Whether you're into Feng Shui or not, seeing a bed under a window is a pretty common sight, especially in smaller rooms. It's fair to say that the majority of the time this bedroom layout is down to necessity, rather than choice.
Turn the bed sideways.
Turn the bed sideways. It's still situated in front of the window, allowing for an open space in the middle of the room, but this arrangement allows you to see out the window while you're in bed as well.
What is the best position? The best solution is to position the bed facing the door leaving the window to the side, this solution offers many benefits, firstly it improves air circulation and secondly it makes us feel more protected during the night.
In general, feng shui warns against placing your bed in front of a window, as too much energy will flow out of the window, causing restless sleep. Sometimes, however, placing your bed in front of the window is unavoidable or may be preferable.
The best direction for a bed to face is towards the south. This both helps you to avoid the death position – it is also believed in Feng Shui traditions to help prevent sleep disorders such as insomnia and make you less lethargic in everyday life.
If you do nothing else, try NOT to have the bed directly facing the bedroom door. Feng shui experts say you should be facing the door but not be directly in line with it. Placing your bed on the same wall as your door is thought to feel threatening, like someone may wake you in the night.
Positioning your bed in line with the door is the worst possible position, according to the principles of Feng shui. People who practice Feng shui call it the 'dead man's position' or the 'coffin position' because the feet or head face the door and resemble how we carry the dead through open doors from the house.
The bed should always be on the southwest wall of the room. It should not face the door. The best sleeping position for couples as per Vastu is to keep the head towards the south, southeast, or southwest. It is strongly advised not to keep the head towards the north while sleeping.
According to Vastu, the right direction of the bedroom should be the south-west corner of the house. The ideal bed direction as per Vastu is with the head towards the south or east so that the legs are towards north or west direction while sleeping.
Also, do not sleep with your feet pointed toward the door. This so-called “coffin position” is considered an unlucky sleep position in feng shui, since it mimics the way a person's corpse is carried out of a room when a person dies.
A feng shui bedroom is a peaceful and balanced environment that promotes a better night's rest. But contrary to popular belief, feng shui is not a Chinese interior design concept. Nor is it related to any belief system. The words literally translate to "wind water."
Centered beds are just about the most common placement, and there's a reason this room design is so popular. Usually, a centered bed is placed right in the middle of the longest wall of the room, with the headboard against the wall and the foot of the bed closest to the bedroom door.
You should never place your bunk bed in a position that could pose a risk to your children. It's especially important that you don't place a bunk bed near a window or within two metres of a light fitting.
It can make you feel more vulnerable as glass is not as solid as a wall. The sunlight can intrude on restful sleep as it is brighter near the window. The temperature is more varied next to the window. Feng shui bed placement principals warn against it because it leads to a loss of positive energy.
Facing a bed towards a window is a better option than placing your bed underneath it, however, it is still not recommended. In Feng Shui, it is generally believed that, where possible, beds should not be placed directly in line with either a door or windows.
Which direction should you sleep in Australia? According to vastu shastra and feng shui, you should avoid sleeping with your head pointed south in the southern hemisphere, so get that head pointing north, east or west.
Sleeping on the Left Side of the Bed
But, getting out of bed on the wrong side may set you on the wrong path as well, according to some superstitions. While some believe getting out of bed on the left side is unlucky, according to feng shui experts, it's the opposite.
Sleeping With Head Towards South
As per vastu experts, this is the most ideal sleeping position according to Vastu, as this direction is the house of deity Yama and thus is associated with gaining wealth, happiness, and positivity.
Research from UL's Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FRSI) shows that closing your bedroom door helps prevent a fire from spreading, lessens smoke damage and could even save lives.
It Can Disturb Sleep
Having a mirror facing the bed can disturb your sleep, especially if you're sensitive to light. Even if the room is dark, any light reflected off the mirror can cause discomfort and prevent you from falling asleep or staying asleep. It could also give you the impression that you are being watched.
Closing your bedroom door before you go to sleep will substantially improve your chances of surviving a fire in your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the number of home fires decreases when people go to sleep.
To bring harmony to a bedroom the female should always sleep on the left hand side of the bed and the man on the right (if you are standing at the end of the bed looking at the bedhead). If you'd like to learn how Feng Shui can improve your relationships, come along to one of my upcoming workshops.
It is reported in Sahih Muslim (SM) that one of the companions said that the Prophet (pbuh) told him, “Whenever you go to bed, perform ablution like that for the prayer, and lie on your right side” [SM 2710].