Introduction
Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese practice of harmonizing spaces, has long been used to promote health, happiness and prosperity through intentional design. One of the key Feng Shui principles for bedrooms is strategic bed placement, as it directly impacts how well you sleep, your energy levels and overall wellbeing.
The layout of your bedroom, and specifically where you position your bed in relation to the door and other architectural elements, sets the tone for restfulness. Feng Shui philosophy maintains that proper bed placement encourages deep, restorative sleep, reduces stress, boosts daily energy, and creates an overall sense of calm in the bedroom.
Why Bed Placement Matters
Proper feng shui bed placement is important for encouraging restful sleep and promoting overall health and wellbeing. Placing your bed in an optimal position can help boost energy levels, reduce stress, create a sense of calm, and promote good health.
Sleeping in the right feng shui bed position aligns your body properly, allows for maximum comfort, and enables you to fall asleep more quickly and get higher quality sleep throughout the night. Restful sleep leaves you feeling well-rested and energized the next day. In contrast, insufficient or restless sleep can sap your energy, make you irritable, and even contribute to stress and anxiety.
The feng shui of your bedroom, including the placement of your bed, establishes the overall energy of the space. When your bed is positioned properly, it creates a sense of serenity and peace. You are more likely to feel relaxed and clear-headed when spending time in your bedroom. A calm environment also makes it easier to manage daily stressors.
Overall, thoughtful feng shui bed placement sets the stage for deep, restorative sleep that is essential for maintaining your health and vitality. The way your bed is situated can have profound impacts on how well you sleep and how refreshed you feel each morning.
Arrange Bed in Commanding Position
According to feng shui principles, the ideal placement for a bed is in a “commanding position” where the person sleeping can see the bedroom door without being in direct alignment with it. Facing the door allows you to see anyone who enters, giving a sense of safety and security.
If your existing bedroom layout means your bed has to be positioned facing the door, you can use a mirror to reflect the entryway. Place the mirror so that when lying in bed, you can see the reflection of the doorway in the mirror. This allows you to symbolically “see” the door without having the bed directly in line with it.
Avoid Doors Opening Directly at Bed
Having a door open directly in line with your bed can create issues with sleep, energy flow, and anxiety according to feng shui principles. When a door faces the bed, it forms a direct pathway for energy, called “qi”, to move through the room. This can make it difficult to fully relax, settle in, and get a peaceful night’s sleep. The door also represents the entry point for other people into the space which can create an unsettled feeling.
Feng shui experts note that this door-bed alignment causes qi energy to rush at the bed constantly, disrupting sleep and depleting your own energy reserves. Restlessness, insomnia, and feeling drained may result when you are unable to fully recharge at night. The door’s commanding position can also trigger underlying anxiety, as you may feel vigilant about monitoring who may enter. Studies show that proper bedroom arrangement can lower anxiety and improve sleep quality.
To avoid this misalignment, feng shui suggests moving the bed to a different wall if possible. If the bed must stay in that position, use a screen or privacy curtain to block the direct pathway between door and bed. Plants, curtains, or a piece of furniture may also help diffuse the door’s focal point. Lastly, a small mirror on the inside doorknob can reflect energy back outside the room for a simple remedy.
Solid Wall Behind Headboard
In feng shui, having a solid wall behind the headboard is considered very important for stability and support. The solid wall acts as a grounding force and represents being embraced and protected. Sleeping with your head against a solid wall encourages a restful night’s sleep without disturbances.
Having open space, a window, or door behind the head of the bed is believed to allow too much energy to flow around you as you sleep. This excess energy flow can lead to insomnia, restless sleep, and even nightmares or paranormal disturbances. By placing the headboard directly against a solid wall, you create a feeling of being anchored and avoid this excess energy flow.
Avoid Bed on Toilet Wall
Placing your bed on the same wall as your toilet is considered bad Feng Shui because it can promote illness and instability in your life. The toilet contains negative energy as it drains away water and waste. Having your bed on the same wall allows this draining energy to flow towards you while sleeping, which can cause digestive issues, illness, and emotional turbulence.
Feng Shui principles state that the toilet energy disturbs the positive Qi needed for restful sleep, potentially leading to restlessness, arguments with your partner, and overall stress and anxiety. It is best to avoid having your bed share a wall with the bathroom toilet. If this cannot be avoided due to space constraints, place a solid headboard made of wood or upholstered fabric as a buffer between the bed and toilet wall. The headboard creates a barrier to deflect the negative energy (Feng Shui Beginner). With proper adjustments, you can still achieve good Feng Shui even with a toilet adjacent to your bedroom.
Space on Both Sides of Bed
In feng shui, it’s important to have space open on both sides of the bed. This allows for a balanced flow of energy on either side and creates a sense of balance in the bedroom (1). Having space on both sides also prevents the bed from feeling crowded or closed in.
Feng shui recommends having nightstands and other furniture pulled away from the sides of the bed. You’ll want at least 2 feet on either side, or enough room to allow you to walk around. This open space encourages good chi and energy movement (2).
Too often, beds get shoved into corners or placed flush against walls on multiple sides. This blocks the natural flow of energy and can make it more difficult to get restful sleep. So be sure to leave breathing room on either side of the bed. The openness provides balance which is key for promoting tranquility in the bedroom.
Avoid Beams and Sloped Ceilings
Having beams, soffits or sloped ceilings above the bed can create issues in feng shui. Sleeping under these architectural elements causes a feeling of oppression or obstruction, which hinders personal growth according to feng shui principles.
Sloped ceilings are particularly problematic if the slope is directly above the bed. This is because the lower part of the ceiling can seem like it’s pressing down on you while you sleep. Having a low ceiling above the bed disrupts the ideal open and unconfined feeling you want in a bedroom.
Beams crossing over the bed can also create an oppressive feeling of obstruction. In feng shui, beams represent obstacles that can prevent you from fully realizing your potential. It’s best to avoid having any beams situated right above the bed if possible.
Overall, the ideal feng shui recommendation is to not have sloped ceilings, heavy beams, soffits or other architectural elements directly over the bed. This creates a more open and free feeling over and around the bed. If these features can’t be avoided, there are some remedies such as concealing them or using mirrors. But in general, it’s best to position the bed away from any overbearing ceilings or beams.
Feng Shui Bed Placement Checklist
Follow this checklist to optimize the feng shui of your bedroom and bed placement:
-
Place your bed in a commanding position, ideally in a corner facing the door. If this isn’t possible, place a mirror so you can see the door while in bed.
-
Avoid having your door open directly at your bed. Make sure there is some space or a partition between the door and bed.
-
Position your headboard against a solid wall for stability and support. Avoid placing your bed under a window.
-
Don’t place your bed on the same wall as your toilet. This can disrupt sleep.
-
Have space open on both sides of the bed so energy can flow freely. Avoid pushing your bed into a corner on both sides.
-
Do not place your bed under overhead beams, soffits, vents or sloped ceilings. This can create an oppressive feeling.
Conclusion
Following feng shui principles for ideal bed placement can have a profoundly positive impact on your overall wellbeing. By thoughtfully arranging your bed in your bedroom, you encourage restful sleep, boost energy levels, reduce stress, and promote good health. With the simple tips outlined in this guide, you can create a bedroom environment that will help you feel calm and energized when you wake up each morning.
Don’t underestimate the power of good feng shui! Take the time to implement the checklist provided and evaluate your current bed placement. Adjust the placement and orientation of your bed to align with feng shui guidelines. You may be surprised by what a difference it makes in your quality of sleep, mood, energy, and health when you get your bed in the optimal position. The small effort to follow feng shui principles is well worth it.
