Whether you’re looking to get a better night’s sleep, strengthen your relationship with your partner, improve your sense of well-being, or all of the above, bringing the principles of feng shui into your bedroom can help.
If you’re like most people, you spend at least a third of your day in your bedroom — sleeping (or trying to sleep), relaxing, occasionally romancing. So it makes sense that you’d want the space to be as conducive to these pursuits as possible. Enter feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of arranging a space — whether indoors or out — to optimize the flow of qi (energy) and achieve a sense of harmony and balance.
It’s more than simply “moving the furniture around,” says feng shui consultant Alejandra Brady, creator of the “What Should I Feng Shui Today” oracle card deck. She explains that implementing the principles of feng shui means addressing the three different kinds of energy that surround us: universal energy (the planets, moon, and sun); environmental energy (your home and environment); and personal energy (your own internal life force).
“Embodying a feng shui lifestyle means working on more than just your physical surroundings,” Brady says. “It means working on all aspects of your home, mind, body, [and] soul, and aligning yourself with the universe.”
How our bedroom supports sleep, intimacy, and rejuvenation influences all other aspects of our life.
Kimberly Garner, founder of the School of Holistic Design, adds that a big part of feng shui is setting intentions for our surroundings, asking ourselves, “How do I want to feel and what do I want to experience?” in a particular space. “We want to curate living and working environments that support our well-being and intentions,” she explains. “By doing so, we set our life on a trajectory of greater ease and progress.”
The Importance of Feng Shui in the Bedroom
The bedroom, perhaps more so than any other room in your home, should be a sanctuary. “How our bedroom supports sleep, intimacy, and rejuvenation influences all other aspects of our life,” says Garner. “[The way] our bedroom eases us into sleep and waking makes a huge difference in the quality of our outer life and inner world.”
She further explains the importance of the bedroom for couples, noting that the decor you choose, from the images on the wall to the nightstands on either side of the bed, ”communicates to us, making lasting impressions on our subconscious [and] influencing our thoughts and feelings.”
“If we’re experiencing issues in our relationship, we want to bring our curiosity and awareness to what our bedroom communicates,” she adds. “Make certain no obstacles or toxic clutter exists in the room, and make sure the values and intentions of the couple or individual are reflected in the space.”
Interested in learning more? Check out Feng Shui for Beginners
Easy Tips for Bringing Feng Shui Into the Bedroom
1. Opt for the Command Position
To help you feel comforted and calm while you sleep, feng shui experts agree that your bed should be placed where you can see the door, but not right in line with it. “You want to be able to see who comes in,” says Brady. Garner adds that this is connected to our primal brain feeling safe. “We want as much time to react as possible if a saber-toothed tiger comes through the doorway!” she jokes.
2. Consider a Headboard
Ideally your bed should be against a solid wall, meaning one without windows. “A window behind your bed will eventually drain your energy,” says Brady. It can also leave you feeling less supported and more vulnerable. If you can’t avoid a window on the wall behind your bed, opt for a tall, solid headboard (either wood or upholstered) to provide a sense of comfort and security, Brady advises.
3. Create Symmetry
While it can be fun to play with asymmetrical design elements in other parts of your home, when it comes to the bedroom, symmetry will help create a sense of balance and calm. Brady recommends matching nightstands and lamps on either side of your bed as a simple way to achieve that goal.
Besides the calming effect, symmetry in the bedroom offers another feng shui benefit: “If you’re in a relationship, matching bedside tables and other items in pairs reinforce your relationship,” explains professional home organizer Kat Reichmuth of The Simplified Life.
4. Warm Things Up
Brady suggests sticking to warm neutrals and muted hues in your bedroom paint colors and decor to create a soothing sleep environment in line with the principles of feng shui. Her go-to color for bedroom walls: Benjamin Moore’s Creamy White, a gentle off-white that’s the perfect backdrop for a palate of subtle, earth tones.
You can also consult with the Bagua Map, an essential principle of feng shui, to create balance and harmony in your home. The Bagua Map can be thought of as a grid with nine tiles that is superimposed over your home, with each tile representing an area of your life. Each area is associated with specific colors and objects and one of the five elements, so consider drawing on the Bagua Map to make sure your bedroom is in balance.
5. Edit Your Photos and Wall Art
It’s wonderful to display snapshots of kids, friends, parents, and others throughout the rest of your home, but in the bedroom, choose pics of your partner, if you’re in a relationship, or scenic, soothing images like landscapes and soft, abstract images. “Think of it this way: When you're sleeping, you have all of these eyes on you,” says Brady. “Who do you want in your personal, private space?”
6. Avoid This Sneaky Storage Solution
It’s tempting to hide suitcases, sneakers, assorted memorabilia, and more behind the bedskirt, but Brady cautions against it. Under-the-bed clutter doesn’t allow energy to flow, which is a must for a good night’s sleep.
Clear out this space so energy can circulate — and you can wake up feeling clear-heading and refreshed.
7. Let in Some Light ...
Yes, blackout curtains have their benefits, but unless you really need to sleep till noon, consider room-darkening window treatments that allow a hint of natural light to filter in as morning comes. “Ideally, we want our bedrooms oriented for exposure to the rising sun,” says Garner. “Waking up gradually with the sun eases our body to waking and primes our nervous system for activity.”
8. ... But Not Too Much Light
While natural light is welcome in the bedroom, harsh overhead lighting should be avoided. Keep things more soothing with soft, bedside lighting — even better if it’s dimmable, so you can adjust the brightness to your liking, says Garner.
“Dimmable bedside lighting allows us to mimic the diminishing light of the evening sky, slowly summoning us to slumber,” she explains.
9. Unplug as Much as Possible
It’s no surprise that electronic devices are best kept out of the bedroom. “Lots of electrical items plugged in can ‘wire’ you and interfere with sleep,” says Brady, who often uses an electromagnetic frequency meter to measure the electromagnetic fields in clients’ bedrooms. “That electricity is charging — it’s the electromagnetic fields that can keep you awake,” she explains.
If you need to keep electronics in your room, Brady suggests at least having as little as possible plugged into the wall behind your bed. “Most of the time it’s necessary to plug in nightstand lamps, but try to leave it at that,” she says.
Of course, Brady adds, if you sleep like a log and everything is great, then don’t worry about unplugging. When it comes to applying any of these feng shui ideas to your bedroom (or anywhere else in your home), she says that, as the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
But with intention, you can use these feng shui suggestions to make your bedroom a sanctuary for better rest, romance, and a peaceful night’s sleep.
