Feng Shui Bedroom Rules

Words by

Emma Hughes

August 11, 2026

Bedrooms are the heart of our home; our own little nest where we hunker down for the night and slip into the land of blissful sleep. But what if we told you there was a way to optimise the design and layout of your bedroom and, in turn, find the key to a great night’s sleep?

To create a bedroom focused on balance and harmony, you could use Feng Shui: an ancient Chinese practice and philosophy that uses objects to control the flow of energy. If you use Feng Shui correctly in your bedroom, it can make a big difference to the energies in your home and hopefully give you the sleep you deserve.

In this guide, we will cover the main rules of Feng Shui and what this means for your bedroom. We will also look at specific layouts that bring balance to your space without the need for expensive sleep aids.

If you’re looking for specific cosy bedroom ideas that don’t involve the placement of objects and layouts, take a look at our handy guide.

What is Feng Shui?

Before we begin discussing the rules, we need to first cover what Feng Shui actually is.

Feng Shui is a philosophy rooted in ancient Chinese principles that focuses on natural laws. It guides how furniture and décor should be arranged and positioned to align with the flow of energy, known as “Chi”. The term “Feng” means wind, while “Shui” means water - together they represent the movement of life energy that can be reflected within the home. By thoughtfully designing your space, Feng Shui aims to create a sense of balance, harmony, and wellbeing.

If you’re looking to create a more uplifting, peaceful sanctuary, take a look at our top 10 tips for incorporating Feng Shui into your bedroom.

Top 10 tips for mastering Feng Shui

There are many different levels and layers of Feng Shui, and some can take years of studying to master. To help you out, and before we go into our top 10 tips, we have come up with the three basic principles of a good Feng Shui bedroom layout that everyone can understand and apply. Take a look:

Make sure your bed is accessible from both sides

Avoid the bed being in direct line with your bedroom door

Place a bedside table on each side of the bed

If you accomplish these three, you'll be on your way to bedroom Feng Shui mastery!

But it doesn’t stop there. If you want to enhance your bedroom’s Feng Shui and optimise your energy flow to the highest level, read on to discover our top 10 tips for incorporating Feng Shui in your bedroom.

1. Find the commanding position

When it comes to Feng Shui, the correct placement of your bed is one of the most important aspects. The bed is believed to dictate the flow of energy – or chi – and to create the most optimal Feng Shui layout, you need to place your bed in what’s known as the “commanding position”.

To find the commanding position, you want your bed positioned centrally in the room against a solid wall but not touching it so the energy can flow easily around it. You also want the bed ideally where you can see your door but not facing directly opposite it. For smaller bedrooms where this is not possible, you can use a mirror so you can see a reflection of the door.

If you place your bed directly opposite the door, this creates a “coffin” position, which is when your feet are pointing out the door when you sleep. This is believed to send good energy straight out, disrupting your sleep and bringing bad luck. This also applies to beds next to open doors.

We have more tips and tricks on creating a relaxing bedroom atmosphere in our calming bedroom ideas guide.

2. Sleep with your head facing southward

Keeping on the topic of beds, it’s also good Feng Shui practice to sleep with your head facing southward. This aligns with the traditional Chinese practice influenced by the southern wind, and sleeping in this direction is often associated with grounding and stability. To make sure you’re following this tradition, make sure your bed is placed against a south-facing wall so your head is positioned that way.

Depending on the size of your bedroom, it’s not always possible to place your bed southward. For those that lack the space, we have a great guide on small bedroom ideas small bedroom ideas. Take a look and see how you can optimise your bedroom to its fullest extent.

3. Declutter your space

If your bedroom is cluttered with junk, the energy will have nowhere to flow, and a cluttered space is a cluttered mind. If the energy is forced to be stagnant from objects lying around your room, it can disrupt your subconscious ability to rest and contributes towards a negative Feng Shui bedroom.

This is why it's so important to have a space that allows the energy to flow freely around it. By keeping the space tidy and organised, it will create a more calming and relaxed atmosphere, helping you feel more restful and at peace when it's time to sleep.

Here are some key rules to watch out for when you are decluttering your space:

Remove boxes and clutter from under your bed

Only keep a limited number of plants

Cut down how many wires, screens, and computers you have in your bedroom

Limit how many books you keep

Clear your dressing table of accessories and care products

Try utilising wardrobes or chest of drawers chests of drawers to store your clutter properly.

4. Don’t place your mirror in sight of your bed

Mirrors are a great tool for making a smaller space feel larger, but when it comes to positive energy placement in a Feng Shui bedroom, mirror placement isn’t that simple.

Some tips you can follow with your mirror are:

Don’t place your mirror in line with your bed as this can be a distraction when you’re trying to sleep.

Don’t let your mirror face the door, as this is believed to be pushing away chi as it enters your bedroom.

