From ELLE Decor
One of the most important spaces in a home is the bedroom. It’s where you decompress from the day and enjoy a good night’s sleep. But if you’ve been longing for pointers on how to make your bedroom a more inviting space that promotes tranquility, consider relying on the principles of Feng Shui.
The ancient Chinese tradition is rooted in incorporating a sense of balance, organization, and healthy practices into your home, which can ultimately help to improve your daily lifestyle.
For practical tips on how to feng shui your bedroom, we checked in with Anjie Cho, an interior architect, feng shui expert, and author of Holistic Spaces. Read on for her top feng shui bedroom ideas.
Aim for a Serene Environment
Regardless of your decorating style, your goal should be to craft a serene bedroom. “The important thing about feng shui is how a space makes you feel,” says Cho. “A bedroom that has good feng shui feels comfortable, nurturing, supportive, and like home. Your environment has so much of an effect on your prosperity, your livelihood, wellbeing, and health.”
Don’t Position Your Bed in Line with the Door
Feng shui’s command position calls for a bed to be diagonal from the door. “When you are lying in bed, you should be able to see the door without being right in line with it” Cho advises. “You don’t want your feet positioned straight towards the door, and you don’t want your headboard to be in line with the door.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Use a Solid Headboard
Go for a solid headboard without perforations and make sure it’s attached to the bed. “The headboard connects you to your partner or future partner,” Cho says. “It can also provide stability between your masculine and feminine side.” Cho suggests wood or upholstered headboards. But avoid metal, since “they are often designed like bars that give off a sense of being imprisoned,” she says.
Consider Concealing the Television
Deciding whether or not to include a television in the bedroom all comes down to your lifestyle. If you typically experience difficulty falling asleep, leave it out of the bedroom or conceal it with a wood or fabric panel. “We are in a day and age where we are surrounded by electronic devices,” says Cho. “There are ways to gracefully conceal the television and not have it be a distraction from your sleep.”
Choose Plants Wisely
Being surrounded by nature is always relaxing, so consider bringing the outdoors in by making plants part of your bedroom decor. But not all plants reflect the philosophy of feng shui. “It is best to stick with plants that have soft and rounded edges,” says Cho. For instance, succulents with heart-shaped leaves or snake plants, which are known to give off more oxygen at night, can make a space feel more calming.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Opt for Organic Bedding
Organic bedding is the best option for a bedroom that adheres to the principles of feng shui. “There are a lot of ethics involved in how conventional bedding is created and manufactured, so all of that energy is interwoven into the materials you choose to have in your home,” Cho says. “Do your best to buy the most ethical, non-toxic materials that you can afford, because that will affect your life.”
As for colors, Cho is partial to white bedding. “It’s a blank canvas to bring in different accents like pillows,” she says. “But if you want to attract a partner, you can have pink bedding. If you want to have more passion for life or your partner, you can use red bedding.”
Incorporate Your Favorite Colors
Most people think an all-neutral palette is the key to a good feng shui bedroom, but Cho says you can decorate with any hues that resonate with you. “Neutrals tend to be more earthy-colored, and the earth represents support, stability, and nourishment,” Cho says. “If that’s what you are attracted to and what you need, that is a great palette. It’s more about your taste.”
Aim for Balance
“If you want to attract a partner or are in a relationship, the principle of balance is important in a bedroom,” Cho says. Having space on both sides of the bed or nightstands, even in two different styles, on either side of the bed are just a few examples. The goal should be to create enough space for you and a partner. “They don’t have to be symmetrical either,” Cho says. “Balance gives you more freedom.”
Photo credit: Anjie Cho
Remember That Lighting is Key
If you live in a city, like New York, chances are you’re all for allowing more light into your space, which is very much in line with feng shui. “Light brings clarity, brilliance, and activity to all areas of your being,” Cho says. “One particular type of lighting that is good in feng shui is uplighting, especially if someone is depressed.” Cho especially likes 2700 kelvin versus 3000 kelvin lights, because it adds more warmth to an interior. And, of course, candles are another favorite, since it creates another level of intimacy that can’t be achieved with other lighting options.
Avoid Hanging Family Photos
Your bedroom isn’t the place for family photos. “Your bedroom is about you and connecting with your partner, and pictures of family members isn’t that welcoming and sexy,” says Cho.
Never Hang Artwork Low
“When artwork is placed too low, it can bring you down emotionally,” Cho warns. This concept also applies to beds-they shouldn’t be too low to the ground.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Reduce Clutter
There’s no denying that clutter creates stress, and good feng shui calls for keeping it at bay. “You want to have open space, especially under your bed, because that creates healthy energy and healthy chi,” Cho says. But if you live in a small space and have to use under your bed for storage, only stick to soft, sleep-related items like bedding, pillows, and blankets. It’s not an area to keep items that are emotionally-charged, whether it’s shoes, jeans that no longer fit, or photo mementos.
It’s also best to keep books out of the bedroom. “Books are very active,” Cho says. A novel that helps you to relax is appropriate, but avoid a full library of books, which can be a distraction. “We live such fast-paced, stressful lives, so our sleep needs to really count,” Cho says.
(‘You Might Also Like’,)
