Bedroom Feng Shui: How is Your Family Sleeping?

Feng Shui is best described as rules found in Chinese philosophy, which govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the Yin and the Yang balance, as well as the flow of energy. People who implement Feng Shui into their daily life believe that if items are arranged in a particular order and balance that this balance and order will carry over into their everyday life. For example, if a bedroom is not properly configured, the individual may experience sleep disruption and difficulties. If you find yourself struggling with sleep at night, take a look at the layout of the room in order to determine if there's something different you can do to help. This philosophy can be carried over into the bedrooms of all family members.

Children are extremely sensitive to energy, especially if they have parents who are also sensitive to the energy around them. If your child loves playing in their bedroom in the daytime, but is refusing to sleep in it at night, you may have a balance and color issue that needs to be addressed.

In Feng Shui, the belief is that bedrooms should only be used for sleeping and relaxing (and lovemaking for adults). That means no television or other similar distractions in the bedroom. Hobbies and other activities that are separate from sleep and relaxation are supposed to be done elsewhere. There should be no distraction in the bedroom, so that when you go to bed at night, your body naturally wants to sleep.

The lights should have a dimmer and the walls and furniture colors should be muted and relaxing. Bright or dark colors (often used in children's rooms) can be too distracting. Fabrics should be soft, fluffy and comfortable and furniture should be rounded, rather than having sharp corners and straight lines.

The basics of Yin and Yang are simple. The bedrooms or rooms of solitude and relaxation fall into the Yin category. Rooms throughout the home that have more activity (such as play rooms, the garage, the kitchen, TV room, etc) have a Yang balance.

If possible, the bed should never be placed underneath a distraction, such as a fan and regardless of which room you're working with, arrange it so that the person lying in the bed can see the bedroom door from their sleeping position. Also (and only if possible), the headboard of the bed should not be against water walls (walls with plumbing) or windows. If the bed must be up against one of these walls or underneath a fan, mask the view with soft fabrics. Remove all large mirrors and cover remaining mirrors with soft fabric at night during sleep time to help detract negative energy.

Other tips for helping your family fall asleep at night include getting the home ready for it. This tactic is suggested for families with infants (starting a routine one to two hours before bed so that the baby naturally knows it's getting close to sleep and to settle down). This same concept can be used for the whole family. Begin turning the volume down on televisions and radio one to two hours before bed. Dim the lights and have children change into sleep clothes. Follow the same routine each night so that the human body naturally knows it's time to fall asleep. Avoid eating heavy foods close to bed (try to eat your last meal three or more hours before bed) and stop liquids at least two or three hours before bedtime. Sleep is extremely important to the body's overall health and so every measure should be taken to get a good night's rest.