How to Feng Shui Your Bedroom: 6 Key Tips

What is Feng Shui?

Feng shui translates to ‘wind water,’ and this practice originated in China^[1] more than 4000 years ago. The practitioners believed that energy binds humans, earth, and the universe together, and to harness its potential, buildings and their interiors should be arranged in a specific manner.

Feng shui evolved from Taoism, which believes in the ‘chi’, the universal lifeforce in all things. Within this belief is the concept of opposing elements known as ‘ying’ and ‘yang’.

Taoists^[2] believe that balancing these opposing sides creates good chi. Therefore, feng shui is an extension of this for the home.

Today, feng shui has evolved into a highly popular interior design concept in the West, with many folks embracing it for their homes. The feng shui approach is not just about looking good, though; it creates a space that allows the individuals there to thrive.

According to scholars from the Pacific College of Health and Science, the home is an “outward reflection of what is happening on the inside.” For example, a cluttered home represents bad feng shui and usually means the individual is stuck in life.

By incorporating good feng shui principles into your home, the goal is that this will lead to improvements in other areas of your life as well. Think of it as interior design for the home and the mind.

Adults typically spend the majority of their time at work and home. However, since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the emergence of remote work has significantly increased many working adults’ time at home. As a result, enhancing your living space is more relevant than ever.

What Makes a Good Feng Shui Bedroom?

ced energy, the perfect place to start is the bedroom. Not only is this where you sleep, but it is also your most personal space.

Feng shui is centered around fostering positive, balanced energies in a particular location, and as a result, it may also help you sleep better. For instance, if you are feeling stressed and anxious in life, those worries could keep you up all hours of the night.

Not getting enough quality sleep can is linked to poor cognitive, emotional, and physical. Therefore, prioritizing good rest is essential to your well-being.

The good news is that embracing feng shui could help alleviate those stressors by creating more positivity and order at home. Plus, it is an excellent excuse to revamp your sleep space – or any room – without breaking the bank, and for many folks, updating your bedroom can be refreshing.

Best Feng Shui Bedroom Rules

No Electronics

You may have already heard the argument for keeping electronics out of the bedroom as they can interfere with restful sleep. For example, phone notifications can go off during the night, causing you to wake up and possibly be tempted to glance at your phone to see what is going on.

Furthermore, you could be more apt to look at electronics right before bed, causing you to feel more alert and making it that much harder to doze off.

Many folks use the alarm clock on their phone to wake them up in the morning. However, your phone can be a significant distraction too. So instead, try using a regular alarm clock to help you get up in the morning.

If you are accustomed to scrolling through your cell phone in bed, books are an excellent alternative. Reading a book before bed is an excellent way to help your mind wind down to get a restful night’s sleep. Plus, it is not an electronic device, so you are following optimal feng shui principles.

Find Out More: How Technology Impacts Sleep Quality

Optimize Your Decor

According to feng shui principles, how you decorate your bedroom can significantly impact balance and good energy flow. Therefore, you need to surround yourself with decor that will uplift you.

Plants are an excellent life force energy that also serves as a trendy interior design item. Fake plants may be easier to maintain, but it is best to have the real thing. However, most houseplants require minimal effort, so you shouldn’t expect a major undertaking. More specifically, focus on incorporating lush, green plants and make sure to place them in an optimum position for sunlight exposure.

Plants do not just look trendy; they are also good for you. Houseplants clean the air you breathe, and through photosynthesis, they also recycle the carbon dioxide you exhale to produce more oxygen.
Need help? Check out our guide for the best sleep inducing plants.

Secondly, you need to consider the artwork you use. For instance, you may love deep or disturbing intellectual art, but you should save it for a different place in your home or office.

The bedroom should contain positive imagery only. Specifically, place art on the wall that reflects an experience or vision you’d like to have. For example, if you love to travel and dream of going to Paris someday, manifest that positive vision with Parisian-inspired artwork.

Thirdly, you should also be applying feng shui to the colors you use in the room. Feng shui colors^[3] have different energies and should represent the emotions you want to attract. You should be especially mindful of the color energy when deciding which bed linens to use, as these are the main focal point in the bedroom.

• Green

Green represents growth, healing, harmony, and vitality.

• Purple

Purple represents abundance, gratitude, and authority.

• White

White represents focus, clarity, and purpose.

• Orange

Orange represents openness, joy, and completion.

• Turquoise

Turquoise represents serenity, assimilation, and accomplishment.

• Red

Red represents passion, inspiration, action, and achievement.

• Dark Blue and Black

Dark blue and black represent reflection, concentration, and truth.

• Pink

Pink represents love, intimate relationships, and emotional nourishment.

• Yellow and Gold

Yellow and gold represent happiness, centeredness, and peace.

Remove Clutter

We mentioned earlier that clutter is considered negative energy, and it could signal that you are stuck in life or things are out of order. Therefore, take this opportunity to get rid of anything you do not need anymore and organize everything else.

While removing clutter is part of the solution, you should also focus on regularly cleaning your room. A tidy room looks aesthetically pleasing, and it should leave you feeling further organized and productive. Plus, getting rid of harmful dust and bacteria is healthier too.

Have a Headboard

Another way to add good feng shui to your bedroom is to have a bed frame with a solid headboard. The headboard symbolizes stability, which can be beneficial, particularly if you need more of that in your life.

Apart from feng shui, headboards can serve other purposes too. One of those purposes is protecting your wall from marks or stains. They also provide back support if you plan to sit upright in your bed.

Avoid Water

The ‘shui’ in feng shui may mean water, but you should keep it out of the bedroom – literally and figuratively. For example, artwork that features water or items such as a fishbowl should be avoided.

According to My Domaine^[4], water’s powerful energy can interfere with establishing a peaceful tone in the room. The experts also add that it extinguishes the fire element, representing passion, which could impact couples looking to keep their romance strong.

Be Selective With Your Books

While one or two books are okay, you should avoid having piles or shelves of them in your bedroom. You also need to be mindful of the type of books in your bedroom. Any work-related books should be kept in another room, such as your home office or work desk area.

Next, consider the books that are in your room and their stories. You should focus on curating bedroom books with stories and content that foster pleasant dreams.

Keep Work and the Gym Out of the Bedroom

Amid the pandemic, many folks transitioned to working from home, whether temporarily or long-term. As a result, they have had to create space in their home to get work done. We mentioned earlier that you should keep work-related books out of the room, but this goes for anything work-related.

While it might seem idyllic to complete your work from the comfort of your bed, you are better off separating your work life from your bedroom. Instead, try to keep a workspace for yourself somewhere else in the home. Even if you don’t have an extra room for an official office, create a workspace in a common area such as your living room.

Additionally, you should not have any home gym equipment in your bedroom. These materials represent active energy, which is counterproductive for restful sleeping. Instead, keep them in a hallway closet and use them in a different space.

Read More: Exercise and Sleep

Good Lighting

Lights with dimming capabilities are best because they allow you to mimic the movement of the sun. For example, allow bright light to shine in during the morning and then dim the lights in the evening.

You can use candles to create a warm and relaxing environment. However, avoid scented candles made from synthetic ingredients as the toxins in them can harm you and the room’s essence.

Closed Doors

Energy flows out of doors, so make sure to keep the ones in your bedroom shut at all times. By doing this, you can harness all of the energy in the room instead of losing it as it escapes.

The Bedroom Layout

A bedroom’s layout can help you, your guests (if it is a guest room), or those staying in your vacation rental property, feel welcome and relaxed.

Place the Bed Against a Wall

The head of the bed should be placed up against a solid wall rather than sitting in the middle of the room. However, the remaining three sides should all be easily accessible. Therefore, place the head of the bed in the middle of the wall rather than on either end.

If your bedroom is next to the bathroom, make sure your headboard is not up against the wall right behind the bathroom. Furthermore, it is good feng shui practice to not have your bed directly underneath anything that feels obtrusive or off-balanced such as a ceiling fan, skylight, or a slant. Depending on the size and design of your bedroom, this may be harder to do, but try to focus on doing the best feng shui you can with the space you have.

Read More: Best Mattress for Airbnb Properties

Keep Everything Balanced

Symmetry is key when it comes to feng shui changes to your bedroom. A perfect example of this is the nightstand.

Many folks place a nightstand on the side of their side. However, only one nightstand can throw off the balanced energy flow throughout the room. For this reason, you are advised to always have two nightstands.

Even if you do not sleep with a partner, still have a second bedside table on the opposite side of your bed. They do not have to match exactly, but this will suffice if they appear similar and balanced.

Avoid Sharp Angles Pointing Toward You

Look around your bedroom and check for items that have sharp edges. When you are lying in bed, none of those sharp angles should point at you. The theory behind this is that the sharpness will attack your spirit.

Place the Bed Away from the Door

Since energy flows out of doors, avoid placing your bed in line with the bedroom door. Instead, the bed should be placed away from the door and slightly facing it.

Frequently Asked Questions – Use this section for FAQs

What bedroom colors are best for Fen Shui?

We covered earlier the different feng shui colors and what each one represents. Even though you may want your bedroom to convey joy, you might not be keen on including the color orange in your bedroom aesthetic. So, then, how do you pick the right bed sheets or comforter while still following feng shui rules?

Another school of thought says that the colors in your room should match your element^[5]. In the world of feng shui, there are five elements: earth, metal, water, wood, and fire.

Each element correlates with specific qualities and colors. For example, fire signifies passion and brilliance, and its corresponding color is red.

To determine your element, first look at each one’s qualities, decide what you want, and follow that color scheme. That is not to say you need an entire room covered in red, black, or blue. Instead, think about finding ways to accent the bedroom with these feng shui colors.

What is the best placement for mirrors?

There are different schools of thought and rules regarding mirrors, but it is widely believed that they do not belong in a bedroom. The reason is that they double the amount of energy activity, which could be overwhelming and distracting for sleep.

You should first analyze how bedroom mirrors, in general, make you feel. Some people may not be bothered by them, while others find them off-putting.

If you notice mirrors give you negative energy, then you should avoid them completely. Sometimes, though, mirrors are in non-removable spots, such as the closest door. If that is the case, consider covering up the space or making sure your closet is clean and organized.

For those who are fine with putting a mirror in your room, you need to be tactful about where you place it. One area a mirror should not be is above the bed. The object’s weight could subconsciously leave you feeling unsafe, especially for those who live in areas prone to earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes.

However, mirrors^[6] are beneficial in other home areas such as the living room, hallway, near a desk, dining room, and perpendicular to the front door. Experts add they should not be placed in the kitchen, though.

What if my bed is under the window?

Some people may have more limited choices when it comes to applying feng shui to their bedroom style. For example, the best place for their bed might be under a window^[7]. However, we mentioned earlier that feng shui principles suggest placing the head of the bed against a sold wall.

If you cannot relocate your bed to a different spot in the room, there are ways to work around this and still foster good feng shui. The first suggestion is to ensure that your bed has a solid headboard to provide added stability around the bed.

Secondly, window drapes or shades can also help provide extra stability and support where the bed is located. These items can easily attract dust, though, making it even more imperative that you regularly clean your bedroom.

Thirdly, a window may leave you feeling less secure while lying in your bed, whether you realize it or not. To combat this, try using some sort of locking mechanism or alarm for added security.