How to Feng Shui Your Bedroom & Sleep Better Than Ever

Last updated on October 1st, 2024 at 09:31 pm

A great feng shui set up in your bedroom will help you sleep better which results in overall better health and lower stress.

The condition of my bedroom has a lot to do with how well I sleep. To me, it makes sense that your environment and surroundings have a lot to do with your nocturnal health. In this post, I’ll talk about what works for me in the hopes that others can benefit as well. I know that all people are different. I know these tips won’t work for everyone, but hopefully, some of you will find a benefit. This is how you strive for the perfect feng shui bedroom.

Much of this post is borrowed from a previous article I wrote regarding using these techniques to combat sleep paralysis. You can read the original post here.

The Concept of Feng Shui (Fengshui)

The Chinese concept of feng shui focuses on the environment around you and how to harmonize yourself with it. Feng shui attempts to keep the balance of qi, the energy that binds all things. The flow of qi is affected by furniture layout, architecture, even airflow direction. There are feng shui guidelines for just about every room in your home, including the bedroom.

I’m not a very spiritual person. I do, however, believe that our lives should be well-balanced. Lack of balance between work, family, & hobbies can lead to stress and unhappiness. You don’t have to be spiritual to see the benefits of feng shui when it comes to maintaining a healthy balance in your life.

The Feng Shui Bedroom

The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in your home. You will probably spend at least 1/3 of your life in a bedroom. Eliminate the clutter. Feng shui incorporates the idea of minimalism. Keep only the items in your bedroom that you need. Your sleeping space should feel open and free, not closed and stuffy. This is accomplished by removing extra furniture & junk.

Take a good, honest look at what’s in your bedroom and get rid of things you don’t need or move them to another room.

Does Your Bed Make the Cut?

When I bought my first home, I didn’t have a lot of money to work with. My first bed was a futon I bought at Walmart. The flimsy metal tubing that held it together lacked a sense of strength. There was nothing solid about it and it was very uncomfortable. A great feng shui bed is exactly the opposite of my $90 futon.

Your bed, regardless of size, should have a good solid headboard and sturdy frame. Avoid beds with storage underneath. The qi energy should be able to freely flow under and around the bed.

Very strict feng shui practitioners will only use beds with solid wood headboards. The bed I sleep in now, however, has a headboard that’s made of wood and solid iron scrollwork and I’m happy with it.

Positioning Your Bed Properly

Bed position is probably the most important factor in the feng shui bedroom. You should be able to see the door from your bed without being directly in the line of the door. When I finally ditched the Walmart futon and bought a real bed, I had it placed like this:

feng shui bad bed position sleep paralysis
Image Source: Thriving Spaces

I had my bed positioned in this spot for about a year. I did not sleep well. When I bought a new dresser that fit perfectly where the bed was positioned, I moved it to the arrangement below:

feng shui good bed placement
Image Source: Thriving Spaces

In the image above, the bed is not aligned directly in front of the door but still provides a clear line of sight. To maintain balance, you need to have a bedside table on both sides of your bed. Symmetry is a big part of feng shui because it helps maintain balance.

I knew nothing of feng shui at the time, but I did know that my new arrangement felt more relaxed and natural. My sleep patterns improved significantly.

Even if you think feng shui is a bunch of baloney, it still makes sense that humans evolved to sleep better this way. As a matter of survival, one would have a better chance of waking and fending off intruders in the middle of the night. We might not think about such things in the modern world, but those instincts are hardwired into our brain. Is it surprising that sleeping in a position that leaves one vulnerable to intruders might contribute to the most common nightmare being that of an intruder?

Shelving

There should be no shelving directly above your bed. Although feng shui recommends plants on shelving in most rooms, anything above the bed is advised against. Only put plants in your bedroom if space is large enough to accommodate them. Plants give off great amounts of qi, but they can also disrupt its flow if not provided enough space.

Close Closet Doors

Close your closet door before you go to bed. Obviously, there are no monsters lurking in closets, but the instinct that makes children fear closets still lives within us as adults. Leaving a closet door open also signals your brain to believe that a task is waiting to be finished.

We all know that our brains can keep us awake with thoughts about the day and all the things we have left to do. A good way to help your brain ‘let go’ of the day’s responsibilities is to close your closet door before going to bed. Leaving a closet door open is bad feng shui.

For this same reason, you must also close all your dresser drawers fully. You know how sometimes we get lazy and bits of clothing get stuck in a dresser drawer? Don’t do that. Again, don’t allow your brain to believe there is an unfinished task left behind even if it doesn’t consciously bother you.

Electronic Devices in the Bedroom

Hardcore feng shui practitioners will tell you, “zero electronic devices in the bedroom; no TV, no cell phone, nothing.” I have a TV in my bedroom along with 2 cell phones (a personal phone and one for my job). I use my cell phone as my alarm clock, and I’m on-call 24/7 for work. I basically don’t have a choice. I’m not going to deride my readers on this topic because the research is clear. Electronics in the bedroom are not good for promoting good sleep habits.

On this topic, I’ll leave you with just a couple of notes. I use my bedroom for 2 things: sleep and sex. There is a TV in the bedroom, but it’s only ever on when I’m in there folding laundry or cleaning. I don’t lay in bed watching TV or sleep with the TV on. If you want to lay down and watch TV, do it on the couch. Even when I’m sick, I’ll retire to the couch and watch TV there if that’s how I want to spend my time. Do this for a few months and you’ll train your brain to automatically prep itself for sleep as soon as you lay down in bed. My wife will tell you, I can fall asleep in my bed now within minutes.

Feng Shui Bedroom Colors

In general, feng shui experts recommend colors that can be found in natural skin tones. Anything from white to dark brown is a good base color for your bedroom.

In addition, you can add some lighter tones of other colors for accent purposes. Light or pale blues & greens work well. Avoid bright colors, especially neons.

Sleeping With a Fan

Although it probably goes against the teachings of feng shui, I sleep with a fan running every night. I’ve done this for years. It does help me sleep better. The white noise provided by the fan drowns out the noises older houses tend to make. The air flow helps maintain that open feeling in my bedroom which feng shui strives to achieve. Feng shui, however, does strongly state that the use of ceiling fans should be avoided.

Final Thoughts

Creating the perfect feng shui bedroom isn’t always possible. Depending on your space and budget, you might simply have to make some sacrifices. However, every little change helps. A change of color, a shifting of existing furniture – keeping things neat and clean. Those will go a long way to helping you sleep better.


Sources & Additional Reading

Zesty Things: How to Stop Sleep Paralysis with Feng Shui

Sharif Jameel is a business owner, IT professional, runner, & musician. His professional certifications include CASP, Sec+, Net+, MCSA, & ITIL and others. He's also the guitar player for the Baltimore-based cover band, Liquifaction.

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