Whilst you might know some of the basics of Feng Shui, do you know just how important the bedroom layout of a room is to achieving the ultimate Feng Shui space?
When thinking about bedroom Feng Shui, it is vital to consider the basics of a Feng Shui bedroom layout as well as what elements to introduce to the room. Whilst many bedroom layout ideas can be functional, a Feng Shui bedroom layout can help improve the flow of Chi and welcome positive energy into your space.
‘When you are in the passive Yin state you are very susceptible to the energies around you.’ says interior designer and Feng Shui consultant, Anjie Cho, ‘So it's very important to look at the Feng Shui of your space. It is important to acknowledge that your space, your bedroom is a really important area of your home.’ Here, experts have offered their advice for laying out a bedroom for the best energy flow.
Feng Shui bedroom layout
The first step in laying out a Feng Shui bedroom layout is being clear on the room's intention, says holistic interior designer, Anna Lippett. ‘Often with several people's needs to consider in the design of the bedroom, it's important to ask yourself “how would you like to feel?” in the room.
‘Would you like better sleep? Or perhaps you'd like to enjoy reading or spending more time on beauty regimes and self–care in your bedroom? Maybe it's more romance you're looking to attract? In Feng Shui, being clear on the intention for the bedroom is really important in order to create a scheme that supports your needs.’
When creating a Feng Shui bedroom for good luck, furniture placement is everything.
1. Position your bed correctly
Good Feng Shui furniture placement is at the center of any Feng Shui bedroom layout. With the primary function of the bedroom being sleep, the bed is the most important piece of furniture in the room. It is, therefore, essential to have good Feng Shui bed placement and understand why a headboard is important for Feng Shui.
‘You want to ensure your bed is in the commanding position,’ Anjie says, ‘this means placing it diagonally from the door so that you are able to see the door without being directly in line with it.’ Having a bed that faces the door directly places you in the ‘coffin position’ and is believed to leave you vulnerable to the forces entering through the doorway. Avoiding the coffin position is advised to help you feel safe and secure at night.
Another way to create the feeling of begin secure in Feng Shui is to avoid placing a bed under a window as this is believed to lead to restless sleep and a lack of support and avoid the the Feng Shui death position.
2. Place a bedside table on either side of the bed
When designing a Feng Shui bedroom layout, you need to consider symmetry. Symmetry in interior design can create a sense of balance and calmness – so it is no surprise it is used in a Feng Shui space. Whilst the bedside table rule is debated by some Feng Shui practitioners, many believe that having two bedside tables can ensure the balance of energy in your romantic life. Having two identical bedside tables, preferably with rounded edges to prevent sharp, negative energy near the bed, can create a harmonized space and improve relationships.
3. Avoid mirrors in direct sight–line to the bed
There is a lot of debate around should you have a mirror in your bedroom or not when it comes to Feng Shui. However, our experts recommend it – as long as they are placed correctly.
Anna explains that ‘in Feng Shui, mirrors represent the element of water. They reflect and amplify energy so avoid positioning opposite the bed for good quality sleep.’ One way to get around this is to place the mirrors beside the bed facing outwards – allowing for functionality but not reflecting the sleep space.
Anjie, on the other hand, recommends using bedroom mirror Feng Shui to ensure the correct positioning of the bed. ‘If you can’t have your bed in the eyeline of the door, you can set up a mirror so you can see the reflection of the door. The most important thing design wise is to have your bed in the correct position rather than the mirror.’
4. Make sure your bed is accessible from each side
Having space on either side of the bed is not only functional but is believed to help balance yin and yang. Positioning your bed in this way can help qui energy flow around the room. Closing off one side can lead to unbalanced yin or yang energy when it is important to nourish both sides. Try to ensure around 18 inches on either side of the bed where possible.
It is important to note that there is an exception for children’s beds, as having their beds placed against the wall can provide them with extra support.
5. Ensure storage is sufficient – and avoid clutter beneath the bed
‘Ideally have nothing under your bed’ warns Anjie. Much like having space on either side of the bed to allow for the flow of energy, leaving space under the bed prevents clutter build up and allows energy to pass under the bed too. This is believed to help with your health and peace of mind.
From a Feng Shui perspective, having closed-off storage is ideal as it conceals clutter and emotionally charged items. If you have to have storage under your bed, however, as might be the case in small bedroom layout ideas, it is best to have sleep-related items such as linens, duvets, or pillows to maintain the restful feeling of the space.
6. Don't place your bed under a beam or ceiling fan
For the best Feng Shui bedroom layout, you want to try and avoid placing your bed beneath any oppressive architectural features such as beams, sloped ceilings, or ceiling fans. These large features can apply unwanted pressure to you as you sleep. One way around this if you cannot move your bed is to drape fabric to conceal the ceiling feature – such as from a four-poster bed frame, or blend the architectural feature into the rest of the room by painting it the same color as the ceiling.
7. Try to keep the office out of the bedroom
When possible, the ideal Feng Shui bedroom layout will not have an office desk – although this might be difficult as many of us continue to work from home.
Good office Feng Shui prefers having a separate room for your workspace as the desk represents your work and career and can be too stimulating in the relaxing bedroom space.
If you have to have a desk in your Feng Shui bedroom layout, be mindful of its location. Try to use one of several possible room divider ideas to separate the desk slightly from the sleep space and create separate Feng Shui ‘zones’.
8. Be mindful when placing decor and personal items
When it comes to a Feng Shui bedroom layout, the positioning of personal items and art can also affect the flow of energy and the feeling of the room. Anna suggests that you should ‘display personal items and photos in the far right corner of your space or room as you enter. This is because in Feng Shui philosophy this is the area that can affect your love and relationships.’
You should avoid hanging art above the bed and headboard when possible too. ‘Position a piece of artwork or a decorative object that makes you feel uplifted, so it's the first thing you see,’ Anna says. ‘Consider what it is you want to see when you first wake up and place art on the wall opposite your bed.’
What is the best direction for your bed to face?
The best direction for your bed to face is south – this means laying with your head pointing southwards and your feet pointing northwards. The inversion of this is considered the worst orientation.
If you are not able to position your bed in this direction, however, maintain the other Feng Shui bed layout rules.
