Colors for small office space? Feng shui, psychology?
Our office will be changing locations in the very near future. This gives us an opportunity to have all new colors for the rooms prior to us moving in. I am really looking for assistance in colors for the various rooms. I’ve read some feng shui and color psychology, but sometimes I read information that do not agree. Here is some information as to what spaces will be in the office area.
Classroom – largest room, where we will teach classes, new and old students
Private offices – all about the same size, approx 10-11×11-12 feet
Reception area & hallway
Classroom to promote learning of course
Private offices to promote productivity, results, success
Receptionist to promote relaxation, calming
Any suggestions as to what colors should be used be great. Links to sites are helpful as well.
Color has both psychological and Feng Shui significance. You can use color according to the 5 elements by choosing the color of the prevailing or home natural energy type. To do this we can introduce changes in color, shape or material or the actual element itself. The most potent change is the element itself. In other words real water as in a water fountain is more potent than the color blue or a picture of a waterfall. As for what color goes where, it depends where each room is located in the building. If you know how to use a compass, and have a floor plan you should try to assign a compass direction to each section and then use color according to the natural energy associated with that trigram or sector.
If the room is in the East or Southeast use Wood Colors Green, Olive, Light Green, Hunter Green, Chartreuse, Teal
If it is in the North use Water Colors Navy Blue, Royal Blue, Light Blue, Black
If it is in the West or Northwest use Metal Colors White Silver, Gold, Copper, Bronze
If it is in the Southwest or Northeast use Earth Colors, Yellow, Tan, Beige, Taupe, Brown, Ochre
If it is in South use Fire Colors, Red, Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta, Burgundy, Maroon.
Every color can be yin or yang so this is where you either pick bold colors which are more yang or paler colors which are more yin.
The thing to watch is to use a color that will not drain the element you wish to enhance. For example, a Fire section will not respond well to using blue since blue is representative of water and water douses the fire.
Aside from color, try to consider other aspects of the classroom to create an optimal learning environment such as lighting, desk arrangement, where the teacher stands etc.
If you decide to further your studies to more advanced Feng Shui techniques, Flying Stars will give you insights into the good and bad energy areas of the building, office or classroom. Sometimes this may conflict with the 8 general directions colors in which case the flying stars should overrule. For example the southeast part of my classroom had a combination 2-3 which is called a bullfight sha. This portends lawsuits and fighting. Obviously didn’t want that so I used the recommended cure of metal and a little fire even though in general the Metal is not good for the wood energy of the Southeast. I also found out where my 8 Wealth star was located and opened the window there every day.
This is difficult to learn from books and better to learn from a master.
Wishing you and your students all the best chi.
“Comparing Vastu and Feng Shui” – Feng Shui and Maharishi Vastu
