Are you struggling to sleep? Your bedroom Feng Shui layout may be to blame! According to these expert tips, knowing which direction is good to sleep, may help you get a full 8 hours.
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Are You Having Trouble Sleeping?
Any new parent will tell you that lack of sleep is physically and mentally tiring. But what if you’re not a new parent but still struggling to get a decent night’s sleep? According to a recent study, your bedroom setup may be responsible for your lack of shut-eye.
We all know that getting a good night’s sleep is essential for maintaining good health and well-being. Sleep is a vital process that allows our bodies and minds to rest and recover from the day’s activities, and—without enough of it—we can experience a range of adverse effects on our physical and mental health.
A British mattress company commissioned a recent study with some of the world’s authorities on feng shui. The study revealed that bed positioning, furniture, and even head placement can all affect our ability to fall—and stay—asleep.
Bedroom Feng Shui Layout to Enhance Sleep
Interiors expert Suzanne Roynon advises that choosing a balance of furniture in the bedroom can enhance sleep quality.
She recommends choosing bedside tables and lamps of similar size to promote harmony. In contrast, unequal — or non-symmetrical —items can create a sense of instability, which may influence daily life and relationships.
Roynon also suggests that, for optimal sleep, your bed should be placed diagonally from the door and have a solid headboard to promote a sense of security. Avoid positioning your bed directly opposite the entrance, as it may lead to fatigue during the day.
Classically trained Feng Shui consultant Janine Lowe suggests pointing your head North if you have trouble sleeping, a technique known as ‘sleep of the dead.’
Although it sounds ominous, it promotes a deeper sleep.
Bed Feng Shui for Passion
For couples wanting to inject a little passion into their relationships, orienting your head East could enhance romance. However, it is also equally important to note that your feet don’t point directly opposite the door, as this is an unlucky ‘coffin’ position.
Feng Shui consultant Denise O’Dwyer adds that sleeping beneath heavy beams or ceiling fixtures—even large lights—can create a sensation of pressure, making relaxation difficult.
O’Dwyer also recommends the use of soft, ambient lighting. She suggests focusing light on excessively shadowed areas, as shadows could hinder energy flow.
Feng Shui Rules For Bedroom Happiness
If overheating and snoring disturb your sleep, you can address these issues by increasing the flow of fresh air and oxygen in the bedroom. Roynon suggests opening doors and windows throughout your home during summer nights, not just relying on a single window or fan, which can move warm, stale air around.
While fresh, clean air is advised, clean—free of clutter—surfaces are also preferable. Feng Shui techniques aim to promote the smooth circulation of positive ‘Chi’ (life-enhancing energy). A clean home is better for your health. Plus, according to Feng Shui principles, dust symbolizes stagnant energy.
Suzanne Roynon points out that ‘clutter actively works against good health and wellbeing, and is a magnet for accumulating dust’.
She suggests maintaining good bedroom cleanliness, particularly by decluttering, to deter dust accumulation, which should, in turn, improve sleep quality.
Colour To Improve Sleep
O’Dwyer also reveals that colour can also dramatically impact how we sleep.
Bright colours should be avoided as they can be overstimulating. Instead, she advises selecting earth tones; pastels, or soft blues and sage greens for bedroom walls to induce a calming effect. It has long been acknowledged that biophilic design in interiors enhances mood and positively affects our physical and mental health and well-being.
Interestingly, art and décor choices can subconsciously affect mood and even trigger nightmares. Roynon suggests choosing aesthetically pleasing, feel-good artwork for your bedroom.
She recommends pieces that evoke serenity, balance, and harmony and advises against water images and excessive decorations as they might create imbalance.
Finally, all the experts cautioned against mirrors in the bedroom. Seeing your reflection, or that of your bed, can lead to restlessness and disrupted sleep. Similarly, a TV in the bedroom can also disrupt the flow of chi. TVs are considered mirrors in feng shui, so the same principles apply, especially when the TV faces the bed.
Next time you’re counting sheep, consider these expert tips. The key to a good night’s sleep might be hidden in your bedroom Feng Shui layout.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
