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Is Having Plants in Your Bedroom Bad Feng Shui?

Illustration of cat by plants

The Spruce / Melissa Ling

There is a lot of confusion about whether or not plants should be placed in the bedroom. Many have heard that they should exist outside this room because of their need to be watered, which brings in water energy. But others have heard that having plants is good feng shui, as they introduce restorative energy. We've cleared up these misconceptions and have tips for promoting good feng shui, with or without plants.

For starters, if you've been told these opinions before, what you heard is correct in some aspects. There are absolutely conflicting viewpoints when it comes to plants in the bedroom from a feng shui perspective.

Our feng shui experts at The Spruce have found that plants are good feng shui for the bedroom. Living green plants bring in wood energy. Wood energy is rejuvenating and cultivates kindness and flexibility. The bedroom is the space you spend the most time in, so the power of plants can impact you the most in the bedroom. Plants can bring in life and nature energy.

Some feng shui practitioners do not recommend plants in the bedroom because the wood element also has an aspect of upward and expansive energy. To understand this qi (life force energy), try visualizing a sprout unfurling and pushing out of its seed. This type of energy may not be the best for those who are sensitive or restless.

Depending on the practitioner, there are different views on the feng shui of plants in the bedroom. There are dozens of feng shui schools with slightly varied teachings. That’s the reason why you may see incompatible takes on this topic.

If you do decide to have a plant in the bedroom, be sure to find one that’s appropriate for the space and for you. Does it fit the space? How much light and care does the plant require? Can you commit to taking care of this living being? A sick houseplant is not good feng shui—in or out of the bedroom. 

The key is to test things out for yourself. If you have the urge to put plants in your primary bedroom, listen to that. Try it out and sense how you feel. If it makes no difference, then maybe plants in the bedroom are neutral for you. Check in with your senses and listen carefully to what your body and heart tell you.

About This Term: Primary Bedroom

Many real estate associations, including the National Association of Home Builders, have classified the term "Master Bedroom" as discriminatory. "Primary Bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.


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