Feng shui bed positions
How to Place Your Bed for Good Feng Shui
By
Anjie Cho
Anjie Cho
Anjie Cho is a certified feng shui consultant, professional architect, and author with over 20 years of experience designing spaces. She co-founded the Mindful Design Feng Shui School and wrote "Holistic Spaces: 108 Ways to Create a Mindful and Peaceful Home."
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Updated on 01/15/21
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According to feng shui principles, the bed is the most important piece of furniture in your home because it represents you.
Just think about how many hours you spend in your bed. You probably devote more time there than any other place. And the time that you are in bed, you are typically resting or sleeping. When asleep, you’re in a passive “yin” state and more susceptible to the energies around you. So your bed placement affects you in your conscious and unconscious states.
Therefore, if you start anywhere with feng shui, start with your bed! If at all possible, always place the bed for the best feng shui. If it’s really impossible, there are some ways to correct it. I highly suggest you can place it in the best way and opt to correct it if you have no other option. Here are some tips to place your bed for good feng shui.
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01 of 07
Commanding Position
Illustration: The Spruce / Caitlin Rogers
In feng shui, we place the bed using the principle of the commanding position. You want your bed located so that when you’re lying in bed, you can see the door to the bedroom. However, you don’t want to be directly in line with the door either. A good rule of thumb for bedroom feng shui, is to place the bed diagonal from the door.
See the diagrams above, which show the most ideal locations.
It’s understandable that there are many cases in which this is not possible. There’s still hope! If you can’t be in the commanding position, you can correct the bed by using a mirror. Place a mirror so that when you’re in bed you can see the reflection of the door.
Tip
A freestanding mirror is easy to place and adjust to the correct angle.
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02 of 07
Placing the Bed in Relationship to Doors
Charlie Dean / Getty ImagesBesides the commanding position, there are other guidelines to look out for when placing your bed in relation to the doors in the bedroom.
You also want to avoid any doors opening up directly onto any part of the bed. Avoid having your feet point straight out the door. This is often referred to as the “coffin position”.
If the only place for your bed is in line with a door, it can be corrected. You can hang a faceted feng shui crystal ball halfway between the door and the bed.
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03 of 07
Headboard Against a Solid Wall
Hero Images / Getty ImagesThe head of your bed should be sitting securely against a solid wall. This means that you are supported from the back. I know it may seem like common sense, but I’ve seen people place the beds with the headboard in the middle of the room, or even the whole bed floating in the middle of the room. Always remember, you want the support of a wall behind you.
Second, avoid windows behind the head of the bed if possible. This is especially important if you’re on the ground floor or have eye issues. Better to have a solid wall behind you.
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04 of 07
Locating the Bed Away From a Toilet Wall
Caiaimage / Martin Barraud / Getty Images
Avoid sharing your headboard with the wall of the toilet. This means you want to rule out placing your bed on a wall that has the toilet on the other side of it. You don’t want to have a toilet on the other side of the wall from your head.
If it’s not possible, you can place a mirror on the wall above and behind the bed to expand the view of the bedroom beyond. This will energetically erase the toilet.
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05 of 07
Space on Both Sides of the Bed
Hero Images / Getty ImagesFor adults, it’s best to have open space on the left and right sides of the bed. I suggest you have at least 18 inches on each side. It’s not ideal to place your bed with one side up against a wall.
The space on both sides allows a balance of your yin and yang, as well as space for each partner (or future partner). If this is not possible, do the best you can to have space on the wall side. You can also place a mirror on the wall that the bed is up next to. This can expand the view of energetically.
For children, it’s okay to have a bed against the wall as it can give them some support.
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06 of 07
Beams, Soffits, and Sloped Ceilings
Joe Schmelzer / Getty ImagesFor the best feng shui placement, you want the area above your bed free of beams, soffits or sloped ceilings. These architectural features above the bed can create unnecessary pressure.
If it’s unavoidable, a correction is to drape fabric to conceal the ceiling feature. If it’s not a large beam or soffit, it may be possible to simply blend the feature into the ceiling by painting it the same color. This makes the dropped ceiling areas less oppressive.
