Dear Carol,

What's the best place for a home office?
Laura

Dear Laura,

You don't say whether or not your home office is to pay bills, etc. or if it is to support your income-producing work. It could be both.

Everyone needs a place to pay bills, keep track of schedules, organize kids' school information, etc. A space in or near the kitchen is very functional and works well for many people. "Household central" can be put anywhere that is convenient. The important thing is that there is a designated place for incoming mail, papers, and lists to be kept. It makes everyone's life much easier and eliminates wasting time searching for that one piece of paper that has the information you need.

If you are asking about an office that supports a career, the guidelines are different. If clients or customers come to the house, it is best to have a separate door if possible. At the very least, avoid having the public walk through your private spaces.

Offices that are used to support a career but are not open for business with others, can be in almost any place. If possible, use a room that can be closed off when not is use so that you can more easily separate your personal life from your work life.

If there are options, a room in the center of the front of the house is a great place for an office because it is in the career area of the bagua (the template or grid that is superimposed upon any space, indicating which areas of a space correspond with which aspects of life). The back left section of your home is your prosperity area - another good place for an office.

Dear Carol,

I know it's important to see the entrance of a building as you approach it, but is it also important to see the entrance from the main living area inside the house?
Harry

Dear Harry,

A main entrance represents the mouth of chi, the foremost way that energy enters that space. It is natural to want to see what and who is entering your space. When you can see that door from the inside, it gives you a sense of being in charge of your space. This, in turn, supports a feeling of security and safety. Knowing who and when someone is entering your space is important. Just as you like to know who is entering a room, you would want to know who is approaching your house or apartment. If your door has no window or peep hole, it is best if there is a window to look out to see people as they approach.

This pertains to businesses also. There needs to be someone who can monitor the comings and goings of the public. It also is more welcoming to clients or customers to be greeted by someone who is facing them as they enter the business.

The place from which you can see the door (without turning around), but are not in direct line with it, is called the command position. When you can conveniently see the main entrance, you are in that command position. So, yes, it is important to see the entrance area from your main living space. For some, this main living space may be the kitchen rather than the living room.

In individual rooms, people work better and sleep better when desks and beds are in command positions. In the kitchen, people have more of a connection to others when the stove is in the command position. In addition, it is easier to relax or socialize better when the couch is positioned so you can see the door.

Dear Carol,

We just remodeled our entry to create more room. The space is great, but our door no longer faces the street. What can we do about this?
Sarah

Dear Sarah,

When a front door does not face the street, it is important to draw attention to the entrance in other ways. It is very confusing to drive up to a building (home or business) and not see an obvious front door. It is also not particularly welcoming.

Be sure that the landscaping draws the eye to the door, even if the actual door is not seen. A well defined path with plantings on either side will lead others to the door. A couple of large pots of flowers can mark the beginning of the path. In the winter these can be filled with evergreens.

Consider hanging an interesting sculpture, wreath, or other decorative item on the street side, as close to the door as possible. Once again, where the eye goes, the energy goes. A colorful wind sock, spiral, or other fabric decoration can also work. I like to hang wind chimes, with the specific intention of calling in helpful people, friends, etc.

Carol C. Wheelock, M.Ed. of Feng Shui Vermont is a certified feng shui practitioner who has studied in the United Sates and China. She practices Black Sect or western feng shui. Carol does private consultations for homes, schools, libraries, and businesses; clutter counseling and clearing; spaces clearings; phone consultations; presentations; and teaches workshops throughout the United States. She also does personal clearings.