Try and position your mirror opposite a window, as this will help maximise light and get rid of any pesky distractions when it’s time for your head to hit the pillow.

These rules should also apply for any guest bedroom you have. After all, you would want your friends and family to have as good of a night’s sleep as you! For more information on how to decorate a guest bedroom, take a look at our helpful guide.

5. Be selective with the colours

According to Feng Shui practices, different colours evoke various emotions and energies. To optimise your sleep and energy flow, it’s paramount you choose the right colour and material combinations. Take a look at some examples below:

Muted colours – a good night’s sleep is best achieved when nothing in your bedroom design stands out or draws too much attention. You can achieve this by going with a soothing, muted colour palette for your bedroom. Pastel tones are also highly recommended.

Wood – in a Feng Shui bedroom, wood is associated with renewal and upward energy. Easily introduce this into your space easily through furniture like wooden side tables or chest of drawers. This is also a great excuse to bring in some natural or artificial plants into your space.

Fiery tones – choosing colours that mimic the soft glow of candles, or the steady roar of a fire is believed to inspire warmth and passion. For this, rich reds or oranges are perfect, and they will help bring energy and vitality into the room.

Earth colours – to find some stability in your room, it is recommended you use earth tones like terracotta, beige, and soft brown. You can bring these elements in with clay planters and stones

6. Utilise candles and low-light bulbs

You'll want to minimise harsh lighting lighting and distracting colours in your bedroom, and this goes beyond simply using muted colours.

If you swap out harsh lighting for candles and low-light bulbs, you'll be following the Feng Shui principles while creating a relaxing ambience. With this, you are also bringing a sense of tranquillity and calmness into your space, which is the best kind of atmosphere for a good night’s sleep. Not only this, but the soft glow of candles will also enhance the balance in your space, boosting the vital flow of Chi.

7. Bring in natural light and airflow

One of the most important aspects of a good Feng Shui bedroom is bringing nature into your space, and an easy way to do that is through your windows. Keep the blinds and curtains open during the day and let all that natural light wash over your bedroom. On top of that, keeping the windows open a crack will let the air flow through your room, keeping it fresh and crisp, and ultimately aiding in better sleep.

It is believed that well-ventilated rooms enhance sleep quality, reduce how many times someone wakes up during the night, and lowers carbon dioxide levels. As the levels of carbon dioxide decrease, people experience deeper and more optimal sleep, and it all starts with simply opening your blinds!

For a happy mind and a happy life, you may want to incorporate Feng Shui throughout your entire home. This even applies to spare rooms that may not get as much love and attention as your main rooms. Take a look at our guide on 6 ways to use your spare room if you need some advice on utilising every space in your house.

8. Add soft textures

You need a space that feels cosy and inviting, if you’re going to have any chance of finding the optimal amount of uninterrupted sleep.

To do this, you can bring in textures that make you want to snuggle down and doze off. Pieces that will enhance this are throws, pillows, and rugs. If you find the right textures for your space, you’ll create a warm, inviting sanctuary that you’ll never want to leave. (You’ll also be fully prepared for when winter arrives!)

9. Keep it natural with your bedding

Nature is a huge part of how to Feng Shui your bedroom, and there’s no better way of doing this than by using natural materials for your bedding.

Finding pillows, sheets, and duvets that are made out of natural materials will help reduce the am

ount of synthetic material in your sleeping space, and hopefully aid in temperature regulation. The same can be said for your mattress. Being one of the most important aspects of our bedroom, it’s paramount that you find the perfect mattress to maximise your Chi. Look for mattresses that use bamboo or cotton, as these aren’t just great for improving sleep quality, but the natural materials wick moisture better than their non-natural counterparts.

There’s so much that goes into planning the perfect bed, and if you’re looking for some more advice, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at our guide on how to dress a bed and discover some practical tips and tricks!

10. Choose artwork filled with joy

To achieve good Feng Shui in your bedroom, you want to be selective with the type of artwork and decorations you choose to display. You only want art that evokes happiness, love, and joy (such as tranquil nature scenes, soft colours, and images of happy families), so avoid any paintings with aggressive or depressing imagery. This sticks to the core principles of Feng Shui as positive artwork will help shape your mood and reinforce intentions; after all, the artwork you choose should reflect what you want to attract into your life.

However, everyone has a different perspective on art, so it’s important to choose what makes you happy. As at the end of the day, this is your bedroom, and the chi flows around you. No matter what art you choose, try to hang it symmetrically to create a more balanced space, as this is one of the strongest Feng Shui principles.

We hope our top Feng Shui tips have inspired you to improve the flow of chi around your own bedroom. If you need to transform your space, take a look at the Barker and Stonehouse website where you can browse our entire collection. And if you’re someone who likes to see the pieces in person, you could visit your Barker and Stonehouse store, too!

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