Feng shui for offices, shops and shophouses: door, cashier counter, desk, signage

The feng shui below is traditional belief without scientific verification; guides in newspapers and blogs often disagree with each other. Sources at the end of the article · Updated 23 October 2026.

Owners of shophouses and commercial townhouses, and people renting offices, often ask: where should the door, counter and desk go to be "favourable"? The balanced answer is to choose the premises on business numbers first, then arrange the inside by feng shui tips if you believe in them and if they do not harm function.

1. Choosing premises: business criteria come first

Criterion	Question to ask	How to check
Frontage	Is the sign visible from afar, including to oncoming traffic?	Stand at both ends of the street and observe at peak hours
Foot traffic	Do your target customers walk past?	Count passers-by by hour, on several days of the week
Parking	Where do customers park motorbikes and cars, and is there a fee?	Ask the landlord or management board, read the parking rules
Access	One-way street, no-stopping zone, narrow alley?	Check road signs, do a test visit
Rent / purchase price	What share of expected revenue is it?	Compare with target revenue, not just the price
Legal	Permitted use, documents, lease	Check the documents, check the lease

Shop feng shui guides also mention similar criteria: choose a place with high foot traffic and convenient transport, where the main door is not blocked by large trees, power poles or buildings.

2. Entrance

In traditional belief, the main door is where energy and customers come in, so it should be wide, bright and unobstructed. An article on Thu vien Nha dat (08/02/2025) suggests choosing the door direction by the shop owner's element; this is a personalised calculation with no general answer. In real business terms, a door that is easy to spot, with low steps and enough width for trolleys and wheelchair users, will bring more customers.

• Avoid letting pillars, large trees or a neighbour's advertising boards block the door.
• Many feng shui articles advise avoiding premises facing the sharp corner of another building or near a cemetery or hospital; weigh this against how your target customers feel. For pharmacies and healthcare, being near a hospital is a business advantage.

3. Cashier counter

A common belief: the counter should be easy to reach, not directly facing the main door (to avoid "money flowing out") and have solid support behind, such as a wall or shelf. Other articles suggest placing it diagonally from the door to oversee the whole shop, and they contradict each other on left or right. Practical advice: put the counter where staff can see both the door and the aisle, where queuing customers do not block the entrance, and where there are power sockets, network cabling and a camera.

4. Desk in an office

Traditional belief advises a desk with a solid wall behind, a view of the entrance, and not sitting with your back to the door or under a beam. In functional terms, this also lets you oversee the work area and avoid interruptions. In addition, aim for natural light that does not glare on the screen, good ventilation, and emergency exits not blocked by furniture.

5. Signage

Many articles advise placing the shop name high, bright and clear. This matches real requirements: large, high-contrast lettering visible from afar. Note that signs must comply with local rules on size, position and content; ask the management board (in urban areas and shophouse zones) and the ward or commune People's Committee before making one.

6. Objects, colours, plants

The guide on Thu vien Nha dat mentions mirrors (not facing the main door), healthy plants, wind chimes and mascot figurines near the counter. This part is optional: if the cost is low you can try it, but do not pay a high price for "objects" (see low-cost feng shui remedies). Interior colours can be chosen by trade: light tones for fashion, warm for food and drink, blue and white for healthcare and beauty.

Quick tips by property type

• Commercial shophouse: prioritise a wide frontage, an airy ground floor and a loading route; ask about the area's rules on permitted trades.
• Office for rent: transport location, lifts, air conditioning, parking for staff.
• Small shop in an apartment building or shopping centre: the floor's foot traffic, a spot near escalators, the food court area.

To learn more about land shape and road-strike positions, see land plot shape in feng shui.

Note: Revenue depends on product, price, service and management more than on where the counter sits. Feng shui is a personal belief and does not guarantee revenue; check the legal documents, the lease and business regulations before paying a deposit.

• Thu vien Nha dat — Hướng dẫn cải thiện phong thủy cửa hàng để thu hút khách hàng và tài lộc (location, entrance, cashier counter, objects; the article notes this is traditional belief), 08/02/2025.
• VietNamNet — Gợi ý để tránh mua phải những căn nhà xấu về mặt phong thủy (compiled from Tri thuc tre; this is folk feng shui, not a scientific conclusion), 01/07/2016.