How to Place Your Bed for Good Feng Shui

To make your bedroom an oasis for rest, relaxation, and romance, implement proper feng shui bed placement. The ancient Chinese practice considers the bed the most important piece of furniture in your home, so follow a few easy feng shui principles and you could be a few adjustments away from a better night's sleep. For example, simply changing your bed's direction could entirely change the feng shui of your bedroom.

Considering how many hours you spend in your bed, you'll want to feel balanced and calm—especially since you’re in a passive “yin” state while asleep, which makes you more susceptible to the energies around you. Think of it this way: bed placement affects you in both sleep and alertness.

Read on for quick, easy ways to place your bed for the best feng shui—and some solutions for when you're limited due to space or layout.

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01 of 08

Arrange Your Bed in a Commanding Position

The Spruce / Caitlin Rogers

To encourage good feng shui, the bed should be placed using the principle of the commanding position. You want your bed located so that when you’re lying in it, you can see the door to the bedroom without being directly in line with it. A good rule of thumb for bedroom feng shui is to place the bed diagonal from the door.

See the diagram above, which shows the most ideal locations.

Depending on the size and door placement in your bedroom, this isn't always possible. There’s still hope—if you can’t be in the commanding position, place a mirror so that when you’re in bed you can see the reflection of the door.

Tip

A freestanding mirror is easy to place and adjust to the correct angle.
02 of 08

Align Your Bed Away From Doors

Michelle Berwick Design

Besides the commanding position, you'll also want to be aware of how your bed is placed in relation to the doors in the bedroom. Try not to have any doors opening up directly onto any part of the bed. Also, avoid having your feet point straight out the door. This is often referred to as the “coffin position.”

If the only place your bed fits is in line with a door, it can be corrected by hanging a faceted feng shui crystal ball halfway between the door and the bed.
03 of 08

Place Your Headboard Against a Solid Wall

Pure Salt Interiors

The head of your bed should sit securely against a solid wall. You always want the support of a wall behind you, so avoid windows behind the head of the bed if possible. Make sure it's securely attached and, whenever possible, opt for a headboard with soft edges.
04 of 08

Locate the Bed Away From Same Wall as a Toilet

The Spruce / Alyssa Vela

Avoid sharing your headboard with the wall of the toilet. You don’t want to have a toilet on the other side of the wall from your head for many reasons; good feng shui is just one of them.

If that's unavoidable, you can place a mirror on the wall above and behind the bed to expand the view of the bedroom beyond. This will energetically erase the toilet.

Continue to 5 of 8 below
05 of 08

Ensure There Is Space on Both Sides of the Bed

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

For adults, it’s best to have open space on both sides of the bed—at least 18 inches on each side if your bedroom's square footage allows. It’s not ideal to place your bed with one side up against a wall.

The space on both sides allows a balance of your yin and yang, as well as adequate space for someone to move around the bed. If this is not possible, do the best you can to have space, even if it's just a couple of inches, on the wall side. You can also place a mirror on the wall that the bed is up next to. This can expand the view energetically.

For children, it’s okay to have a bed against the wall as it can give them some support.
06 of 08

Avoid Beams, Soffits, and Sloped Ceilings

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

For the best feng shui placement, you want the area above your bed free of beams, soffits, or sloped ceilings. These architectural features above the bed can create unnecessary pressure.

If it’s unavoidable, a correction is to drape fabric to conceal the ceiling feature. It may also be possible to simply blend the feature into the ceiling by painting it the same color. This makes the dropped ceiling areas feel less oppressive.
07 of 08

Place Your Bed in a South-Facing Direction

Ajai Guyot

For good feng shui, your bed facing south is ideal, especially for fostering wealth. However, it is most important to have your bed in the commanding position, out of line with the door, rather than having your bed placed in any particular direction.

Placing your bed in an east-facing direction is also an option. This works for anyone seeking to welcome better health or memory.
08 of 08

Position Mirrors Properly

Liana Mikah / Unsplash

Proper mirror placement is a fundamental component of having good feng shui. Your mirror should never be put in a position where it is able to reflect you while you're lying in your bed. Your mirror should never face your doorway either. Instead, place your mirror alongside or perpendicular to your bed or doorway.

Feng Shui Bed Placement Checklist

Here’s a quick overview of what to keep in mind when placing your bed for good feng shui:

Place your bed in a commanding position, or correct it with a mirror.
Check that doors don’t open up directly in line with the bed. If it’s unavoidable, correct it with a feng shui crystal ball.
Have a solid wall behind your headboard for support.
Avoid placing your bed on the other side of a toilet wall.
Have space open on both sides of the bed for the adults in the home.
Avoid beams, soffits, and sloped ceilings above the bed, otherwise, try to cover them with fabric to lessen the impact.
Put your bed in a south-facing direction, if possible. However, never sacrifice the use of the commanding position in order to achieve this.
Do not have your mirror face your bed or doorway; position it perpendicular or alongside these elements instead.

FAQ

What is the incorrect bed position for feng shui?

There are several principals to keep in mind to avoid incorrect bed placement for feng shui. First, do not place your bed with one side up against a wall. Also, never have your bed directly in line with the doorway; instead, have your bed in the commanding position.
Is it OK for your bed to face the window?

Ideally, your bed would not be directly in line with a window. However, it is better to have your bed face a window rather than place your bed directly underneath a window.
What should you not put under the bed for feng shui?

You should not put anything underneath your bed. If possible, completely clear the space under your bed so the energy can flow freely and evenly around your bed as you sleep, rejuvenating you overnight.