Have you ever come into your bedroom to relax, only to find that you felt even more stressed out?
Bad Feng Shui may be to blame, but don’t worry – changing and rearranging a few things can completely turn around the energy in your room.
Feng Shui Your Bedroom
By: Elizabeth Toy
When I was a kid, I shared a bedroom with my big brother. Around fourth grade, my parents decided it was time I move into a room of my own while my brothers shacked up. I was very excited to finally have my own space and privacy. However, the change was very sudden and I didn’t adjust well. Not too long after I moved into my new room, I began to have nightmares.
But Mom knew just what to do. I come from a Chinese family and my mom, especially, believes in Feng Shui. If you didn’t know,
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese system which helps direct the placement of items to create the optimal flow of energy in a room, also known as “chi.”
Chi, directly translated, means air. When done right, Feng Shui is believed to bring in good fortune and health and repel bad luck and negative feelings.
After I had nightmares night after night, my mom determined that something was off in the room. Rather than blaming my nightmares on late night snacking or horror stories, she immediately decided that my bed needed to be moved. After considering the location of my room in the house, and then the directions of sunrise and sunset, my mom moved my bed so that my head pointed in the optimal position. As a 9-year-old, I rolled my eyes at the idea that the placement of furniture could affect my dreams, but to my surprise, the nightmares stopped that same night.
Whether or not you believe in Feng Shui, one thing’s for sure; the way you arrange the things in your home can certainly affect your mood, attitude, and productivity.
Don’t believe it? Try taking a test at a cluttered desk. You can imagine how piles of papers and other miscellaneous things can be distracting to the flow of your thoughts.
Despite the plethora information on Feng Shui, if you start with basics, the whole concept won’t be as overwhelming. To get started, here’s a brief guide on Feng Shui for your bedroom from Shutterfly.
There are 5 core elements that make up the practice of Feng Shui:
1. Fire
2. Earth
3. Metal
4. Water
5. Wood
It’s believed that balancing each of these elements in your home will create good Feng Shui. Each element supports and can likewise be diminished by another. For example, water puts out fire, which destroys metal and so on, as you can see in the below illustration:
However, this doesn’t mean you need to start a fire or flood your home. Instead, placing items that are representative of these elements can help balance the chi in your home. For example, candles can represent fire and glass can represent water. The ultimate goal is to balance all the elements in to your home to create harmony and nurture an environment conducive to the flow of energy.
Now that you’ve got the elements, here are a few quick Feng Shui rules for your bedroom
1. Avoid Sharp Edges
There’s nothing welcoming about sharp and pointy items, especially if they’re pointed at an entrance or worse – right at you! Sharp edges represent “poison arrows,” which bring negative energy into your space. We all have a few sharp edges in our homes, but we can balance them out by bringing in items with smooth and rounded edges, like plants with round leaves or even using curtains and mirrors to create a barrier. You can also simply point sharp edges away from you.
2. Shrink Large Windows
While ceiling-to-floor windows are a current trend, having a window that is too large can leave you feeling vulnerable or exposed. Add curtains to create privacy and a more comfortable ambiance. After all, your bedroom is one of the most private of spaces you spend you time.
3. Minimize Electronics
Not only are cell phones, tablets and the like a distraction, but all electronics release an electromagnetic energy even when they’re off. Keep your electronics away from your bed for a more restful sleep. If you have a TV in your room, covering it with a cloth can help maintain a more peaceful energy.
4. Organize Your Bookshelf
Just like anything else, keeping your books organized can contribute to good feng shui, not to mention, an orderly and calm environment. If you don’t know where to start, think about size and color, with the more sturdy and supportive books on the bottom and lighter, paperbacks up top. You can create both rows and stacks of books and display knick-knacks or mementos on your bookshelf to keep it from looking monotonous.
5. Purchase a Headboard
A headboard can help create a feeling of security, especially while we’re sleeping, knowing there’s something between your head and the wall.
6. Bring Down Tall Ceilings
High ceilings are lovely, but can make you feel small. To create a cozier space, decorate the lower half of the room with rugs and pillows, or even paint the ceiling a darker color.
7. Re-position Your Bed
Just like Momma said, it’s important that your bed is in the optimal position so that you feel safe and not vulnerable. Your bed should be positioned so that you’re never taken by surprise. Opposite of the door is ideal, so that no one can ever barge in and startle you with your back toward them.
8. Downsize a Large Room
While a big room can feel luxurious, it may also leave you feeling vulnerable, which you never want in your most private of spaces. Arranging your furniture away from walls or painting your walls in warm colors can make your bedroom feel spacious but still cozy.
9. Keep Work Out
The bedroom is for sleeping and romance, not work! Just like your desk at the office isn’t the ideal place to nap, don’t bring your work into the bedroom. Separate business and pleasure (and rest) and designate a purpose for your spaces to maintain the right mentality and peace in both environments. This is important especially if you work at home. Read “4 Ways to Better Your Office Space” for more home office tips.
There’s much more to learn about Feng Shui, but you’ve got a good start! For more information, check out Shutterfly’s Complete Feng Shui Guide to Bedroom Design.
Want more posts like this? Check out 5 ways to Feng Shui Your Space and Be Happier with Houseplants.
Photo Source: Shutterfly
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