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07 of 07
Feng Shui Bed Placement Checklist
Anna Cor-Zumbansen / EyeEm / Getty Images
Here’s a quick overview on what you can look out for when placing your bed for good feng shui:
Bed Placement Checklist
- Place your bed in commanding position, or correct it with a mirror.
- Check that doors don’t open up directly in line with the bed. If it’s unavoidable, correct it with a feng shui crystal ball.
- Have a solid wall behind your headboard for support.
- Avoid placing your bed on the other side of a toilet wall.
- Have space open on both sides of the bed for the adults in the home.
- Avoid beams, soffits, and sloped ceilings above the bed, otherwise, try to cover them with fabric to lessen the impact.
Watch Now: Tips for Decorating Your Home for Good Feng Shui
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(Image credit: Future)
Your Feng Shui bed placement is vital to creating a bedroom with 'good' energy, in fact, the placement of your bed, especially in a place with a limited square footage is essential to how you interact with the space.
Learning how to position your bed using Feng Shui is believed to improve mood, health and wellness, as well as help you to avoid the Feng Shui death position. Insufficient rest can cause our body to produce increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, so getting a good night's sleep with the right bed placement can improve your ability to rationalize worries and boost your mental health.
Feng Shui bed placement – how to correct 'bad' placement
More than any other space in the home, your bedroom is the one place where you want to feel completely relaxed, comfortable and rested. With fewer practical constraints than other areas of the house, once you’ve covered the basics of bedroom Feng Shui – deciding on the the best bed ideas is the easy part.
But remember, if you are somewhere with 'bad' Feng Shui bed placement, don’t worry. There’s always something you can do to adjust your current bedroom layout – and work with what you already have.
1. Place the bed in a commanding position
(Image credit: Future / Chris Everard)
When planning a Feng Shui bedroom layout that adheres to the principles of Feng Shui, the most crucial decision to make is where to position the bed – being the largest piece of furniture in the room it will have a big impact on how the space functions, looks and feels. Also, representing your health and wellbeing, the bed is without a doubt the most important piece of furniture in your entire home.
The best location for your bed is in commanding position. This means that, when in bed, you’re facing the door while not directly in line with the door. You also don’t want any doors to open up directly in line with the bed. If this is something you cannot achieve in your space, you might be able to use bedroom mirror Feng Shui to see the door from your bed.
It is also recommended that you keep the bed away from a bathroom wall. If this layout isn't possible due to size constraints, you can place a mirror on the wall above or behind the bed to expand the view of the bedroom beyond. This will erase the 'bad' or negative energy from the bathroom.
When it comes to choosing the right bed, ideally, you want to have a bed that is full sized or larger. For a main bedroom, it’s best to avoid a single bed or twin bed – unless you are single – and would like to remain so.
You should also aim to avoid placing your bed underneath an overhead light as this can have a negative effect when you are trying to create a Feng Shui bedroom for good luck.
However, a single bed might be a good fit if you are prioritizing yourself. If you are in a partnership or if you would like to be, do your best to get a bed that can accommodate another person.
2. Avoid the 'coffin' position
(Image credit: Davide Lovatti)
According to Feng Shui philosophy, you want to avoid the dreaded 'coffin position' where your feet point towards the door. This position, also know as 'dead man's position' is said to disrupt sleep and cause tension and unease.
However, if you have awkwardly-shaped or a small bedroom, you may not be able to relocate the bed entirely. Instead, consider the use of a bedroom mirror to 'visually reposition' the bed.
Locate the mirror above or behind the bed so that you can view the reflection of the door from your bed. This is believed to help disperse any incoming negativity, conflict or bad energy to allow for a more restful sleep.
3. Make sure your headboard is up against a solid wall
(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)
Headboard ideas can totally transform a bedroom – but there's much more to them than simply placing a padded board behind your bed's head. In Feng Shui the headboard represents stability, support and security in your life, and especially in your romantic relationships.
The best Feng Shui headboard ideas are solid, without any perforations. The idea behind this theory is that a solid wall will provide you with the necessary stability to face life head on.
'Headboards are vital for aesthetic reasons, too,' says Kit Kemp , interior designer and founder of Firmdale Hotels. 'They provide a focal point, can introduce color, pattern and texture, and can help to correct and improve a room's proportions and visual impact.'
Secondly, avoid placing a bed in front of a window. This is particularly important if you’re on the ground floor or suffer with any known eye issues.
4. Leave space on both sides of the bed
(Image credit: Irene Gunter)
If you share a bed with a partner, then it is best to have enough 'open' space on the left and right sides of the bed. Most Feng Shui practitioners recommend between 15-20 inches on each side. The space on both sides allows a positive balance of your yin and yang, as well as space for each person.
But why does Feng Shui suggest that you should avoid placing your bed up against a wall? This is because this layout can cause your chi (also known as qi) to rush in too quickly and settle on and around your bed. You'll want to avoid anything too stimulating into the bedroom.
Symmetry is another interior design trick loved by Feng Shui masters – and it's perfect for the bedroom. In Feng Shui, pairs are thought to promote harmonious energy, so kit your bedroom for two people, even if you're not currently in a romantic relationship.
'Frame the bed with a bedside table on each side of it to create a mirror image on each side of the axis,' says Liv Wallers from British design studio, Yellow London . 'The room should be centred symmetrically around the bed with an equal distribution of objects and furniture around it.'
However, if your bedroom is on the small side, and you have no option but to place your bed up against wall, you can also can also hang a mirror on the wall that the bed is up next to. This will expand the space visually, and redirect the energy within your room.
5. Avoid placing a bed in rooms with beams or sloped ceilings
(Image credit: Future)
For the best Feng Shui bed placement, you want the area above your bed to be free of beams or soffits. Ceiling ideas that are sloped or slanted are best avoided too. These architectural Feng Shui house features to avoid are said to create unnecessary pressure, strain and stress.
If it’s unavoidable, then utilize creative room divider ideas to separate the space or conceal the ceiling where possible. Room dividers allow you to create a wide range of clever and inspiring ways to make your bedroom work for you. Think: screens, partitions, and even the intelligent use of color.
A large bedroom can be 'zoned' off with drapes or sheer curtains hung to divide the space. They needn't be pulled right across a room to utterly divide it, but they can create a beautiful pause, adding color, texture or dimension.
It is also possible to paint the beams or soffits in the same color as the ceiling to help disguise this disruptive architectural feature, making it feel less oppressive.
Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.
Bed arrangement according to feng shui rules
Julia Yashenok17.01.2021
1202890
One of the main ideas of the Taoist sage Le Tzu is that life is a dream, and a dream is reality. He divided dreams into 6 varieties: ordinary, disturbing, scary, joyful, caused by thoughts or memories. His companions and followers also argue that nightly rest is the most important thing in life. Therefore, the correct location of the bed according to Feng Shui (Taoist practice) is an important task. The ancient doctrine of the organization of space will help to solve this difficult puzzle even for those who, for no apparent reason, have despaired of restoring sleep.
Dependence of sleep on the interior of the bedroom and bed
The atmosphere of a relaxation room depends not only on the shape and location of the bed in Feng Shui. For the circulation of vital energy Qi (according to Eastern philosophy, absolutely everything in the Universe consists of it), you need to take into account the overall design of the bedroom, including the ceiling. The best solutions for it are a smooth and plain surface without stucco, beams, or a matte stretch fabric.
Decorated in light pastel colors, the walls and ceiling create a feeling of softness and serenity, which is what a relaxation room needs. It is better to refuse bright elements only if it is not required to improve relations between partners in a delicate intimate sphere. In this case, it is permissible to place in the bedroom a couple of accents of crimson, yellow or red shades, corresponding to the “masculine” beginning of Yang. It is responsible for activity, firmness and courage.
