When designing a kitchen, a common approach is to create a work triangle to help decrease the amount of movement by situating the main three kitchen tools (stove, fridge and sink) in a triangle. The same principle can be applied to an office set up. Using the desk (with drawers for supplies), a filing cabinet and a book shelf or storage cabinet as your three main pieces, arrange them in a triangle to increase efficiency. This concept can be adapted to any three pieces of equipment or furniture that are required for your particular line of work.
Cubicle or Office with High Window Layout
If your workspace is a cubicle (with detached furniture) with at least three walls or an office with a window set so that there is wall space below, you can position your furniture so that a low piece (e.g. two drawer filing cabinet or credenza) is under the window. This layout works for a small office as the work triangle is kept small and manageable. It may not work as well in a larger office where it would necessitate getting up from your chair to access the filing cabinet or book shelf.
Open Concept Office Layout
As more and more offices convert to an open concept design, the layout of office furniture becomes limited by the office wall or cubicle partition space. If possible, choose a corner of the room so that you have two walls. Position one piece of furniture beside your desk or choose an L-shaped desk with a filing drawer on the return to create a tighter triangle.
Office with Floor to Ceiling Window Layout
Having a window that is floor to ceiling allows a great amount of natural light and a tremendous view but it can pose some challenges for office furniture layout. In this layout, the desk is positioned on one wall and the filing cabinet and book shelf or storage cupboard are placed on the opposite wall. If it is possible to create a tighter triangle, do so by choosing an L-shaped desk or utilizing wall space on the wall with your door.
Feng Shui and Desk Position
To increase positive energy flow, position your desk so that your back is to the wall so that you can view as much as possible of the room and the view. You should be able to clearly see the window and the door but not be in direct line of the door. You should be able to see people entering your office and not have your back to them. The same is true for your window; don’t sit with your back to the window. If you can position your desk so that it is on a diagonal and parallel to the door, this is ideal.
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Copyright © 2007 Joni Rose and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright.
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