As modern life gets more hectic and stressful, it's more important than ever that you get a restful sleep. For many people, that's easier said than done, but it's worth exploring different ways in which we can improve the time we spend sleeping.
One possibility is to use the ancient Chinese art of feng shui.
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What Is Feng Shui?
In simple terms, it's an ancient practice of positioning items such as bedroom furniture within the home in order to allow the energy to flow freely. It's all about achieving balance with the natural world to create a harmonious atmosphere.
What is this energy that we're talking about? Well, those who practise feng shui believe in a universal life force energy called chi (or Qi) that flows everywhere and through everything, just like wind and water might flow. This gives a clue to the name; feng shui literally means wind-water and is usually translated as the way of wind and water.
If anything blocks the energy flow, then the balance is upset and problems may appear, and these can present themselves physically and mentally. It can also affect your relationships and finances!
Incidentally, don't worry too much about pronunciation. There are several different ways to pronounce the name in various Chinese languages, but most people in the west say fung shway, and that's fine. The most important thing is to keep an open mind and give it a go.
So, how can this ancient art help you get a restful night's sleep? Check out the following advice from feng shui experts on how to arrange your bedroom!
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HomesDirect365 Feng Shui Bedroom Rules
The first rule of feng shui may be a difficult one for many people: avoid clutter.
Our bedrooms are places of rest, but we often cram them with stuff - usually because we don't have space elsewhere. However, as far as possible, it's good to have a clear-out and get rid of anything you don't need. Anything else should be stowed away in a closet, wardrobe or dressing table. Homes Direct 365 has some amazing examples with ample storage space, so be sure to take a look.
So, now you've tidied up a bit, let's continue...
Position Your Bed Well
Positive energy placement in the bedroom is vital, according to feng shui principles. You should place your bed in a 'commanding position' in the room, ideally against a solid wall to bring a sense of security and thus a good night's sleep.
That means you should have a clear view of the door from your bed, but it must not be in direct alignment with the bedroom door. From a feng shui perspective, this allows you to see and feel what or who is approaching you energetically and metaphorically. Essentially, you get a heads-up on what's coming to you in life, giving you time to prepare. That means that there are fewer surprises and less stress.
You should avoid placing your bed opposite an ensuite bathroom door. Also don't put your bed beneath any large, obvious pieces of bedroom architecture, like ceiling fans, sharp angles, skylights, sloped ceilings and beams. These can feel oppressive and will eventually introduce an oppressive atmosphere as you sleep.
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Feng Shui Bedroom Layout
Aside from the position of your bed, you should ideally create some symmetry in your bedroom, especially if there are two of you sharing the room. When both parties have roughly equal space to share, it creates more harmony between you.
Yes, the shape and size of some bedrooms may not allow you to do this easily, but give it a try if you can - even the intention of doing so can help.
One good example is to buy two bedside tables and put one on either side of your bed, each with matching table lamps.
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Grounding The Energy
Many people have hard floors, such as laminate or polished floorboards. While this makes for a great-looking room, it can send the energy flow out of balance; it's all about yin and yang.
The hard surface needs (yang) something soft (yin) to balance it, and that can be achieved by placing a rug near the bed, or even underneath it. This helps to ground the energy and bring balance to the room, meaning that you are more likely to get a good night's rest.
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Houseplants
We all know that these are great for oxygenating the room and bringing a feeling of well-being. However, it's not good feng shui to have too many in the bedroom! Ask any feng shui consultant and they'll probably tell you that an abundance of houseplants draws too much energy, throwing everything out of harmony.
In fact, some say that you should avoid having plants in the bedroom at all, though others say that if you have a large bedroom then it won't hurt to have a single potted plant in the corner.
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The Importance Of The Headboard
Few people realise how important this item is; the headboard represents stability, so be sure to attach it securely to the bed or wall. A weak and wobbly headboard will encourage a feeling of insecurity that can affect romantic relationships.
Also, try to find one with soft edges if at all possible, and position your bed facing south or west. Wooden headboards are best as these provide a sense of solidity and strength.
Ideally, it should be a solid headboard with an unbroken surface, making a shield that protects and supports you.
Metal headboards are frowned upon in feng shui philosophy, mainly as some activating metals like iron can distort or amplify the earth's natural magnetic field and enhance the effects of any electrical devices in the room.
Lose The Gadgets!
Modern families have all kinds of electronic devices, including smart speakers, televisions, PCs and laptops, and smartphones.
These emit radio waves that can disturb your sleep and even cause health problems (see below). So, cover up your TV or hide it in a TV cabinet, invest in a wind-up alarm clock and leave your phone downstairs, and switch off anything that can be switched off.
Balance The Elements
Good feng shui always includes the five elements in some form or other. That means wood, fire, earth, metal and water should be represented somehow. You can do this using colour, texture, ornaments, and shapes.
Each element has its own properties and is neutralised or strengthened by another element, meaning that everything is held in balance.
Here are some possible items for you to introduce for each one:
- Metal - Associated with love, wealth, health and mental clarity. You don't necessarily need actual metal items to balance this element, simply add metallic tones like silver and gold. You can also add wind chimes and bells, but place them where they can swing freely without knocking against anything that will dampen the sound.
