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How to Place Your Bed for Good Feng Shui

Where you position your bed is key to good bedroom feng shui

Minimalist bedroom with white walls, white bed with red cushions and two wooden night stands with white shelves

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

According to the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui, the proper placement of your bed can increase the quality of your rest and bring more romance into your life. In feng shui, the bed is the most critical piece of furniture in your home that affects your sleep and waking life.

With a few adjustments to your bed—such as the direction it faces—might mean that you sleep better and feel more balanced and calm in your bedroom (especially when passively asleep).

Learn more solutions for the best feng shui bed placement, regardless of the size and layout of your bedroom.

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  • 01 of 08

    Find the Commanding Position

    Feng Shui

    The Spruce / Caitlin Rogers

    In feng shui, the commanding position is critical, especially for a bed. A commanding position means you can easily see the door to your bedroom while lying in your bed. But the bed should not be directly facing the door. For good bedroom feng shui, the door should ideally be diagonal to the bed, as the diagram above shows.

    If it's difficult to place the bed and door diagonally, you can still achieve a commanding position by placing a mirror so you can see a reflection of the door while you're in bed.

    Tip

    Use a freestanding mirror that easily adjusts to reflect the door from your bed.

  • 02 of 08

    Place Your Bed Away From Opening Doors

    A sleek bedroom with a chevron wooden bed and a matching chevron wooden barn door

    Michelle Berwick Design

    Place your bed away from opening doors. You do not want a door to open too close to the middle of the bed, because you will not be in a commanding position. You also do not want to lie in bed with your feet pointing directly out the bedroom door, called the "coffin" position in feng shui.

    Correct any door and bed alignment problem with a feng shui crystal. Hang a small faceted crystal ball between the door and the bed to disperse negative energies, called chi in feng shui practices.

  • 03 of 08

    Put the Headboard Against a Solid Wall

    A white-filled bedroom with a beige headboard and several almond throw pillows

    Pure Salt Interiors

    In feng shui, it's important to have the support of a solid wall behind you, especially in the bedroom. Your bed should be placed against a full wall and securely attached for safety. Avoid placing the headboard or the head of your bed against or beneath windows to ensure protection.

    If you must put your bed against or under a window, secure your windows and hang heavy window treatments to block bad chi.

    Tip

    Choose a headboard with soft, rounded edges when possible. In feng shui, upholstered headboards cushion you during sleep and rounded edges keep chi flowing.

  • 04 of 08

    Locate the Bed Away From Same Wall as a Toilet

    Bedroom with an ensuite bathroom

    The Spruce / Alyssa Vela

    Avoid placing your headboard on the same wall as the toilet so you don't hear or smell the bathroom while you sleep.

    When you must share the wall, use a mirror on the wall above and behind the bed as a feng shui fix. The mirror focuses on the rest of the bedroom and makes the toilet energetically disappear.

    Continue to 5 of 8 below
  • 05 of 08

    Provide Space on Both Sides of the Bed

    Tranquil bedroom with light gray painted walls and large window facing backyard

    The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

    Keep at least 18 inches of space around both sides of the bed if possible to keep chi flowing around the room. Putting one side of your bed against a wall is not the best placement because it hinders the balance of your yin and yang energies. Space around the sides is also practical since it lets you move easily around the bed.

    If one side of the bed must be against a wall, leave a couple of inches of space. Place a mirror on the wall above the side of the bed to energetically and visually expand the bedroom. Putting a child's bed up against the wall is fine because it is a source of support.

  • 06 of 08

    Avoid Sleeping Under Beams, Soffits, and Sloped Ceilings

    primary bedroom

    Design by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    Avoid placing your bed under beams, soffits, and sloped ceilings for good feng shui. Sleeping under these architectural elements can create pressure or oppressiveness in feng shui.

    If it's unavoidable, correct the situation by hiding the ceiling's architectural features with draped fabric. Painting the ceiling in one color, shown in the image above, helps blend problematic architectural features.

  • 07 of 08

    Point Your Bed in a South-Facing Direction

    bed facing south

    Ajai Guyot

    A bed facing south encourages wealth. A bed facing south in a commanding position and away from the line of doors is the best feng shui position for an overall enhanced quality of life.

    A bed facing east is also a good choice to inspire better health and concentration.

  • 08 of 08

    Place Your Mirrors Properly

    mirror feng shui

    Liana Mikah / Unsplash


    Good feng shui includes the beneficial placement of mirrors. A mirror should not reflect you while you're in bed. Do not put a mirror directly across from the door, either. In feng shui, a mirror should be positioned perpendicular to or beside the bed or door.

Checklist for Best Feng Shui Bed Placement

Keep these tips in mind when placing your bed for good feng shui:

  • Put your bed in the commanding position. Use a mirror to fix it if necessary.
  • Make sure the bed is not in line with doors and correct it by hanging crystals.
  • Place your headboard or head of bed on a solid wall without windows for the best support.
  • Do not place your bed against the bathroom wall.
  • Keep space around both sides of your bed for air circulation.
  • Avoid sleeping under beams, soffits, and sloped ceilings. If unavoidable, hide architectural ceiling elements with fabric or paint.
  • Point your bed south but remember to keep it in a commanding position.
  • Ensure your mirror faces away from your bed and door.
FAQ
  • What is the incorrect bed position for feng shui?

    There are two main incorrect bed positions in feng shui. Avoid placing one side of your bed up against a wall. Do not place your bed so it points directly out the doorway. Keep your bed in a commanding position.

  • Is it OK for your bed to face the window?

    It's best in feng shui if your bed is not facing or in line with a window. However, a bed facing a window is better than placing it directly beneath a window.

  • What should you not put under the bed for feng shui?

    Feng shui prefers that the space under your bed is clear and empty so that chi can freely flow as you sleep.

  • What are good feng shui colors for a bedroom?

    Colors that will add good feng shui to your bedroom are the hues you love most. In addition, choose colors that match your intention for the space. For example, peach and pink in the bedroom are colors meant to attract a partner.