Insomnia & Bedroom Feng Shui
Are you having trouble getting to sleep? Are you counting waaaay too many sheep? Believe it, or not, your surroundings might have something to do with it.
In feng shui, everything in our environments has energy. And placement really matters, in terms of how things interact with each other and how the energy flows around them. The balance of yin and yang is also important, as bedrooms are generally meant to be more yin (calming). Believe it or not, things like colors affect the energy of a space, too, and determine whether it’s more restful (yin) or my active (yang).
I’m going to outline six things to consider, regarding your bedroom decor, if you are suffering from insomnia and want to use feng shui for better sleep. Here goes…
Bed Placement
The most important feature of your bedroom is (no surprise) the bed. So, you should start your feng shui assessment there.
First of all, look at where the bed is positioned.
Is the bed in alignment with the door?
Let’s say you have a grand master bedroom with double doors opening up to it, near the foot of the bed. While that might seem luxe, it’s not great for feng shui.
You’ll probably need a cure to block or soften the chi coming in from those doors, so you can get a restful night’s sleep.
Or maybe it’s just a single door, but the path of it hits your bed. That is also way less-than-ideal. Can you move your bed to a different location, so that it’s out of the path of the energy coming in the door? If not, you’ll need to either block or soften the energy, so it’s less likely to interfere with the chi of your bed and ultimately, your ability to sleep in it.
Look at the image to the right. Do you see how the energy from the doors would come in and hit half of that bed? That’s a lot of harsh energy and it is not what you want to have happening, for good feng shui or good sleep.
You could try to remedy it, but that room has so many issues going on, that I would have recommended using it for a living room, rather than a bedroom. At the same time, living arrangements can be tricky, houses can be less-than-ideal, and sometimes we have to work with what we have.
Bad Juju (Sha Chi) Blocking Options:
Rug:
A rug between your door and your bed is the best option. Red is traditionally recommended for blocking harsh chi, but that’s not great for bedroom decor.
However, if you can arrange to have a slightly smaller thin red rug under an area rug that is more lush and restful and that goes with your decor…that could work.
Loveseat:
In addition (and assuming there’s plenty of space for one) a loveseat at the foot of the bed, facing out, could help. Make sure it’s at least as high as the bed, if not higher.
Curtains:
If you have a four-post bed, make sure there are curtains at the foot of it. They don’t have to be super heavy, but just intend that they will block the chi coming in from the doors and help you sleep better.
Crystal:
A crystal hung between your bed and the door could help to soften and scatter the harsh chi coming in the door. Only use crystals if you love them and they work with your decor.
Is the bed under a window?
Trust me when I say that a bed under a window is not great. It could mean that your chi (and vitality) are escaping out the window, as you sleep.
In the image here, at least there’s a wall of stones behind the window, in what looks like a backyard or other private space, so the position is somewhat protected. If you’re up on the second story of a building or higher, it’s less of an issue, too.
But, not everyone is so lucky. Sometimes, there’s a sidewalk behind the bed or it’s otherwise exposed to outsiders. Aside from your energy potentially going out the window, this position can create a feeling (and condition) of feeling extremely vulnerable and being unsafe. That is the opposite of what you need for good sleep, plus just overall well-being.
Look to see if there’s any way to change your bed position, so that it’s more secure and protected, with your head against a solid wall, or at least a corner with no windows or anything else funky going on.
If you can’t change your bed position, see if you can use a heavy blackout curtain or some super solid blinds to dress the window and make sure that it’s covered at night.
Is your bed in a corner of the room?
A bed that’s tucked in a corner (and smashed up against the walls) can prohibit the flow of good energy and may trap bad energy where you’d least like it. It’s not the worst feng shui violation, if you’re single and want to stay that way, but it’s less-than-ideal.
At the very least, make sure that the bed is not obstructing anything, like a cabinet from being opened (see below).
Could you maybe have the bed at an angle, so that the headboard is facing the corner and both sides of the bed are accessible? I know it can see odd, but it may be better for energy flow, depending on what else is in the room, where the doors are, etc. That’s how I currently have my bed and I have done this in the past, too. It can really open things up in a small space and allow for both sides of the bed to be fully accessible.
Clutter & Chaos
When your surroundings are cluttered, there are more distractions to keep you awake! Clutter is stagnant energy, which can cause frustration and friction in your life. Imagine that there’s a thread of energy between you and every item that you own. Each of those threads gives or takes away energy from you, depending on whether the item is loved, used, and appreciated, or not. Wouldn’t that make you want to be careful of what you have and how much?
