Guide · ZAIA Design

Feng Shui Bedroom: Where to Put the Bed and What to Avoid

The bedroom is where Feng Shui and good design sense meet most often. Most bedroom rules have a practical explanation: they help you feel safe, rest well and avoid being woken by light or noise.

The commanding position of the bed

The central Feng Shui rule for the bedroom is the "commanding position": from the bed you should be able to see the door, without being directly in line with it. In practice, the bed usually sits diagonally from the door, with the headboard against a solid wall. The practical reason is simple: you can see who comes in, and you don't feel exposed.

Headboard against a solid wall, not under a window: a solid wall behind you feels protective, while under a window you get drafts and early-morning light.
Feet not pointing straight at the door — tradition links this to the coffin position; many people avoid it instinctively anyway.
Free space on both sides of the bed, each with a nightstand, for a couple — balance between partners.
Not under a beam or a wall-hung cabinet above your head.

Mirrors in the bedroom

Feng Shui advises against a mirror that reflects the bed. If your wardrobe has mirrored doors facing the bed, the fixes are simple: sliding doors without a mirror on the side visible from the bed, a mirror on the inside of the door, or a curtain. More in the guide to mirrors.

The TV in the bedroom

In Feng Shui, a black screen facing the bed is one more "mirror"; in practical terms, it is a source of light and stimulation before sleep. If you won't give it up, a cabinet with doors that hide it or a swivel mount you can turn to the wall solves both problems.

Colors and materials

For the bedroom, warm, calming colors are recommended: skin tones, beige, muted terracotta, powder pink, sage green. Intense red and strong contrasts are considered too "active" for a room meant for rest. Natural textiles and wood support the same atmosphere.

Order and storage

The space under the bed is one of the spots Feng Shui wants kept clear or, at the very least, tidy. In a small apartment bedroom, though, under-bed storage is precious: choose a bed with closed drawers and keep only bedding and linens there, not things put aside "for later". More practical ideas in the small bedroom guide.

When the bedroom doesn't allow the rules

In many apartments, the bedroom has only one possible spot for the bed. That's when remedies come in: a tall, solid headboard, nightstands that "frame" the bed, a curtain or a screen that breaks the line between the door and the bed. A Feng Shui analysis of your floor plan shows which of them makes sense in your room.

Frequently asked questions

Where should the bed go according to Feng Shui?

In the commanding position: headboard against a solid wall, diagonal to the door, so that from the bed you can see the door without being directly in line with it.

Is it bad to have a mirror facing the bed?

Feng Shui recommends not having a mirror that reflects the bed. It can be moved, covered or replaced with doors that have no mirror on the side visible from the bed.