Lighting elements are required to be sufficiently compact and unobtrusive. Heavy chandelier, sconces, hanging structures above the bed cause an almost imperceptible feeling of anxiety, which does not allow you to relax even in your sleep. The same list of items includes paintings, photographs, shelves.
A few basic rules on how to put a bed in feng shui .
These are the simplest feng shui principles that tell you how to place a bed in the bedroom. If they are observed, the beneficial influence of Qi will be preserved and multiplied. Its course will become calm and measured.
How to put the bed in relation to the cardinal points
The location of the bed according to Feng Shui to the cardinal points also matters. Each of them has a certain effect on the sleepers. Let's look at examples of how the placement of the head of the bed affects sleep:
- east - brings a calm and peaceful rest, balance in partnerships,
- southeast - luck and material well-being,
- south - healing of sleepers, increased passion between partners,
- southwest - strengthening relationships between lovers,
- northeast - spiritual development and enlightenment,
- West - health promotion, strengthening of romantic feelings between partners,
- north - getting rid of chronic fatigue,
- northwest - favors travel, helps get rid of depression and feelings of loneliness.
How to choose a feng shui bed
It is not enough to determine how the bed should be according to feng shui, you also need to choose the right model. What matters is the shape of the headboard, the stability of the legs and the size of the bed.
Shape: although sharp corners have a bad effect on the location of the bed in the bedroom according to Feng Shui, round models are also not recommended for use. Most preferred in Taoist practice is a rectangular bed with slightly rounded corners.
Size: it is important to pay attention that the bed is not too big or too small in relation to the bedroom. The bed for a couple of lovers should be solid, no need to connect 2 mattresses or 2 bases. One of the most popular bed sizes - 140 by 220 centimeters - is considered unfortunate in terms of the flow of Qi energy. Bed dimensions of 150 by 220, 19 are considered optimal.0 by 220, 220 by 220 or 220 by 240 centimeters.
Headboard: as a symbol of security, it is an indispensable element of the bed. According to the rules of Feng Shui, the headboard should rise above the bed and rest against the wall. In a couple's bed, the headboard should have a single design. Parts made of rods or forged gratings are undesirable.
Leg stability: The stock is required to be stable and strong. It is best if the design of its legs is made of metal or wood. For this reason, water and inflatable models are undesirable for permanent use - they deprive the owner of a sense of stability and reliability. And this means that in a dream it is unlikely that you will be able to fully relax.
So, after spending a little time and determining how the bed should be according to Feng Shui, you can get rid of the feeling of anxiety and causeless night awakenings. If these problems are clearly and directly not related to the state of health, of course.
How to arrange a bed in the bedroom according to Feng Shui? Basic Rules
Content
- The essence of feng shui
- Feng Shui cardinal directions
- feng shui bedroom bed
- feng shui plants
- Order
- feng shui bedroom colors
- Do not place furniture in corners and niches
- feng shui mirror
- natural materials
- feng shui bedrooms in a nutshell
According to the philosophy of Feng Shui, everything is interconnected by the flow of energy. If it is interrupted and can no longer flow freely, it affects our general condition. The environment plays a significant role in this. Even furniture and interior items can affect energies. Here are some tips for furnishing your bedroom that will help you get more peace and relaxation. Let's look at feng shui rules together.
The term "Feng Shui" is on everyone's lips. But what does it really mean? The Feng Shui doctrine concerns the relationship between man and nature, describes how the environment can positively influence a person. In the center is vital energy - invisible qi. It plays an important role in home improvement. With the right arrangement of furniture and accessories, chi energy can flow freely throughout the home and maintain good health.
The bedroom is a yin room. Yin means peace and darkness here. Bedroom feng shui should be given special attention as it affects the well-being and harmony of the entire family.
The room itself is just as important as the placement of the bed. At the same time, both orientation to the cardinal points and the coordination of the bed with the shape and structure of the room, as well as the location relative to windows and doors, are of great importance. The direction of the head and feet affects feng shui.
