, many of us who have a one-room domain. Can the ancient Chinese art and science of Feng Shui help with an office-bedroom combination? Well, of course!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Shoji screen
• Wind chime
• Two live or silk plants
• Appropriate office chair
• Opaque curtain
• A mirror
• An intention for personal and professional success

1. office.microsoft.com Well... ideally, One would not want to combine the activities of an office with the activities of the bedroom. This would not optimal Feng Shui be. Think about it. See? Not a fabulous idea.
   In an ideal world we all have our own bedroom which is used for a variety of pleasing activities, sleep among them, work not. We can go to our rooms at the end of the day knowing that sweet nurturing awaits in the form of a hot bath, a little quiet time alone, a little quiet time not alone, soothing music – whatever it takes to center oneSelf at the end of the day. Ahhh.
   Is that the sound of a fax machine? Combination space you say?
2. office.microsoft.com There are, however, many of us who have a one-room domain and that, is that. We’re in a college dorm, rent a studio, adore our cottage, live with the folks or love our tent. Then there are the many of us who had an office-room in the house until our first child was born or an in-law moved in. Presto change-oh!
   If you share your bedroom-office with someone they may want to sleep while you have intense conversations with yourSelf about a pressing deadline. They may be snoring to rattle the walls and you are trying to focus, focus, focus. You may want to curl up with a good mystery and they are on the phone exchanging ideas with a distant time zone.
3. office.microsoft.com So, here we are. Monitors, keyboards, printers, scanners, copiers, shredders, phones, speaker phones, faxes, bright lights... and the list goes on. (Thank goodness you have already read my How to Energize Your Master Bedroom article and don’t have a television in the bedroom!) What in the world are you going to do? Indeed, look to Feng Shui for help.
   Be aware, if you do share the bedroom with a spouse, please know that this is a challenging arrangement for relationship. My suggestion is to arrange the space as energetically-sound as possible and keep the lines of communication W-I-D-E open. Also very important is to keep clutter down. Wait. No, not down. Completely gone. Clutter is sticky and like a magnet will pull more clutter to it until... well... it is too frightening to describe.
4. office.microsoft.com One of the most important things to do in a bedroom-office is to hide the desk and related work objects from view – when you enter the room it is best to not see this and you especially do not want to have it in your field-of-vision when you are in bed. The energy of the office will tend to draw you in if you can see it. This is sometimes a drawback with a home-office and can be more distracting if it’s a bedroom-office – the place you begin and end every day.
5. office.microsoft.com Depending on your décor, you may want to wrap a screen or two around the work area. Shoji screens are great for this: economical, blend well with several different styles, and they’re light weight so it is easy to move them out of the way and back again. A client of mine with a Tibetan-themed bedroom has a curtain of deep cranberry dupioni silk shielding her bedroom-office from view – quite exotic. A bookcase might be used as a divider – not too tall, no view-blocking – books facing the office. Play with these ideas. (Don’t consider vertical blinds – too many ‘blades’ swooshing back and forth as you enter and exit your office.)
6. office.microsoft.com Another thing to consider is the sound of a small wind chime placed over the work area – not where anyone would hit their head. A good Feng Shui cure would be size appropriate with hollow, metal tubes. Touch the wind chime as you begin and end a work session to express gratitude for what is in your heart at that moment.
7. office.microsoft.com So that you maximize the supporting Chi around your work area be sure you are able to see the entry to the room when sitting at your desk. This is called the command position – no one can enter the room and surprise you. If it is not possible to position your desk to sit facing the door, place a mirror on the wall you face so that you will see the reflection of the door while seated. If the mirror is placed directly in front of your face, be sure your entire face is reflected – we do not want a missing forehead or a missing mouth.
8. office.microsoft.com Let me mention a few other Feng Shui suggestions to encourage supportive energy in your bedroom. Do not store any thing under your bed. Place two live plants in the far back right corner of the room (looking from the entry door) – that is the relationship area and lush live plants will encourage growth in your relationship (no pointy leaves, no cacti) – silk is OK too. If possible do not block the window with the screens that hide the work area.
9. office.microsoft.com Let me also mention a few Feng Shui suggestions to encourage supportive energy in your office. Use a comfortable and appropriate ‘office’ chair – not a dining room chair or a foldy one from the garage. Do not face a bathroom door, and keep that door closed whether you face it or not. Tidy up all the dangling cords into neat bundles. Try to keep the waste basket out of sight and empty it frequently.
10. office.microsoft.com What if you do not have a real income-generating office in your bedroom? What if your desk is in your bedroom and you sit there three times a week to check e-mail and to pay your bills once a month? You leave the house at 7 o’clock every morning to drive to work and you like it that way – thankyouverymuch. You will still want to distance yourSelf from the energy and function of your computer and the energy of bills accumulating (i.e. you are not off the hook). Use the Feng Shui cures described here that resonate with you.
11. office.microsoft.com Now for the most important part of any Feng Shui endeavor: intention. As you go about arranging your bedroom-office combination or change the energy in an existing arrangement be conscious of your thought, your intention. Choose and be grateful for the experience exactly as it is knowing that it is happening in this very curious way to align with the whole of your life.
    In gratitude and with an intention to serve.

Tips & Warnings

• Use only the Feng Shui suggestions that resonate with you.
• Would you like help finding the life areas in your home? Visit my website to print a free Bagua map, your quick and easy guide to Feng Shui.
• If you do share a bedroom with a spouse, please know that this is a challenging arrangement for relationship.
• Clutter is sticky and like a magnet will pull more clutter in.
• Be mindful when using candles.