I love Feng Shui! Whether you believe this ancient Asian design method is based on ancient wisdom or superstition, Feng Shui includes some valuable principles and is just plain fun! Consider these Feng Shui rules:
– Do not sleep with your feet toward the bedroom door.
– Position the head of the bed so that you can see the entrance.
– Do not sleep next to the wall that has the meter box.
– Do not place the head of the bed next to the bathroom wall.
So where do my husband and I put our bed according to these rules? In our room with four walls, one wall is all the closets, one wall faces the bathroom, one wall is all the doors that open to the garden, and the last one (oh my!) has the meter box. Don’t worry, Feng Shui has all kinds of rules to fix any problem, including the use of crystals and houseplants to counteract negative energy.
Design Psychology, based on years of scientific research, comes to some of the same conclusions that Feng Shui practitioners use, based on years of experience. But Design Psychology boldly contradicts the Feng Shui rule that you can’t sleep with your feet facing the bedroom door.
Design Psychology creates rooms to support happiness and well-being. A personal space to cool off and enjoy, the bedroom requires attention to details like the placement of the bed for comfort. As the main attraction, the bed is often the focal point of the room. Therefore, place the header directly in front of the doorway against a wall. This creates the visual expansion of the room and underlines the importance of the bed. A more important reason for placing the bed so that it faces the door is for a sense of security. People feel safe when they can easily see the door.
The bed represents the beginning and the end of life. In the past, people were conceived, born, and died in the same bed. You spend more time in your bed than in any other piece of furniture. So, follow the rules of Feng Shui or the principles of Design Psychology and position your bed with the headboard facing the entrance of the room. This place will not only reinforce the importance of the bed in your design plan, but also make you feel comfortable and sleep well.
(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.