Feng Shui Bedroom Layout: 9 Arrangement Options to Try

Your bedroom should be a restorative place where you can recharge your energy. If you're experiencing restless nights or generally feel overstimulated before you go to sleep, consider looking into ways to improve the feng shui in your bedroom. According to this ancient Chinese traditional practice, implementing certain best practices into your furniture layout can create harmony and an energetic balance between you and your environment.

We talked to Laura Cerrano, certified Feng Shui master to learn the most optimal bedroom layout for feng shui and some creative workarounds.

The Most Optimal Layout

Cerrano has one go-to, ideal layout that she often recommends to her clients:

• The bed sits against a solid wall with a commanding view of the doorway, but the foot of the bed isn't directly in alignment with the door or any windows.
• The solid wall doesn't contain any plumbing or appliances on the other side to prevent overstimulation of energy.
• The bedside table sits beside the bed but is not taller than the bed to prevent a sense of oppression.
• The layout remains free of any mirrors, plants, workspaces, or electronics. According to feng shui, these all carry their own energetic charge.

Cerrano notes that this ideal setup is not always possible or conducive to your lifestyle, but you can make small adjustments where needed. The following eight layouts we describe use this layout by Cerrano as a template but feature as-needed adjustments you can make depending on your situation.

Layout Adjustment for Attic Bedrooms

If your bedroom is on the top floor of your home or apartment building and contains slanted ceilings, achieving the optimal feng shui layout can be a bit trickier.

"If your bedroom features a pretty strong angle that you might bump your head on, avoid placing your bed under the slant," she says. "In general, try to avoid anything that relates to the idea of pushing down on your crown chakra on the top of your head."

If you do have to place your bed on a slant, she suggests countering the downward energy by installing sconces on either side of the bed that shine toward the ceiling with uplifting energy.

Layout Adjustment for Plants in the Bedroom

Perhaps your bedroom contains the best natural light for plants, or maybe you've run out of room for them in everywhere else. For whatever reason you decide to have a plant in your room, position it away from your bed on the other side of the room. Cerrano also suggests choosing a plant that grows slowly and downward, such as a trailing succulent.

You can position the plants in front of the window so they get enough sunlight, but just be sure that the foot of your bed isn't in alignment with the window.

Layout Adjustment for Rooms With Several Doors

If your bedroom contains multiple doors, such as doors to a bathroom, a door to a hallway, and a door to a closet, it can be virtually impossible to avoid placing your bed in direct alignment with the door.

"It's a very dramatic description, but having the foot of your bed facing a doorway is called the coffin position," Cerrano says. "What that is basically saying is that it can make your energy feel very exposed as if it's getting pulled out of the room where you're sleeping. Or, depending on what is on the other side of that door, it could expose you to too much activity or whatever energy is in that room across the way."

So if you have to pick a door to align with the foot of your bed, she suggests choosing the closet door since there is generally no activity happening in there.

Layout Adjustment for a Large Bedroom

If your bedroom isn't lacking in square footage, it can be tempting to try and fill it with a ton of furniture. However, clutter can block the flow of energy and disrupt the feng shui. If you do want to add extra furniture to your bedroom, consider creating a zone for sitting and relaxing. You can anchor this area with a rug and place it on the opposite side as your bed.

Layout Adjustment for Decorating With Mirrors

Mirrors are generally not a welcome addition to a bedroom in terms of feng shui. However, if you do want one in your bedroom, make sure it isn't directly facing your bed. Be mindful of what the mirror is reflecting as well. For example, it's better for a mirror to reflect calming artwork than a home office.

Layout Adjustment for Rooms With Several Windows

If your bedroom is in a sunroom or a room with windows on three out of the four walls, it can be difficult to find a solid wall to place your bed on. To work with what you've got, place it where you can still see the door, even if that means your back will be behind a window when you sleep. However, you can opt for a canopy bed to create a sense of safety and closure.

Layout Adjustment for a Bedroom That Doubles as a Workspace

Sometimes the only space for a work-from-home station is in your bedroom. Even though it's not ideal to have a desk in your bedroom in terms of work-life balance and feng shui, where you put it can make less of a negative impact. Avoid putting your desk right next to your bed, which can leave you feeling wired when you are trying to rest and vice versa.

Layout Adjustment for Those Who Esteem Their Electronics

Cerrano encourages her clients to keep their bedrooms an electronic-free zone. If you use your phone as an alarm clock, she suggests charging it right outside your bedroom door at night so you can still hear it. If you love watching TV in bed, consider using a portable projector that you can store in another room when not in use. Alternatively, you can keep your TV in a media cabinet and close the doors before you go to sleep. Unplug it at night if you want to take it a step further.