CHOOSING ARTWORK FOR YOUR HOME OFFICE
A Conversation with Annette Kurtz on Feng Shui, Space Clearing, and Symbolism
As a Space Clearing expert and Feng Shui practitioner of over 20 years
Annette approaches space holistically — not just aesthetically, but energetically.
When we work from home, our office becomes more than a functional room. It becomes an extension of our inner landscape.
So how do we choose art that truly supports us?
Start with the Bigger Picture
Annette began by widening the lens:
“From a feng shui perspective, you start with the bigger picture outside the house. First you want to understand the land outside the home — the context that the home sits in. How do the features influence the energy flow of the home?
Then you look at the interior flow of the house and the bagua map.”
This is a reminder that art doesn’t exist in isolation.
It exists in relationship — to the land, to the structure, to the room, and to the person.
The Mountain at Your Back
When I asked Annette to look at specific pieces from my collection, she immediately referenced Heart of the Mountain.
“Great image to have sitting behind you… support. The mountain symbolizes strength, stability, career support and protection.. It is considered favorable in feng shui to have a mountain at your back
A real painting is much more powerful than a print as it holds frequencies that are imbued into the artwork.
If you are doing Zoom calls, having a beautiful and supportive image behind you can help create connection while on the call.
Virtual backgrounds — sometimes necessary. Not as powerful for creating a space that reflects who you are.”
I love this principle:
What is behind you supports you.
In feng shui, a mountain behind you creates stability. In life, we all need something that feels like quiet strength at our back.
When an Image Works Against You
Annette shared a powerful story from one of her virtual class Zoom sessions:
“One woman didn’t have her camera on. She was asking for an anchoring background image — something to ground her when she entered the room.
My sense was that she was actually feeling afraid. I could feel something sitting in her neck.
I asked her, ‘I sense an image behind you that is frightening you — what is that?’
It was an image of a tiger leaping at her.
She thought it was a strong motivational image. But it wasn’t supporting her. She was feeling under attack in her own office.”
This story is such a clear example of symbolic misalignment.
An image meant to inspire strength was instead creating tension.
Your nervous system responds to imagery — even when you think it shouldn’t.
Matching the Artwork to the Person
When choosing artwork for a home office, Annette emphasizes that it must support:
• The person
• The type of work
• The energy of the room
• The intention of the space
“When choosing images for home offices it’s about a person’s space that will support the kinds of work that they are doing there.”
ANNETTE’S REFLECTIONS ON SPECIFIC PRINTS
Here are her insights on a few pieces:
Lotus Sanctuary
“Great for healing. For support in centering yourself. If you have a challenge being scattered.
Every time you see the lotus sanctuary it draws you in to the center, it’s luminous and it feels held.
I would use that for someone who is scattered, needs healing. Good for a therapist’s office, wellness space, or if in your home office you struggle with feeling scattered.”
This piece is deeply meditative. It gathers your energy inward.
Dragons’ Dance
“Strong image. Good for someone who needs a lot of energy, who wants to improve vitality.
Dragon is grounding… strong frequencies.
If the person is stuck in lofty thoughts, the energy of this image can help pull them back into their body.
From the 5 element perspective, someone low in fire would benefit from this.”
Here, vitality meets embodiment.
Double Tetrahedron
“Creating warmth and centrality. For someone too strong in water element. It’s strengthening and heart warming.
Carries a lot of vitality.”
Sacred geometry can create a feeling of order and coherence — especially helpful in emotionally fluid environments.
Art in Relationship to the Room
Annette emphasized something subtle but important:
“You want art to be in relationship to the wall and also to the surrounding space.
A massive painting on the wall but everything else is not dialed in…
What is the energy in the room like? Flowing, stuck, alive, stagnant?
What is the activity that will be taking place here?
Are the proportions of the artwork in harmony with the size and shape of the room?”
Art should not overwhelm.
Nor should it feel disconnected from the function of the room.
When Art Creates Friction
One more story she shared:
“I visited an accounting office — folders stacked three feet high everywhere.
The room was filled with model planes and yachts.
It created dissonance. It wasn’t clear what the space was about. Vacation? Taxes?
The stacks of folders made the accountant feel heavy when entering. And as a client, it felt uncomfortable knowing how carelessly confidential information was being handled.”
Symbolism matters.
Your environment constantly communicates with you.
Choosing Symbolism Consciously
Your environment constantly communicates with you.
“You have to assess your motivation and take a symbolic reading — what type of frequencies are there? What supports and what doesn’t?
Ideally, when you enter your office, the image uplifts you. It reminds you of your mission.”
This is where art becomes more than decoration.
It becomes alignment.
A Note on Meditative Art
Annette also offered a nuanced distinction:
“A painting that puts you in a meditative space, in an office where you need to be focused and productive, can create friction.”
Not all uplifting art is right for all work spaces?
The key is clarity of purpose.
SPACE CLEARING AS FOUNDATION
Annette offers professional Space Clearings — a powerful way to refresh and uplift the energy of your home.
Having experienced this personally, I can say it is a powerful and beautiful process that is difficult to describe in words. It helps remove stagnation, clarify intention, and create an energetic field that truly supports what you are building.
She often works with people at crossroads or new beginnings — when alignment matters most.
You can learn more about her work here:
https://annettekurtz.com/
If you’re familiar with feng shui principles, she has also written a helpful guide for optimizing your home office:
Harmonize Your Home -52 Tips to Energize Your Work From Home Life for Greater Success
Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SBPQ9SN
ABOUT ANNETTE:
Annette Kurtz is an internationally experienced Feng Shui consultant and author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Harmonize Your Home. After moving more than 30 times across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, she mastered the art of turning any space into a sanctuary of clarity and momentum. Blending classical Feng Shui, sacred space clearing, and intuitive guidance, Annette helps entrepreneurs and professionals create home offices that elevate focus, confidence, and success.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
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