Additionally, if what you see before you climb between the sheets is a bunch of stuff, that’s going to be on your mind, whether you know it or not. I personally have a hard time sleeping if there’s clutter or disorganization anywhere in my home. For example, I’d brought some seasonal stuff up from storage, last week, and I kind of half sorted it on my dining table, but then left it for a few days. Don’t ask me why. I think I just got caught up in other stuff. Anyway, one night, I sprang awake in the wee hours, thinking about this pile of stuff. I finished sorting it and was finally able to go back to sleep.
Even if what’s surrounding your bed is just everyday stuff, rather than work stuff, it can still create energetic friction, which can keep you from getting to sleep, let alone experience a restful nights’ sleep.
Ideally, the only items that belong in your bedroom are your furniture and furnishings, your clothing, and other necessary personal items. There shouldn’t be clutter on the sides of the bed, at the head or foot of the bed, or underneath the bed. Your closet should have doors and everything should be tucked away, with care.
The one thing you could maybe get away with (if you have a super small space and need to use every square inch for storage) is neatly storing sheets and other bedding under the bed, in a nice pull-out container. No clothing, no books, no computer stuff… nothing but bedding. Anything else could throw the energy off.
For the best chances of getting to sleep and resting well, keep your bedroom clean, free of clutter, and well-sorted.
Mirrors
If you can see a mirror from your bed, it can see you! There are times when mirrors are called for and when their use trumps all other feng shui considerations. Most of the time, though, they can make the energy far too active (or yang) for sleeping purposes.
Aside from being kind of creepy, mirrors facing a bed are not great for feng shui. They can reflect the energy back and forth, causing restlessness and anxiety, while you’re trying to get to sleep (and even during your waking hours). See the image above for an example of how not to place a mirror.
Ultimately, you want the energy of your room to be nice and still, calm, restful. Imagine a deep lake at night, with nothing and nobody around.
If you currently have a mirror facing your bed, see if you can move it to a different part of your room, so that it’s still accessible, but less likely to disturb your sleep.
If you just need it, where it is, consider covering it up at night with a cloth. Make sure that the cloth is visually appealing, in good repair, and that it harmonizes with your decor. That’s a pretty easy fix, right?
Better Mirror Placement
If your mirror is facing something other than the bed, like in the picture here, it could still bounce energy around the room.
But, it’s maybe a little bit less impactful, because of its placement.
Still, if you are having trouble getting to sleep, it can’t hurt anything to cover it up, when you’re trying to catch those zzz’s. I would use a black cloth, in this instance, to blend in with the wall.
If you have a mirror above your bed, somehow…I’m sure you have your reasons, but a) I hope you don’t live in earthquake country and b) it might be in your best interest, to get that down (safely) ASAP, if you want to be able to sleep well.
Sharp Corners
Sharp corners are called “poison arrows” in feng shui. The idea is that they create a very harsh pointed energy, which can mess with your chi. You definitely don’t want them pointed at your bed. And if there are any, it might be in your best interest to soften them, somehow.
Poison arrows are very common, because of the way buildings are made, these days. I have them in two prominent places in my apartment. One is on the overhanging ledge, near the ceiling of my office (pointed towards my futon) and the other one is on a wall corner that’s facing my bed.
I have draped both with fabric and I definitely feel that it’s made a positive difference in softening the energy and allowing me to sleep better.
By the way, you’ll need to watch out for sharp corners from your furniture and other objects, as well. If there are any pointed at your bed, see if you can cover them up with a scarf or table runner or whatever seems appropriate. I have to do this in my bedroom, because my bedside table has super sharp corners.
If you’re not into draping and prefer a more streamlined look, there are plastic corner covers that you can get, to soften the poison arrows.
Another alternative is a tall plant, if the corner is down low (and has just one point, rather than a long edge). Or a hanging mobile, if it’s up high.
Ultimately, you want the energy in your bedroom to be soft and nurturing. So, I recommend making the effort to cover any sharp corners that could be interfering with that.
If you would like to know more about poison arrows, you can read this post by Red Lotus Letter.
Bright Colors
Do you love bright red? Stark white? Vibrant yellow? Fiery orange? Neon green?
Those colors have their place (like at a football stadium, LOL), but if they’re dominant in your boudoir, they could be keeping you awake!
Colors have energy. The ones listed (and ones like them) are all yang colors. In the bedroom, where yin energy is what you probably need to sleep well, too much yang is counterproductive. It can leave you feeling restless, unable to drop off into dreamland, and ultimately…fried.
If your walls are really bright, consider painting them a softer pastel color instead. Muted (greyed) shades are more yin, too. So are darker shades. You can still have your orange or other warm colors, just make sure that you soften them, so that you can still sleep in the room. And keep the contrast of everything else fairly low.
If you must have red (I get it!), make sure it’s a luscious darker shade, like burgundy or garnet.
