simple shui | why every bedroom deserves good feng shui!
the bedroom is a sacred sanctuary – a place devoted to our comfort and vulnerability. it’s where we sleep; bare our bodies sensually; and return ourselves to equilibrium. in feng shui, a bedroom is very revealing because it tells me within a glance what you think you’re worth. usually, we’ve maneuvered our resources to the more social areas of our home, making the bedroom an afterthought – a room we will eventually prioritize.
feng shui translated literally means wind water. wind (feng) represents energy; water (shui) symbolizes fortune. the practice of feng shui is simply to align with the energy of fortune. and since the bedroom is where we spend 1/3 of our lives, we are filling our lungs each day with its energy. perhaps a little shui in here would be a good thing!
a bedroom speaks to self-care, boundaries, and intimacy. when we funnel our attention and resources elsewhere, it conveys we care more about the people around us than we do ourselves – a belief that, left unchecked, will eventually dim our wattage. we cannot multi-task our own well-being, and no one will pat us on the back for putting ourselves last on the list.
however.
when we lovingly attend to every detail and persuade sleep, sensuality, and stillness in our bedroom, we find ourselves playing with deeply powerful magic. so, if you’re not getting along famously with your sacred space, here are 5 ways to play with shui to make the bedroom your main squeeze.
FOCUS ON COMFORT & BEAUTY.
the bedroom is a visual metaphor for how we care about ourselves in relation to everything else. and when we put ourselves last, we undermine our ability to live fully. the focus of a bedroom deserves to be the bed – not the TV, work, piles of laundry or exercise equipment. we get out of life what we tolerate. so, eliminate the pandemonium and your bed becomes the star attraction, inspiring its own kind of wonderful.
now, hop into bed and look around – what do you notice first? where do your eyes gaze before drifting asleep? identify a focal point from bed, and make that space scrumptious with delight. layer or hang a few frames of gorgeous art. create a simple arrangement – a vase with moody blooms, a tray stacked with palo santo sticks, and a lucky charm – on the dresser – or leave the space empty for some well-deserved serenity.
KEEP IT SIMPLE.
a bedroom’s template is simple – a good bed and quality linens; a couple lighting options; a pair of bedside tables; a dresser or armoire; and a few restorative talismans. if your space has stretch, finish it off with a personal place for lounging – somewhere you escape to fully catch your breath. luxury is about what we can afford to let go of, and there is plenty of wiggle room for editing out clutter and chaos in most bedrooms. when a space feels cramped, we leave ourselves little room for new ideas, and over-stimulation from too much stuff frays our nerves. get rid of anything not worth missing. by favoring simplicity, you’ll bookend your days with a palpable satisfaction – one that feels as good as it looks.
BUY THE HEADBOARD.
headboards symbolize support in our lives. before you skip over the whole headboard idea, riddle me this: do you feel adrift? does your ‘posse’ have your back? are you in a supportive partnership? do you feel alone or compromised often? a headboard offers us support, literally and figuratively, so think of it like a mountain at your back – a steady, still, and timeless presence.
a solid headboard is most ideal. slatted boards can create a sense of separation from our other half. however, if slatted is the headboard you’ve got, here’s a simple shui cure: tie a red ribbon around the two middle vertical bars with the intention of uniting any sense of division in your life.
GIVE YOUR BED THE POWER POSITION.
the best bed placement is along a solid wall with no doors or windows. ideally, the bed is not in alignment with the doorway, allowing you a wide scope to see anyone coming through the door. likewise, when you enter the room, you easily stride across it without the bed blocking you.
the next best position for a bed is along a wall with windows; however, the windows are not above the headboard or bed. everything else mentioned above would remain the same.
a less favorable position is when a bed shares a wall with the doorway. since you must turn to see who comes in the door, it breeds anxious feelings of “not knowing what’s around the corner.” other less favorable positions include a window above the headboard/bed or a bed blocking you from walking across the room. the weakest position (and the one everyone seems familiar with) is when the foot of a bed faces the door.
i don’t believe in following every shui cure for the sake of good shui – so, if you’re sleeping well and things are going well in your life, your bed is absolutely fine where it is. however, if there’s a sliver of room for improvement, move the bed around. and if things go well and you feel better, we’ll call that a shui win!
SET THE MOOD.
self-care is nothing to blush over – soothing fabrics and luscious linens are absolutely a worthy investment. and because the bedroom is a natural haven for our sensuality to frolic, indulge yourself. buy the best you can afford. quality isn’t impulsive – it’s intentional and sometimes that means intentionally saving money and watching for a good sale.
with a variety of textures and thread counts available, invest time in feeling fabrics. cotton ushers in gratifying, crisp energy. linen studies reveal it helps us fall asleep faster, sleep deeper, and wake up more refreshed. silks and satins keep energy circulating. allow your senses to guide this selection, and don’t settle until you’re delighted – it is worth the expense to be tucked into satisfying sheets!
now that you have some fresh intel, are you inspired to make a few changes in your room this week? if you’re feeling extra frisky, share them on the ‘gram and tag me (@amandagibbypeters or #simpleshui) so i can fixate on your shui! (pssst: if you want a little more bedroom magic, be here next monday!) xo
