There were feng shui experts before there were interior designers!
The art of feng shui centered around energy levels and not around the matching carpet or upholstery. By arranging the rooms in your home a certain way, you could promote an ideal energy flow and find peace and harmony in your life. People also believe that a balanced bedroom provides additional benefits such as:
- Wealth
- Enhanced social circle
- Finding love
- Improved health
- Maintaining a healthy relationship
- Fertility
The practitioners believed that energy binds humans, earth, and the universe together, and to harness it to its potential, buildings and their interiors should be arranged in a specific manner.
The origin of this science dates back to China more than 3,500 years ago. Pronounced fung-shway, it translates to wind-water.
But enough with the history lesson. Let’s dive right in and show you how to make the perfect feng shui bedroom.
What Makes a Good Feng Shui Bedroom?
Your luxury bed is one of the most important pieces of furniture in a bedroom. Not only do you spend a lot of time here, as the focal point of a room, it also has a tremendous influence on the flow of energy in your bedroom.
Your bed should be accessible from both sides, so if one side is against the wall, it’s time to move it. The headboard can be facing the wall to properly position energy around your bed and hold on to the good stuff.
Each side of the bed should have a nightstand, though they don’t necessarily have to match. Experts also recommend having a high-quality bed frame and mattress with natural fiber bed sheets. The bed would ideally be low to the ground, and nothing should be placed underneath it.
Good Airflow
Toxic air is harmful to both your health and a room’s energy. Make sure your bedroom has at least a window and keep it partially open when possible. Plants are also adept at cleaning the air, but not all plants recommended for the bedroom. Feel free to bring in lush, green plants, but avoid the cactus because of its “spiky” energy.
Position your plants in the east and southeast areas of your bedroom when possible.
Another way to promote airflow is to use a diffuser with natural essential oils.
Good Lighting
Lights with dimming capabilities are best because they allow you to mimic the movement of the sun. Allow bright light to shine in during the morning, and then dim the lights in the evening.
Candles can be used to create a warm and relaxing environment. However, avoid scented candles made from synthetic ingredients as their toxins can be harmful to you and the room’s essence.
You’ve heard the argument against having electronics in the bedroom before. Electronic devices ruin good energy, and the EMF (electromagnetic frequencies) could be harmful to your health. Plus, if you want to get a full night of quality sleep, the last thing you need is your work laptop in your bedroom with you.
Happy Art
The bedroom should contain positive imagery only. Place art on the wall that reflects an experience or vision you’d like to have.
Closed Doors
Bed Placement Directions
Put It Against a Strong Wall
The head of the bed should be placed up against a strong wall, rather than sitting in the middle of the room. A strong wall means one of the longest in the room. It should also be a full, floor-to-ceiling wall, not a dividing wall or slanted wall. Think of your bed like the command center and place it according to that.
Keep It Balanced
It should be accessible from both sides, so avoid placing one side against the wall. Remember, only the head should be at the wall. Also, enclose your bed with balanced nightstands, one on each side. Again, the bedside tables don’t necessarily have to match.
Avoid Sharp Angles Pointing at You
Look around your room at the furniture and check for items that have sharp edges. When you’re lying in bed, none of those sharp angles should point at you. The theory behind this is that the sharpness will attack your spirit.
Keep It Away from the Door
Since energy flows out of doors, avoid placing your bed in line with the door. Ideally, it should be situated far from the door and a diagonal angle. Sometimes, that’s not possible due to space constraints, especially if you have a small bedroom. It’s okay to have your bed near a door or not diagonal to it in those situations, as long as the bed is not directly facing the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best feng shui bedroom colors?
One of the best feng shui bedroom colors is those that match skin tones. They could range from white to brown and everything in between, including khaki, beige, and ivory color tones
Another school of thought says that the colors in your room should match your “element,” which could be wood, fire, earth, metal, or water. Each element has an ideal color. For example, if your energy is fire, then green is most suitable for your bedroom. For wood people, blue creates the most harmony. To find out which element you are, you can chart your personal element, which is based on your birth year.
What is the best placement for mirrors?
There are different schools of thought and rules regarding mirrors, but it’s widely believed that they don’t belong in a bedroom. That’s because they double the amount of energy activity, which could be overwhelming and distracting for sleep.
People who subscribe to that theory say it’s okay to have a mirror in a bedroom if it’s placed behind the closet door or away from the bed. A Chinese superstition says that if you wake up and see your reflection in the mirror and you’re by yourself, then you’ll be that way forever.
Mirrors are beneficial in other parts of the home, however. They create a doubling of energy as well as anything that’s in their reflection. Therefore, if you place a mirror in a dining room and the mirror reflects the table’s image, then, in theory, you’ll have good fortune and double abundance.
Conclusion
Though much of what we discussed was related to energy forces, most of these principles are grounded in sound design practices as well. Perhaps it’s a coincidence, or maybe it’s the universe’s way of creating harmony regardless of your internal beliefs.
One of the most remarkable things about feng shui is that you can start arranging and improving the energy in your bedroom without spending any money. As you get rid of clutter and begin organizing your space, you might decide that it’s time for some new purchases, but the most important thing is how you arrange your space to achieve balance, not necessarily what you put in it.