If your bed is in the path to the door to your bedroom and your sleep feels … off ... feng shui room design may be the answer! 

Feng shui’s origin might have been ancient China, but it's an art that has traveled to western cultures and survived through time to our modern day. The ancient Chinese philosophy is rooted in harmonizing people with their environments – kind of like our organic sleep philosophy at Happsy, don't you think? It focuses on intentional relationships between space, energy and well-being, including your sleep.

Feng shui probably can’t cure your sleep struggles entirely, but it might just help you rethink your space with a fresh (and grounded) perspective. Here's how.

We’ve all probably heard the name before, but what is feng shui? It’s a traditional Chinese practice dating back as far as the Zhou dynasty that focuses on arranging environments to promote harmony between individuals and their surroundings.

Feng shui uses concepts of qi (life force), yin and yang (complementary dualities) and the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water). It’s not about superstition, it’s about spatial awareness, balance and respect for the natural environment – all things we can get behind! 

At its heart, feng shui is an artform and can certainly be overwhelming to start out, but it can also be very rewarding (and potentially lead to better sleep in the end!). These are practical and totally doable tips you can use at any time to get started.

The physical location of the bed is the most essential element and if you can only do one thing to incorporate feng shui in your room, it should be this.

Ideally, your bed should face the door without being directly in the path of the door – more diagonal to the door with a clear view of the entire room. This is the command position, and it comes from both a practical and energetic standpoint since it promotes a sense of safety and awareness. You already know you’re safe in your room, but this positioning helps ward off unnecessary stress while sleeping on an instinctual and intuitive level. It’s essentially avoiding any potential for surprises that might activate your fight or flight response and interrupt your sleep. 

A solid headboard against a sturdy wall provides both symbolic and literal support while you sleep. Keep in mind that the headboard should be securely fastened to the bed and pushed against the wall. 

While we’re focused on what’s behind the bed, windows and mirrors directly behind your head should be avoided if possible. They both can represent instability or overstimulation during sleep. Windows specifically can lead to energy loss since qi is able to flow in and out of them. If it’s unavoidable, you can minimize the effect with heavy curtains or blinds – plus, this will also help to darken your room to help you fall asleep. 

Balance is an essential aspect of feng shui, so try to keep an equal amount of space on both sides of the bed. This means not pushing it up against a wall or in a corner – sorry! The symmetrical space also symbolizes harmony in relationships and accessibility in your life. Placing nightstands with similar lamps on either side of the bed can help reinforce the symmetry.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy! A general similarity in size and scale works. 

Feng shui values flow, and energy should be able to circulate freely around the bed. Storage under the bed can end up disrupting that flow, especially if the items are tied to strong emotions. Sometimes under-the-bed storage is just too much precious available space and cannot be avoided. In this case, try to keep bed-related items under there instead. Think spare sheets, extra pillows and blankets instead of keepsakes, photo albums or anything emotionally charged.  

Let’s call these yellow flags – not hard rules, but things you might wanna rethink if your bedroom setup has felt a little off.

• Feet pointing straight at the door is known as the “coffin position” and is traditionally avoided in feng shui to promote symbolic energy flow and restfulness.
• Bed under a window can contribute to a sense of instability and invite too much qi movement behind your head. Block it out with blackout curtains or move the bed if possible.
• Pushing the bed into a corner disrupts balance and can signal “stuck” energy (and that’s not the vibe we want in our sleep sanctuary).
• No headboard or a loose frame should also be avoided. A headboard provides energetic support and structure. Bonus points if it’s made of wood or another natural material!

Feng shui also emphasizes the importance of how the whole room comes together. If you’re feeling the energy shift in a positive direction already, here are a few more tips to take it to the next level:

• Soften the color palette with calming, earthy tones – think muted greens, gentle blues or neutral shades that bring the outdoors in.
• Ditch the tech including phones, TVs, tablets … yeah, we know. But even leaving those screens across the room (instead of on your nightstand) and unplugging at night can help.
• Use natural materials where you can. Your mattress and bedding play a big role here. Certified organic materials, like the ones we use at Happsy, support a cleaner sleep environment without polyurethane foam, flame retardants or mystery materials.

While incorporating feng shui, keep in mind that perfection is not the goal – there will be compromises you’ll have to make. Certain elements will be out of your control and that’s fine! 

Feng shui might seem like a big leap into philosophy or design theory, but it’s really about making small, intentional changes that help your space support your well-being. You don’t have to overhaul your entire bedroom or follow every guideline to the letter. Just start with what feels doable.

At the end of the day, your bedroom should feel restful, supportive and aligned with what you need. And if a little feng shui wisdom helps you get there? We’re totally on board.