Do you love white? While it’s thought to represent purity and spirituality, in the western world, in feng shui it symbolizes masculine yang energy, which is the opposite of what you might need for restful sleep.
As for yellow, it’s really tricky in the bedroom. Unless you just LIVE for the color, use it sparingly. It’s tough to tone it down without going too pale or getting a sickly green effect.
Black and white schemes may be a bit much for a bedroom, BTW. Again, keep the contrast low(er) for a more soothing atmosphere. Be mindful of other high contrast (a.k.a. loud) patterns, as well.
By the way, the same rules that apply to your walls go for your bedding, too.
Do you see the picture above, with the yellow walls, red throw blanket, black and white pillows, etc? While I do think the room is well-decorated, by normal standards, I also think that’s way too much yang chi for a bedroom.
Soothing Color Schemes
Take a second to get grounded into your body. Connect with the earth, below, and the heavens, above. Now, take a look around your bedroom. Is the color scheme soothing and harmonious? Does it make you feel all warm and cozy? If not, is it time to refresh your decor, so it’s more conducive to restful sleep? You may want to make that a priority, if you’re suffering from insomnia or otherwise just not feeling well-rested.
Headboard
“Headboards”, like the metal one shown here, are very pretty, but quite inneffective. Also, why is it in front of a window? And what century is she from?! LOL.
A headboard is a very important symbol of protection and awareness in feng shui. It represents having a mountain at your back and everything else in front of you. Ideally, it should be super solid.
A dark color would be best, as long as it harmonizes with your surroundings. That’s because dark colors are yin and black, specifically, is the color for mountains.
Your headboard should be high enough that your pillows can easily rest against it (and so can you, if you’re sitting up), but not so high that it feels intimidating. Also, watch those sharp corners, as always.
Better Headboard Examples
Do you have a headboard? Is it tall enough, but not too high? Does it feel protective, but not overbearing? Is it soft and feminine or hard, sharp, and masculine?
If your headboard does not feel right, then maybe it’s time to replace it, so that you do feel protected and supported, when you’re super vulnerable, off in dreamland.
Office Stuff
Bedrooms are ideally supposed to be for sleeping and, uh, other bedroom activities. They are not supposed to be for working. If you can avoid having an office in your bedroom, do it. Put it anywhere else in your place where there’s space for it. Do you have a dining room table? Is there a corner in your living room where it can be tucked away? Could you perhaps go to a coffee shop or library, to work?
If you must have an office in your bedroom, then you need to read my post about all the ins and outs of that and how to do it as gracefully as possible.
Electronics in Bed
Even worse than having an office setup in your bedroom is doing your work in bed!!
First of all, it’s really bad feng shui. If you’ve been paying attention, you know why. Secondly, it’s terrible for your spine, which is also really bad for your chi. Then there’s the issue of blue light, which is counterproductive to sleeping.
I was doing a trade with an intuitive counselor, once, who attended our Zoom consultations from her bed. I was like, “Sorry, why are you working in bed?” It turned out that she had suffered from an acute pinched nerve in her lower back, a couple months before that. So, not only was her working in bed really bad feng shui, it was probably contributing to her back issues, as well.
We looked at other options for an office setup, in her house, because anything would be better than being hunched over her computer, in bed!
There wasn’t anything that stood out, but she had been wanting to put an office shed in her garden, so I encouraged her to make that happen. Fortunately, the stars aligned, that came together in record time, and she now has a much more appropriate space to work.
A quick word on using phones in bed…Don’t do it. I don’t care that it’s super popular. Don’t be a lemming and follow everyone else off the cliff. Be your own person and put your self-care first.
Scrolling through masses of information (some of which may be very triggering), in a place that’s meant for restful and rejuvenating sleep, is really bad feng shui.
Put your office somewhere other than your bedroom, if you can. And absolutely no working in bed. It should be reserved for sleeping and other bedroom activities, only. Okay?
Wrapping Up
From a feng shui perspective, the energy of your bedroom really matters.
It has a major impact on your health, well-being, and ability to recharge, so you can greet another day with good energy and a positive attitude. Ideally, your bedroom should be soft, nurturing, restful, and rejuvenating.
So, if you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, take a look around your bedroom and see if you can use any of the suggestions that I made.
Here’s a quick recap of them:
– Be mindful of your bed placement.
– Don’t allow clutter to gather on, around, or under your bed.
– Cover or move any mirrors that are facing your bed.
– Use a soothing, harmonious color scheme in your bedroom.
– Make sure you have a solid headboard.
– Keep your bedroom for sleeping and intimicy, only.
This list is not exhaustive. Feng shui is very complex and there are plenty of other considerations, where these came from. But, this is a good start.
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