Bedroom Feng Shui: The Art of Perfect Bed Placement

For thousands of years, the Chinese practice of feng shui has guided how people arrange their living spaces to promote health, happiness, and prosperity. While some aspects of feng shui are deeply rooted in ancient philosophy, many of its principles align remarkably well with modern understandings of psychology, sleep science, and interior design. Nowhere is this more evident than in the bedroom, where proper bed placement can significantly impact your quality of sleep and overall wellbeing.

Whether you're a devoted practitioner of feng shui or simply curious about optimising your bedroom layout, this guide will help you position your bed for the best possible rest.

The Commanding Position

The most fundamental principle of feng shui bed placement is the "commanding position." This means placing your bed so you can see the door while lying in bed, without being directly in line with it. The idea is rooted in basic human psychology—we feel more secure and relaxed when we can see potential entrances without being directly vulnerable to them.

To achieve the commanding position:

• Place your bed diagonally across from the door when possible
• Ensure you can see the door without turning your head dramatically
• Avoid placing your bed so your feet point directly at the door (sometimes called the "death position" in feng shui, as this is how the deceased are traditionally carried out)
• If you can't see the door directly, use a mirror positioned to reflect the doorway

Solid Headboard and Wall Support

In feng shui, a solid headboard against a solid wall represents stability and support in life. This makes practical sense too—a headboard provides physical comfort for sitting up in bed and creates a visual anchor for the room's design.

Headboard Guidelines

Choose a headboard that's solid rather than barred or hollow. Wooden or upholstered headboards are considered ideal in feng shui because they provide the most complete sense of support. Metal headboards with bars or openings are considered less favourable, though they're not inherently problematic.

The headboard should be firmly attached to the bed frame or secured to the wall—a wobbly headboard suggests instability. It should also be appropriately sized for your bed, extending to cover the full width of the mattress.

Wall Placement

Position your bed with the headboard against a solid wall, not under a window. Windows represent energy flow (chi) moving in and out, which is considered disruptive to sleep. Practically speaking, windows can also create drafts, temperature fluctuations, and light disturbance.

If a window behind the bed is unavoidable, use solid window treatments that you close at night, and consider a tall, solid headboard that creates a barrier between you and the window.

Balanced Bedside Arrangements

Feng shui emphasises balance and symmetry, particularly in the bedroom. This principle applies to how you arrange furniture on either side of the bed.

For couples, balanced bedside arrangements represent equality in the relationship. Each partner should have equal space to enter and exit the bed, and similar bedside furniture (though not necessarily identical). Avoid pushing one side of the bed against a wall, as this symbolically—and literally—traps one partner.

Even for single sleepers, maintaining balance creates a sense of completeness. Having a nightstand on each side, even if one is less used, creates visual harmony and leaves space for a future partner in your life.

What to Avoid: Feng Shui Don'ts

While proper placement is important, avoiding problematic arrangements is equally crucial in feng shui bedroom design.

Beams and Sloped Ceilings

Avoid positioning your bed directly under exposed ceiling beams. In feng shui, beams are thought to create oppressive energy that "cuts" down on the sleeper. From a practical standpoint, beams can create a sense of visual weight that some people find uncomfortable.

If beams are unavoidable, you can mitigate their effect by painting them the same colour as the ceiling, draping fabric to soften their appearance, or using a canopy bed that creates a "false ceiling" above you.

Mirrors Facing the Bed

Traditional feng shui advises against mirrors that directly face the bed, particularly those that reflect sleepers. Various explanations are offered, from the belief that mirrors bounce energy around the room disturbing sleep, to the practical issue that catching your reflection in dim light can be startling.

If you have a mirror in the bedroom, position it so it doesn't directly reflect the bed. Many people choose to place mirrors inside wardrobe doors or position standing mirrors perpendicular to the bed.

Electronics and Work Materials

Feng shui practitioners recommend keeping electronics, work materials, and exercise equipment out of the bedroom. These items carry active, alert energy that conflicts with the restful atmosphere needed for sleep.

Modern sleep science strongly supports this principle. The blue light from screens disrupts circadian rhythms, and the presence of work materials can create subconscious stress that impairs sleep quality.

Colours and Elements

Feng shui associates different colours with different elements and energies. For bedrooms, calming colours are generally preferred:

• Earth tones (browns, tans, creams): Grounding and stabilising
• Soft greens: Renewal and health
• Muted blues: Calm and peaceful
• Warm pinks and peaches: Romance and partnerships

Avoid overly stimulating colours like bright red or vibrant orange in large quantities, though small accents can be appropriate. Very dark colours might feel oppressive in bedrooms, while all-white can feel too cold and clinical.

Practical Adaptations for Australian Homes

Many Australian homes present layout challenges that require creative adaptation of feng shui principles. Here's how to work with common situations:

Small Bedrooms

In compact Australian apartments and houses, achieving the ideal commanding position might mean the bed dominates the room. Prioritise the view of the door over other considerations—even if it means the bed must be closer to walls than ideal. Use mirrors to visually expand the space without reflecting the bed directly.

Open-Plan Living

Studio apartments and open-plan designs blur the line between bedroom and living areas. Create separation using screens, curtains, or furniture arrangements that define the sleeping area as a distinct zone. This helps contain the restful bedroom energy separate from the active living energy.

Outdoor Connections

Australian homes often feature large windows or doors connecting to outdoor areas. While feng shui generally prefers solid walls behind beds, the connection to nature can be positive. If your bed faces a garden or peaceful outdoor view, the natural energy may enhance rather than disturb your sleep.

Starting Fresh in Your Bedroom

If you're inspired to rearrange your bedroom according to feng shui principles, here's a practical approach:

1. Clear clutter from the room first—feng shui emphasises that energy can't flow properly in cluttered spaces
2. Identify the commanding position based on your door location
3. Place your bed in the commanding position with a solid headboard against a solid wall
4. Arrange balanced nightstands and ensure both sides are accessible
5. Remove or relocate electronics, mirrors facing the bed, and work materials
6. Add calming colours and soft lighting

Final Thoughts

Whether you approach feng shui as a spiritual practice or simply as time-tested design wisdom, its bedroom principles often align with what we know about creating restful sleeping environments. The emphasis on security, balance, calm colours, and removing distractions all support better sleep quality.

You don't need to follow every feng shui guideline perfectly. Start with the commanding position and solid headboard placement, then gradually incorporate other principles that feel meaningful to you. The goal is a bedroom that feels secure, peaceful, and conducive to rest—however you achieve that in your unique space.