The cardinal points according to Feng Shui are located as follows: at the top - north , at the bottom - south , on the right side - east , on the left side - west . Intermediate directions: in the upper right corner - northeast , in the upper left corner - northwest , in the lower right corner - southeast , in the lower left corner - southwest.
In order to achieve well-being, Feng Shui advises to activate the most important areas for you in the apartment. To begin with, let's figure out what meaning each side of the world has in Feng Shui.
First of all, we are interested in the bedroom. In this room, it is better that the windows face east or west. Where to sleep with your head in Feng Shui is also an important question.
A lot will depend on which direction you choose to sleep:
- North - intuition is activated. Couples are advised to sleep in this direction if they want to strengthen their attachment to each other and improve intimate relationships.
- Northeast - mental abilities improve. This direction will not let you relax, but it will help you find a purpose in life. It is not recommended to sleep with your head in this direction for a long time.
- Northwest - gives a sound and deep sleep. This direction is especially favorable for the elderly.
- East means in Feng Shui that sleep will be deep and truly relaxing.
- South-East - will help get rid of complexes and constraint. Career success is guaranteed.
- South is a destination for careerists and people who dream of fame. In no case should you lie down with your head to the south if you are stressed or depressed. In this case, the situation will only get worse.
- Southwest is the best destination for those looking for love. It will help you find harmony in your life.
- West - suitable for people associated with creativity. This direction not only gives inspiration, but also enhances sexuality.
To ensure the free flow of positive life energy, you need to wisely approach the location of the bed. You can not put it in front of the door, so as not to create an obstacle to the flow of energy. The less furniture in the bedroom, the better, nothing should distract from calmness and relaxation.
The head of your bed should be against the wall. In case of a threat of negative energy from the door, you can install a partition.
According to Feng Shui philosophy, plants should not be placed in the bedroom. However, there is one “but” - there can be several plants in the room that emit oxygen, rather than absorb it. For example, chlorophytum, spathiphyllum or aloe.
Structure and order play a very important role in Feng Shui. So chaos and disorder certainly hinder the flow of qi. It is especially important to keep order in the closet with clothes. But the shelves and night table should also be tidied up.
In Feng Shui, different colors are assigned to the rooms in the house. For example, cheerful colors are welcome in the dining room to ensure a harmonious stay with family or friends. What feng shui colors are suitable for the bedroom? Restrained natural colors are optimal. They promote calmness and relaxation.
- White
A minimalist all-white bedroom promotes well-being and harmony. This works especially well if you add wooden furniture, which gives the bedroom a warm atmosphere. - Warm colors
To really feel good, we need warm colors. Therefore, in Feng Shui, cold shades, such as blue, purple or cold green, are not provided. Instead, experts advise using warm shades of brown that pair beautifully with reds, yellows, or oranges.
Feng Shui teaches that a square room without hidden niches is best suited for a bedroom. To avoid blocking the flow of energy, place the bed at some distance from the corners.
A large mirror is very beautiful and practical, but interferes with harmony in the bedroom. At the very least, don't place it in front of the bed. Mirrors in front of and to the side of the bed act as permanent energy reflectors and can significantly disrupt sleep. A feng shui mirror is best placed on the wall so that it reflects natural light and visually enlarges the room.
Well-being requires more than just the right arrangement of furniture. The choice of materials also plays an important role. Natural materials such as wood, cotton, or even glass are great for feng shui concepts.
- If possible, discard the mirrors in the bedroom - they carry conflicts and quarrels.
- Avoid electrical appliances.
- Do not put plants - the element of water in the bedroom means loss.
- The bed should not have sharp edges.
- The head of the bed should be directly against the wall, not in an empty space, but in no case against the wall behind which the toilet is located (rooms where there is moisture).
- The bed should not stand between two doors, and in no case should it be located under a free-lying beam. In addition, it should not be opposite the sharp corner of the room, but best of all - parallel to the window with sufficient indentation from it.
- The color scheme should be muted, and the light should not be too bright.
- You should not hang pictures in the bedroom with images of water, noisy fun, aggressive animals and natural elements.