Ideal for adopting a new approach to getting a good night’s sleep…
A recent study by psychologists in Sweden and then discussed in the Guardian certainly made for some relatable reading; that “two nights of broken sleep can make people feel years older”. Amen to that.
While there are so many reasons that we’re not getting enough good sleep right now, the worst thing you can do is shrug and accept endless restless nights and tetchy, tense days. Should you be seeking a new angle, then one way to help is by creating the right bedroom environment that will encourage you to relax and drift off smoothly. Enter Feng Shui.
A bedroom designed with Feng Shui in mind is all about creating a peaceful and balanced environment that promotes a good night’s sleep. While the practice is complex and best left in the hands of the masters, simply put, feng shui is all about optimising the environment around us to achieve harmony and balance. It’s driven by the idea of ‘qi’ (pronounced “chee”), or the energy that connects all living things.
When it comes to feng shui energy in your bedroom, it’s all about promoting the flow of love, ideally both of the self and the romantic sort. Moreover, because you’re in a passive state while you sleep, you’re more susceptible to these energies. You owe it to yourself to do all you can to harness them!
From bed position and colours to headboards and even what’s underneath your bed, the finer details matter so much. With that in mind, here are 8 ways to feng shui your bedroom, IDEAL for adopting a new approach to getting a good night’s sleep.
Calm Colours & Bedroom Bagua
When it comes to colour schemes for the bedroom, certain shades and tones are thought to promote sensuality and restfulness. As a general rule, opt for skin tone colours. As the tones of people’s skin vary wonderfully, you have a wide palette of colours to choose from; think chocolate browns, peach tones, pale whites and creams. However, do try to avoid stark whites (a lesson for life, perhaps) as it’s a metal element which can become too activating.
A Bagua map is another way to choose colours for your bedroom. Bagua, which translates to ‘eight areas’, is an energy map placed over the floor plan of your home. It’s essentially a blueprint that interior design experts use when designing a room with feng shui as the focus.
When it comes to the bedroom, a Bagua can offer perspective on how to decorate with the thought of the overall energy of your home in mind. Each area of the Bagua is a specific area defined by the compass in relation to your front door. For example, if your bedroom is in the south of the house in relation to your front door, then choose colours of the fire element – red, pink, orange and purple.
Should your bedroom sit in the middle on the property, then it’s recommended that you channel earthy tones; dark yellows, auburns and deep browns. Fascinating stuff!
Keep The Chi Flowing
Feng shui is said to allow your energy to flow uninhibited through your home, improving your overall quality of life in myriad, unseen ways. When it comes to a bedroom which channels feng shui, you have to know how to keep the chi flowing, and how to deflect any negative energy that may enter your room.
Some basic steps include shutting your bedroom door at night as open doors allow energy to escape. Shutting the door will ensure that any positive energy will stay throughout the night and help you get the best sleep, promoting both mental and physical rejuvenation.
It’s also advised that you have curtains which you can draw shut, as uncovered windows at night create an imbalance of Yin energy. Closing the curtains will prevent your chi energy from flowing out of the window; no one wants that.
Where The Magic Happens
Placing your bed as the focal point of the entire room is conducive to good Feng shui. Indeed, you need to ensure that it’s in the ‘command position’; never place your bed on the same wall as the door – it’s thought that you may feel threatened if someone were to walk in and surprise you, and that sense of existential angst can affect your sleep negatively.
Go further. When it comes to positioning your bed, try not to place it directly below a window – it’s bad Feng shui, pure and simple. If you have no other choice, make sure you have some solid blinds to stop the energy flowing out. For a more in-depth guide on how to position your bed, the good guide guys at The Spruce have created this guide on how to place your bed for Good Feng Shui.
When it comes to keeping the qi flowing, energy needs to circulate around your body when you’re asleep. Avoid beds that have built-in storage draws as the space under the bed is blocked and the qi will be blocked from flowing freely.
In a similar vein, don’t push your bed up against the wall as it does not allow the free flow of energy, making it difficult for you to rejuvenate as you sleep. That said, it’s important to have a supporting wall behind your head and a solid headboard. In feng shui, as in life, headboards provide a feeling of support.
Your Mattress
Your mattress is one of the most vital furniture pieces when it comes to Feng Shui because it’s the closest part to you. When you are asleep, your body is in a yin, passive state and therefore, it’s receptive to the vibrations surrounding you.
Since your bed is one of the most private places in your house, it readily absorbs the “qi.” As such, it’s important that you choose your mattress wisely. Avoid using a used mattress as you can’t be sure what energy they have accumulated from previous users. Go for something supportive. We’re fans of an adjustable mattress base for extra support.
Read: 3 helpful tips for achieving uninterrupted sleep
Embrace Symmetry For Balance
In Feng Shui, symmetry is associated with balance, harmony, and promoting equality in relationships. To enhance the Feng Shui of your bedroom, consider arranging your space symmetrically. This can be particularly effective when it comes to the placement of your bedside tables and lamps. Having identical or similar items on both sides of the bed can create a sense of balance and stability in the room.
When you enter a room that is symmetrically arranged, your mind perceives it as a peaceful and orderly space, which can be incredibly soothing just before sleep. This symmetry also represents partnership and can be especially beneficial for those seeking to strengthen their romantic relationships.
To implement this:
- Place matching nightstands on either side of the bed, ensuring they are easily accessible and not cluttered.
- Use pairs of lamps, candles, or decorative objects to create visual symmetry and a sense of partnership.
- If possible, position the bed so that there is equal space on either side, allowing for an equal flow of energy and making it easy for both partners to get in and out of bed without disturbance.
Declutter
Distraction and debris are the enemy of a restful, sleep-focused winding down before bed. We’ve all had to leap up and out of bed to close ‘that wardrobe door’ before settling down, and some things like that will never change, but when there’s serious clutter in your room, it can affect your quality of sleep negatively. Indeed, according to Feng Shui, it’s more than just a distracting eyesore; it can actually block the flow of chi. Consider burning some sage to clear the space of negative energy while you declutter.
Mind Your Mirrors
Mirror Mirror on the wall, will I ever find sleep again, at all? If you’re finding it hard to sleep, maybe it’s your mirror? Hey, there could be worse places to look for the answer, you beautiful thing.
Indeed, according to the principles of feng shui, mirrors bounce energy around the room. Placing mirrors in the wrong place may cause restlessness and amplify worries. As such, don’t place a mirror opposite or above the bed. Even more importantly; never have two mirrors facing each other – they bounce energy off each other, blocking each other’s path and letting stale energy accumulate in the room. We’ve all felt that once or twice before, right?
Cover Your TV
When it comes to having TV in the bedroom, we’re divided. While we can’t argue with feng shui experts that having a TV is bad for yin and yang, here at IDEAL, we quite enjoy having a TV in the bedroom. If, like us, you savour those moments watching the news in bed with a cup of coffee in the morning, then according to feng shui principles, you should at least cover your TV when you sleep. Ah, there’s nothing like a bit of compromise in these divided times.
The TV is an electronic device with a lot of static energy that can block the fresh flow of energy. By covering your television with a simple cloth, you can soothe the environment and make it more conducive for peace and ultimately, sleep.
The Bottom Line
While we’ve spent a whole article talking about it, there’s only so much redesigning of your room can do. With that in mind, read our tips on how to get more restorative sleep for a healthy, holistic approach to getting your Zzzeds.