- Water - Associated with purity, the flow of emotion, movement, prosperity and abundance. Place images of water, like paintings or photos (not stormy seas!), the colour blue, and curved shapes like waves around the room. Water features are not recommended as they evoke too much yang energy. And for this reason, it's best to limit how much water is represented - water quenches fire (passion) which could be bad news for your romantic life!
- Wood - Associated with health, creativity, new life, growth and expansion. A single houseplant would do the trick, or you might introduce the colour green. A 'lucky bamboo' or a jade money tree would be perfect for the job, but avoid fake plastic plants as they attract stagnant energy.
- Fire - Associated with passion, creativity, fame and action. Use the colour red sparingly in bedroom feng shui, as fire is a powerful element that can get out of control very quickly! A few red ornaments or accessories would be enough to represent this element.
- Earth - Associated with grounding and security in business and personal relationships. Use natural crystals or earth tones like brown or cream around your bedroom to represent these qualities.
If you can represent all of these elements in your bedroom you will create a balance between them that improves the energy and atmosphere.
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Mirrors In The Bedroom
This is something of a controversial point; ask one feng shui expert and they'll say "avoid mirrors in the bedroom!". Ask another and they'll say that it's fine!
Those who are against mirrors in the bedroom state that they promote too much yang energy, which represents movement. What you need, they say, is more yin, connected with being at rest. Some also believe that mirrors draw in negative energy from outside the house and trap it inside.
The best way to overcome this is to use a round mirror that's not in the direct sight line of the bed. Ideally, place the mirror on a wall opposite the window to amplify the natural light. Alternatively, attach the mirror to the inside of a closet door.
If you have a dressing table with a mirror, don't panic! Try to arrange the furniture placement so that dressing tables don't face north or east. If this isn't possible, you can always cover the mirror while you are sleeping.
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Paintings & Photographs
You don't have to be an interior designer to know that art and photos bring happiness and joy, but some paintings and photos can be bad for the feng shui in your bedroom.
For example, it's best to keep family photos in other rooms, although a couple of favourites won't hurt.
One extremely important feng shui tip is to avoid keeping photos (or any other mementoes) connected with ex-partners, as these can seriously affect your current relationship status by keeping you from developing as a couple.
All artwork should ideally be soft and balanced; a calming landscape or still life, abstract art in pastel colours that are not challenging or harsh. Needless to say, avoid dark and brooding artwork that can be oppressive, or garish colours that stimulate the brain!
General Feng Shui Bedroom Rules
All of the above advice is worth taking note of, but there are many other elements to keep in mind, so here are a few to consider:
- Avoid having sharp corners and angles in the bedroom if possible, especially on the bedside table, as these promote threatening energy.
- Avoid having large, looming pieces of furniture, as this can block the positive energy flow.
- Don't hang plants or ornaments over your bed as this can cause subconscious blocks as you sleep.
- Invest in a king or queen-sized bed if possible as this helps the chi to flow.
- Choose the colour scheme carefully! It's a good idea to use Bagua, or energy map. These guide you as to the best colours to use in each room to encourage positive energy.
- Don't store items under the bed. If you have a box spring bed with storage built in, that's fine, but clutter under the bed will inhibit the energy.
- Open blinds, curtains and windows as much as possible to allow fresh air and energy in.
Applying these rules to your bedroom will help to balance the flow of energy, leading to a better night's sleep.
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Does Feng Shui Work?
If you're asking, is there absolute scientific proof that it works? then the answer is no. There is no scientific basis for claiming that chi exists, or that by placing objects in different places we can improve our state of mind, health, and daily lives.
But if you ask instead, do people really benefit from bedroom feng shui? then the answer is a resounding YES!
Contrary to what many people believe, feng shui is not a religion, nor is it a system of interior design. There are also a lot of contradictions; a certified feng shui consultant might recommend the exact opposite of some of the tips we've put together here! On the other hand, most feng shui experts would agree with our advice.
Psychology
Whether you believe in the spiritual or metaphysical side of feng shui or not, it can have a powerful psychological effect that can make a real difference. The human mind is a powerful machine - much more powerful than you probably imagine. We are influenced and affected by all kinds of events throughout the day. Our subconscious mind is constantly absorbing data that we are not even aware of in everyday life. All of this information can affect us so much that it displays itself in physical ways.
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Electronics
Some feng shui principles are based on common sense: too many electronic gadgets in your room will most definitely affect you in some way. All electronic items emit an electromagnetic field (EMF). And the closer you are to your bed, the more you'll be affected. A high EMF can cause feelings of paranoia, depression, skin rash, nausea, fatigue, heart palpitations, digestive problems and trouble concentrating.
Of course, they didn't have smartphones, OLED TVs or laptops in ancient China, so this is a very recent addition to feng shui bedroom rules. Even so, it's a good idea to remove as many of these from your bedroom as possible.
Feng Shui Bedroom Rules With HomesDirect365
If you want to implement feng shui principles in your own bedroom, this guide will set you in the right direction.
Don't get too caught up in the rights and wrongs - the main thing is that you feel comfortable with your feng shui bedroom layout.
And if you want to introduce any new furniture to boost the chi in your bedroom, HomesDirect365 has a fantastic collection of furniture and accessories that are perfect for the job!
Bedroom Feng Shui Rules was originally seen on https://homesdirect365.co.uk
from Homes Direct 365 | Blog - Feed https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/blog/2023/05/bedroom-feng-shui-rules/
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