5 Ways to Use Feng Shui to Get a Good Night's Sleep

January 11, 2021

As we enter a new year, many of us are feeling the urge to clear out the old and make space for the new. It’s a time for reflection. A time to ask what in your life and home is working for you and what isn’t. Feng Shui techniques can be powerful tools for creating an environment that encourages and promotes balance in your life. And so much of that balance begins in the bedroom, with rest. Without a good night’s sleep, it’s difficult to function in your personal or professional life.

Can Feng Shui help us get a good night’s sleep? We reached out to Lisa Law, a certified Feng Shui practitioner and author, for insight on improving the energy in your bedroom to get a good night’s sleep.

Lisa offered 5 tips on using Feng Shui to get a good night’s sleep.

Start by decluttering.
As humans, we’re always aware of our surroundings, even when we’re sleeping. A peaceful environment for sleeping needs to be free of unnecessary clutter. To get started, spend time going through your bedroom and paring down. Donate items you no longer need and create a storage solution for the items you do need. Ask yourself if all the items you keep need to reside in your bedroom. If not, find a new spot for them in your home. Be prepared, this process is slow going, but important. When you’re done, develop good habits for tidying up so it stays decluttered.
Consider the power position, even in the bedroom.
In any room, Feng Shui keeps the power position in mind. The power position is when your back is against a wall and you can see the doorway. This position helps you to feel in control, and is important in your bedroom. Start by placing something solid behind your head, such as a wall or a headboard, to create stability and comfort. Next, position the bed so you can see the door. If your space doesn’t offer much flexibility, place a mirror to help you see the door from your bed. Also, while you want to see the door, you don’t want your bed positioned directly in front of it. A lot of energy moves through your doorway, and you don’t want to be directly in line with that energy while sleeping. If you have no other bed arranging options, you can sleep with the door closed.
Choose colors you find soothing.
When choosing colors for walls and artwork, try to choose soft, peaceful and gentle ones. Color is very personal. These colors don’t have to be what you think are supposed to be soothing. Rather, pay attention to which colors speak to you personally and use those as a starting point. Ask yourself, which colors make you feel calm and peaceful? Which colors make you happy? While super bright and energetic colors might not be great for walls in a bedroom, if you love them, consider using them in smaller doses such as throw pillows and accessories.

When it comes to artwork, pay attention to what you see as you start and end your day. Artwork that you see from your bed can set a tone for your sleep and how you approach your day. Place artwork or items in those places that bring you peace. Many people find pictures, plants, crystals, and salt lamps soothing. They also affirm your connection with nature. If you are working toward a goal, put an inspirational quote or intention within view to remind yourself what you are working towards.
Invest in your bed.
If you are going to splurge anywhere in your home, your bed is the place to do it. You will never have the energy and mental clarity in your life if you are not well rested. An investment in your sleep is an investment in the rest of your day. First, buy yourself a high quality mattress that is comfortable and fits your body. From there, choose high quality bedding. Think about having natural fibers for your sheets. For bedding, choose fabrics and textures you love. You want your bed to be a place you absolutely want to be in.
Power down those electronics.
Our electronics are designed to distract us and constantly tempt us. We’ve all been there. Just one last scroll, one more peek at email. It’s all within arm’s reach. Remove the temptation by keeping your electronics out of the bedroom. Develop a routine where you power down for the night. Pick a place you park your phone each night and if possible keep TVs out of bedrooms.

If your bedroom has become your home office recently, try to find ways to separate your rest energy from your work energy. Get into a routine of putting your work away and turning off the computer when you’re done for the day. Try to separate the rest and work space with a folding screen or just by changing the lighting when you’re done working. Think about what you want to allow into your environment through your electronics and for how long. You may enjoy watching the news and staying abreast of current events, but that doesn’t mean you need the TV humming in the background all day or you need to check Twitter right before sleep.

At its core, Feng Shui is about mindfulness.

It’s about becoming aware of what is in your environment and thinking about how it impacts you and your wellbeing. Lisa believes strongly that everyone deserves an oasis, a place to feel comfortable and cocooned. She says to think of your home and your bedroom as “your personal recharging station.” When your home environment encourages and promotes balance, it supports your entire life. And when you’re well rested, you have the energy for everything else in your day.

If you’d like to learn more about Feng Shui, please visit Lisa’s website where you can subscribe to her monthly newsletter or follow her on social media.

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane.