How to Feng Shui Your Bedroom

Having trouble sleeping? I bet you’ve never thought about the energy distribution in your bedroom as being a problem. In order to get a good night of sleep, your bedroom should be a place of peace, tranquility, and relaxation. A lot of this can be elevated by simply rearranging the furniture in your bedroom to optimize the feng shui energy.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art of spatial arrangement that aims to get the best possible flow of energy or “qi.” Qi is the foundation of feng shui: feng means wind, and shui means water—both are elements that have a natural flow within, symbolizing the energy flow everyone should have in their lives.

Feng Shui experts say that rooms have a mixture of negative and positive energy and there must be a balance. The placement of furniture can either disrupt the balance or perpetuate it. The Feng Shui “blueprint” divides the room in three, sort of like a tic tac toe board. Your goal is to not expose the beams.

Feng Shui Bedroom Tips

Chances are, you spend a large chunk of your time in your bedroom: about 7-9 hours sleeping, and possibly more than that just hanging out. As you sleep, you absorb the energy of the room, so having positive energy is crucial.

Having good feng shui in your bedroom gets you a good night’s sleep, invites relaxation, further bonds you with your partner, and boosts your sex life. Check out these tips on how to give your bedroom better feng shui.

The Bed

Because you absorb majority of the room’s energy in your sleep, the bed is the most crucial piece of furniture to place in feng shui.

Your bed should have a solid headboard, preferably wood. This brings you closer to nature and gives you a sense of both comfort and support. Ideally, you should have a full sized bed or bigger to allow for a sense of permanence. This bed should be lifted off of the ground to allow for energy to pass underneath. Qi must circulate around your entire body; you do not want to block it by placing your mattress on the floor.

Put your bed in a commanding position against a solid wall: no open windows that can cause drafts and disrupt your sleep. Make sure your head points towards the wall. The bed should be positioned so you can see the doorway, but you should be far away from it—you should not be aligned with the door. This will prepare you for any surprises or any danger to come.

Finally, a sense of balance is very important in feng shui. Make sure your bed is accessible on both sides and try to put a night stand on each side for symmetry. Having a rug underneath the bed further grounds it.

Reduce Electronics

In the digital age, this one might be the hardest to attain. Electronics of any kind are just bad for feng shui. I’m talking computers, TVs, cellphones⁠—even appliances. Not only are all of these items a distraction that can disrupt your sleep, but they emit electromagnetic fields, which is harmful to your health. Keeping your room simple is key. If you need to have your phone in your space, plug it in across the room to resist temptation.

Plan Colors Purposefully

When it comes to the color of your bedroom, try to emulate skin tones: off-whites, creams, peaches, light browns, or chocolate browns. These colors are neutral and comforting. Bright, primary colors provide too much energy.

This goes for the walls, your bedding, furniture, and any other room decorations. If you love color, you don’t have to avoid it all together. A splash here and a splash there isn’t too troubling for feng shui, just don’t go overboard.

That being said, certain color schemes do represent various energies, and each room in a house is supposed to have unique energy. This is something feng shui consultants know, and if done wrong, could mess up your house’s qi. So, beginners should stick to neutral tones.

But if you are curious about what each color represents, look at this quick guide:

• Fire Elements: Represented through colors such as red, yellow, orange, pink, and purple, fire brings passionate energy. This will help with your career and your love life.
• Earth Elements: Represented through light yellow and beige, earth is stability. It gives you strength, protection, and harmony.
• Metal Colors: These are your grays and your whites. Metal brings precision, efficiency, and clarity.
• Pastels: These are colors such as light blue, light purple, light pink, and light green. Pastels bring peace, rest, and calm to your bedroom.

Create Pairs

As I mentioned earlier, balance, equality, and symmetry is very important in feng shui, so naturally try to place everything in pairs. Place a night stand on each side of the bed. Have two of the best pillows. Have two lamps. Have identical chairs. Have matching artwork. This will keep your relationship strong, and if you’re single, it will invite love into your life.

Mirrors

More than electronics, you should avoid putting a mirror in your feng shuied bedroom. Mirrors reflect light and bounce energy across the room. This is yang, and you want yin (plants do this as well). This energy prevents you from winding down to sleep.

Some feng shui consultants believe that a mirror across from your bed invites a third person into your relationship and encourages infidelity. If you like the idea of getting ready for the day in your bedroom, put a mirror on the inside of your closet doors and keep them closed as you sleep.

Acknowledge the Senses

Acknowledging each of the five senses helps you relax and sleep.

• Sight: This ties into the color scheme I mentioned earlier. Neutral tones provide comfort that is not overwhelming.
• Sound: Soft, repetitive sounds can be quite relaxing. Use a white noise machine or play soft music. However, don’t use water features or water fixtures in the bedroom. This is bad for libido because water quenches fire and represents financial loss.
• Smell: The best way to appeal to your sense of smell is by using a diffuser and essential oils. Great essential oils for sleep include lavender, peppermint, and ylang ylang.
• Taste: Bringing food into the bedroom is a no-no, but keeping a refreshing beverage on the nightstand doesn’t hurt.
• Touch: Your bed linens being soft, warm, and cozy creates an inviting sleeping experience.

Artwork and Decoration

Hang artwork at the foot of the bed, so it is one of the first things you see in the morning. Any artwork you choose should be inspiring to you or relaxing for you. Avoid photos of water or anybody alone in a picture. Additionally, limit the amount of pictures or posters you have with people in them. This creates the feeling of being watched and is unsettling, making it harder to fall asleep.

Avoid hanging art or ceiling decorations directly over your bed. Nothing with a sharp edge, no chandeliers, or anything else your mind could see potentially falling on you in the night. The goal is to feel completely safe and protected as you rest.

On top of that, avoid putting large furniture by your bed. Having large furniture in your bedroom can make you feel overwhelmed and oppressed. This discomfort won’t help you sleep.

Light

Keep the lighting in your bedroom dim. Light keeps you awake and disrupt sleep. Block as much natural light as you can before you sleep by using blinds or blackout curtains. This way you can control how light comes into your room.

Reduce Clutter

Another big thing in feng shui is reducing clutter. Keep your room clean. Only keep the essentials in your room. Keep your bedroom doors closed at night. Bedroom clutter disrupts qi and keeps your life from moving forward in general.

Don’t let miscellaneous items and dust pile underneath your bed. Not only does it disrupt flow, but anything unfavorable that lives under your bed can contribute to unpleasant dreams.

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Summary

If you’re having trouble sleeping, or just need a decoration change, try out feng shui. Your bedroom is the most important room to feng shui because you spend so much time there and absorb the most energy there; you need to have the proper energy flow. If nothing else, feng shui is a great, natural, and cheap remedy to getting great sleep night after night.