How to Feng Shui your bedroom

Ever walked into your bedroom and felt something was a bit off, even with fresh sheets on the bed? Feng Shui may have the answer.

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese system of natural laws for arranging your home so energy, known as Chi, can flow freely. Here’s how to bring it into your bedroom, from where your bed goes to what’s best left out (chair-drobe, we’re looking at you).

The best Feng Shui bedroom layout starts with your bed, placed so you can see the door without lying in line with it. Feng Shui experts spend years mastering the finer details, but these three principles are a great place to start.

• Make your bed accessible from both sides.
• Have a bedside table on each side of the bed.
• Avoid the bed being directly in line with the door.

Your bed belongs in the command position. That means the headboard against a solid wall, diagonally across from the door, with space to get in on both sides.

Feng Shui says being able to see who’s coming in helps you feel safe and settled, which may help you drift off more easily. It’s the bedroom version of bagging the restaurant seat that faces the door.

If your room has the space, a bigger bed makes it easier to keep a clear path on both sides.

A king size bed or super king bed gives you room to sprawl (and if you share, no more elbow wars at 2 am). Feng Shui often links equal space on each side of the bed with balance in a relationship. Our mattress size guide has all the measurements.

A matching bedside table on each side of the bed brings the balance Feng Shui loves.

Each side gets its own spot for a lamp, a glass of water and tonight’s chapter. Our wooden bedside tables add a natural touch too.

Psst! Here’s what your side of the bed says about you.

A solid headboard is a must in Feng Shui. It’s said to give you a sense of support while you sleep, a bit like having someone watch your back all night long. Padded and wooden headboards win over slatted or open designs here.

A low bed frame with clean lines gives a bedroom a calm, uncluttered feel.

A low platform bed keeps the room feeling open and airy, a look borrowed from Japanese design. Choose one with a little space underneath, so air can still flow freely around you.

Feng Shui is big on nature, so daylight, fresh air, plants and natural materials all help your bedroom feel balanced. Think of it as bringing the outside in, minus the muddy boots.

Throw back the curtains first thing and crack a window for a few minutes each day.

Daylight makes the room feel bright and lively, while fresh air stops it from feeling stuffy by bedtime. One study even linked better bedroom ventilation with better sleep.

Indoor plants add fresh Chi to the room, which Feng Shui links with life energy and good fortune.

A few easy-going plants on a windowsill or bedside table are plenty (there’s no need to turn your bedroom into a jungle). For ideas, here’s our pick of bedroom plants.

Top tip: Go for soft, rounded leaves over spiky cacti, which are thought to bring sharp energy into the room.

Natural bedding and mattress fillings, such as wool and bamboo, bring the natural world right into your bed.

Look for natural bedding and our natural mattresses, made with breathable fibres that feel lovely to sleep on. Natural fabrics work just as well for your pyjamas, so here’s our guide to what to wear to bed.

Soft colours, gentle light and cosy textures are the secret to a calm Feng Shui bedroom. Together, they set the scene for a slow, sleepy evening.

Muted, earthy shades on your walls and bedding, from warm white to soft taupe, keep a Feng Shui bedroom feeling serene.

Gentle colours let your eyes relax, so nothing in the room fights for attention at bedtime. For shade-by-shade inspiration, see our guide to Feng Shui colours.

Swap harsh overhead lights for warm, low-light bulbs, lamps and candles in the evening.

Soft, warm light can help signal that the day is winding down. Just keep candles well away from curtains and bedding, and blow them out before you nod off.

Essential oils can make your bedroom feel cosy and help you unwind before bed.

A few drops in a diffuser is usually plenty. Our guide to essential oils for sleep has scents to try.

Layer up rugs, throws and cushions to make your bedroom feel soft and inviting.

Natural textures like wool, cotton and linen add warmth without making the room feel busy. And a soft rug makes those first steps out of bed much kinder on a chilly morning.

Good Feng Shui calls for art and decorations that make you smile, so be choosy about what goes on your walls.

Think countryside scenes, happy memories or soft abstract prints. Hanging them in pairs or balanced groups keeps the room feeling even.

Feng Shui saves the bedroom for rest, so anything that stirs up energy or reminds you of your to-do list is best tucked away.

Hang mirrors where you can’t see your reflection from bed, and keep them from facing the door.

Feng Shui says mirrors bounce energy around the room, which may leave you feeling restless (and nobody needs a fright from their own reflection at 3 am). A mirror opposite a window can still bring in extra daylight, as long as it’s out of view when you’re lying down.

Keep phones, tablets and TVs away from the bed, as blue light from screens may make it harder to fall asleep.

Late-night scrolling may also nudge your body clock later, as our guide to circadian rhythms explains. Charging your phone across the room (with an old-school alarm clock by the bed) is an easy place to start.

Feng Shui suggests keeping books out of the bedroom. Sorry, bookworms!

We know it’s a big ask, as reading came out on top when we asked people what they do in bed before sleep. Piles of books are said to keep the mind busy, so keep just the one you’re reading by the bed. If the rest have to stay, these bedroom shelving ideas will keep them tidy.

Laptops and paperwork belong outside the bedroom, so it stays a place for rest.

Easier said than done, as nearly a quarter of the people in our survey check their emails in bed. An exercise kit is best kept elsewhere, too, as it can bring lively energy into a room meant for relaxing. If your bedroom doubles as an office, pack away your work at the end of the day.

In Feng Shui, clutter blocks the flow of energy, and a messy room can make it harder to switch off at night.

Give everything a home, clear surfaces before bed and keep the floor as open as you can. Yes, that includes the chair-drobe. Life happens, and the odd pile of washing will always find its way back, so treat it as a quick reset before bed.

Close wardrobe doors and drawers when you’re not using them, as open storage can make a room feel unsettled.

It’s a small habit with a big payoff, and soft-close drawers make it a quiet one too.

Use soothing natural colours such as ‘skin colours’, including shades from pale white to rich chocolate brown, to establish a calm environment.

Below is a helpful colour wheel demonstrating the Feng Shui relationship between colour and mood.

In Feng Shui, when a practitioner refers to a colour chart, they generally refer to the colours associated with each life area of the Bagua or Pakua. In addition to the specific life areas and colours, each of the nine sections of the Pakua also has a corresponding element and direction.

Here’s to a bedroom that feels just right (and a chair that’s finally just a chair). Looking for more ways to unwind? Our Mind Relaxation Hub is full of them.