How to Feng Shui your bedroom

Are you having trouble getting a good night’s sleep? You’ve tried everything: relaxing teas, a consistent routine, and creating a cosy environment, but something still feels off balance. The key to better rest may lie in the layout of your room and the principles of Feng Shui.

Feng Shui is a philosophy based on the ancient Chinese system of natural laws. It governs the spatial arrangement and orientation of furniture and décor in relation to the flow of energy (Chi). The word ‘Feng’ is Chinese for wind, and the word ‘Shui’ is Chinese for water. Together, these symbolise the flow of life that one should aspire to have in one’s home by using interior design to achieve balance and happiness.

If you want to combat negative energy and bring joy to your sanctuary, join us as we share our Feng Shui bedroom tips.

There are many levels of Feng Shui expertise, which can take years of study to master. Here are some basic Feng Shui bedroom layout fundamentals you can implement right away:

• Make your bed accessible from both sides.
• Have a bedside table on each side of the bed.
• Avoid the bed being directly in line with the door.

For positive energy in Feng Shui, your bed should be positioned centrally in the room against a wall but not quite touching it so energy can flow around it. This is a fundamental Feng Shui tip called the “commanding position,” which refers to placing objects facing the entry door but not in line with it. The best Feng Shui bed position is diagonally from the door, so it is in your sight, but you do not look directly out of it.

Feng Shui isn’t just about room layout; it also considers your sleeping position and direction. According to its principles, you should sleep with your head pointing south-ward. This aligns with the traditional Chinese practice influenced by the southern winds. To implement this in your room, try to make sure your bed is placed on a south-facing wall so that you will be in the correct position. You can read more with our guide to the best direction to sleep in.

Feng Shui is all about the interaction between humans and the environments in which they spend their time. As a big portion of that is where we sleep, choosing a larger bed gives us maximum space to relax. If you have room to upgrade, choose either a king-sized bed or a luxuriously spacious super king bed.

Balance and symmetry are important for good Feng Shui in the bedroom. An easy way to create this is using bedside tables. Place one on either side of your bed, and your bedroom will start to feel harmonious, allowing you to achieve greater Chi.

Choose from options upholstered in luxuriously soft fabrics, or for great Feng Shui, go with a wooden bedside table to bring some of the natural world in.

While mirrors are great for making a small room look bigger, mirror placement can be difficult when implementing bedroom Feng Shui. It is important to ensure your mirrors aren’t in line with the bed, as this will likely bring more distracting elements into your sightline. This doesn’t mean mirrors are a no-go for a high-Chi bedroom. Try to ensure you can’t see yourself from bed and that the mirror does not face the door.

A good Feng Shui tip is to place your mirror opposite a window. This will help maximise light in your room without distracting you when you’re relaxing in bed.

Nature is a key component of Feng Shui, and an easy way to incorporate the natural world in your bedroom is through your windows. Keep blinds and curtains open during the day to let in the sunlight. Having windows open or cracked will let the air flow through your room, keeping it fresh and clean and aiding in better sleep.

A study published in the journal Indoor Air found that sleeping in well-ventilated rooms (whether through an open window or door) enhanced sleep quality, reduced nighttime awakenings, and lowered carbon dioxide levels. As the levels of carbon dioxide decreased, individuals experienced deeper and more uninterrupted sleep.

To add fresh Chi to the room, use small indoor plants to introduce life energy and attract good fortune. Plants in the bedroom have many benefits, from inducing relaxation to purifying the air and even aiding sleep quality. The best plant for Feng Shui is the Jade plant, as it represents wealth, prosperity, and friendship.

Another way to incorporate natural elements and achieve better Feng Shui is by using natural bedding such as pillows, sheets, or duvets. Look for natural mattresses that use bamboo or cotton to help reduce the amount of synthetic material in your sleeping space. These aren’t just great for improving the levels of Feng Shui in your room but are also ideal for temperature regulation, as natural materials wick moisture better than their non-natural counterparts.

This also applies to the clothes you wear to sleep in. Our guide offers advice on what to wear to bed.

Blue light is one of the worst offenders when it comes to preventing sleep. But when it comes to creating the right levels of yin and yang in your bedroom, it goes beyond simply the fact that technology disrupts our circadian rhythms. As Feng Shui centres around the natural world, anything technological or man-made can reduce the level of Chi in our environment and, therefore, start to disrupt our sleep and relaxation.

To ensure positive energy in the bedroom, try to keep screens out and limit usage, especially before bedtime.

Credit: @thelawrenceshome

Sleep relaxation is best achieved when nothing in the bedroom design stands out or draws too much attention. To achieve this sense of balance, also a key fundamental of Feng Shui, choose muted and soothing colours and patterns. Pastel tones are great here. Soothing blues, pinks, and greens work well to create a harmonious, distraction-free boudoir.

Go beyond muted colour tones by swapping harsh lighting for calming low-light bulbs and mood lighting. Guided by Feng Shui principles, this creates a relaxing ambience in your bedroom, fostering the calm and quiet essential for a good night’s sleep. It also enhances balance in your space, boosting the vital flow of Chi.

Essential oils are a great way to make your bedroom cosy and promote peace and restful sleep. From natural air fresheners to oils like lavender or sandalwood, there are lots of essential oils for sleep that can enhance the bedroom’s Feng Shui.

To create an even more calming and comfortable space, consider using rugs, throws, blankets, or cushions in your bedroom. These will not only make your sanctuary warm and inviting for the winter but also allow you to feel relaxed.

If you want to achieve good Feng Shui in your bedroom, be selective with the art and decorations that you choose to hang on your walls. These should evoke happiness and encourage love, so avoid any artwork with aggressive imagery. Focus on what makes you happy, and try to achieve balance by positioning artwork symmetrically.

A solid headboard is a must in the art of Feng Shui. A sturdy and supportive structure not only helps increase symmetry and balance in your bedroom but also symbolises stability. Plus, it makes sitting up in bed and reading a book more comfortable before drifting off into dreamland.

Perhaps surprising to hear as many of us rely on them as part of a calming wind-down routine, but books are considered another form of distraction in Feng Shui. They are said to contain active energy; therefore, bookshelves can be counterproductive to your energy.

Try moving books out of your bedroom for better energy flow or keeping only the one you’re reading within reach. This will help minimise disruption as you try to sleep. For more inspiration, check out bedroom shelving ideas for book lovers.

Not only should you keep books out of the bedroom, but keeping your work away from your sleep environment is non-negotiable in Feng Shui. This lets you step away from the day’s stress and unwind peacefully. Whether it’s your desk, home office, or even workout equipment, keep anything associated with non-restful activities away from your bedroom for better positive energy flow.

Clutter in your bedroom can disrupt energy flow and cause stress and feelings of chaos. Use storage spaces where possible to keep clutter at bay. This also applies to your bed; making sure nothing is stored below your bed allows energy to flow around it freely.

Clean lines allow for peace and tranquillity. Choosing a low platform bed is great for Feng Shui as it emulates Japanese fashion, taking up less space and creating more room for positive energy flow. It is also closer to the ground for natural comfort and cosiness. Just make sure to position your bed centrally and create balance with furniture for the ideal Feng Shui layout.

To achieve a good Feng Shui layout, it’s important to limit all distractions in the room. Keeping drawers and wardrobe doors closed will help limit distractions when you’re trying to sleep or relax before bed. So, if you jump straight into bed and realise your wardrobe is slightly open, it’s best to get out and close it before you try to nod off. Trust us, you’ll fall asleep faster.

As mentioned earlier, for the optimal Feng Shui layout, your bed should be in the command position. Place it so you can see the door while lying in bed, but avoid positioning it directly in line with the door. Ideally, your bed should face south, a direction believed to bring vitality and prosperity.

Should your bed face the door?

No, according to Feng Shui, the bed should not directly face the door as it can create feelings of vulnerability and disrupt restful sleep. If this arrangement is unavoidable, consider using a solid headboard and keeping the area around the bed tidy for added comfort and security.

Is it okay to store items under the bed in Feng Shui?

To maintain good energy flow, avoid clutter beneath your bed. Items like books, electronics, or work-related materials can interfere with sleep and create stress, while sharp objects can disrupt peaceful energy. If storage is necessary, opt for soft fabric bins or blanket boxes to minimise disruption to Chi.

Attracting good luck is easy with these Feng Shui tips:

• Keep the room clean and organised to allow positive energy to flow.
• Use harmonious colours such as blues, earth tones or light neutrals.
• Add plants to introduce vitality and growth.
• Place symmetrical items on both sides of the bed to create a balanced space.
• Ensure there is good lighting to lift the mood and energy.

In Feng Shui, there are certain things you should avoid, as they can disrupt the flow of energy and introduce negativity into your space:

1. Don’t push your bed against a wall as this can trap energy.
2. Don’t place your bed under any low beams or sloped ceilings, which can create pressure above you.
3. Don’t place your bed facing a bathroom door or share a wall with your bathroom to avoid your good fortune being flushed away.
4. Don’t place water features or images of water in the bedroom, as good fortune and love could be washed away.
5. Don’t use overwhelming colours, as this may energise your space.
6. Don’t use statement lighting pieces like chandeliers, as they may create harsh light.

Feng Shui master consultant Alan Stirling says:

You can sleep under a window as long as there is some wall, and you can draw the curtains behind you. This then simulates a solid wall. However, you should never sleep against a floor to ceiling window.

In addition to the ‘command’ location of your bed, you also need something taller on the left-hand side when lying in bed, and something smaller on the right. This emulates the way that energy flows around the body; as well as the movement of Sun and Moon on our planet, when standing or sleeping with our back to the magnetic fields (north pole).

Mirrors are a big problem as you should never be able to see yourself when lying in bed. Your subconscious is aware of the reflection which will only produce a fitful sleep at best. Just move or cover the mirrors at night with fabric or a curtain.

By far the best way of getting a good night’s rest is to sleep in a favourable direction and I have seen many lives transformed from just realigning the bed.

Use soothing natural colours such as ‘skin colours’, including shades from pale white to rich chocolate brown, to establish a calm environment.

Below is a helpful colour wheel demonstrating the Feng Shui relationship between colour and mood.

In Feng Shui, when a practitioner refers to a colour chart, they generally refer to the colours associated with each life area of the Bagua or Pakua. In addition to the specific life areas and colours, each of the nine sections of the Pakua also has a corresponding element and direction.

With just a few minor adjustments to your bedroom layout, you can optimise Feng Shui and invite a wave of positive energy into your sleep sanctuary. This will help you nurture a space that promotes your well-being and supports a restful night’s slumber.