6 Gifts That Give Your Bedroom New Life, According To A Feng Shui Expert

Anjie Cho November 27, 2019

featured on mindbodygreen by Krista Soriano

The bedroom is one of the most private spaces in the home, and according to feng shui educator Anjie Cho, it's the one room that represents us—and affects us—the most.

"When we're in our bedroom, we're usually in a more passive, relaxed state—we're more open and our guard is down," she says, and this makes us more vulnerable to the energies within the room. In that sense, "any kind of feng shui adjustments you make in the bedroom will be the most powerful in the whole home."

Below, Cho lends us her feng shui insight for gifts—for your friends and loved ones, or just yourself—that can help cultivate a nurturing, nourishing, and safe space.

A standing or hanging mirror

"In feng shui, the command position is being able to see the bedroom door while lying in bed. This puts you in the best position to deal with whatever energy might be coming through the door and into your life. When it's not possible to face the door in a bedroom, you can set up a mirror so that you can see the reflection of the door when you're in bed. Side note: The shape of a circular mirror represents continuity and harmony—so it's a great gift idea for a couple."

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If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design Feng Shui certification program. Laura Morris and I launched our program in September 2018. To get on the list about it, sign up at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com.

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A Feng Shui Bedroom Layout to Rest Easy

Anjie Cho November 20, 2019

featured on The Wellnest

Sure, we all sleep—but how many of us truly get a restorative night’s rest? According to a 2016 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults don’t get enough sleep. (The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends adults aged 18 to 60 sleep at least seven hours each night to promote optimal health and wellness.) To create a more harmonious place for rest, consider adopting a decluttered feng shui bedroom layout.

For greater insight, we consulted Anjie Cho, an architect, feng shui expert, and author of Holistic Spaces: 108 Ways to Create a Mindful and Peaceful Home. We also chatted with Amy Friedman, founder of Clutter Away LA, a personal organizing business dedicated to clearing your space and mind alike. Here’s their take on small yet impactful steps for better sleep with a calm and clear bedroom.

Why Your Bedroom Matters

A Much Needed Safe Haven

Anjie emphasizes the importance of your bedroom, as it’s your most private space and one in which you spend a lot of time. “Think about how many hours you spend in your bedroom and in bed compared to other places,” she suggests. “If you sleep in a difficult bedroom, where it’s hard to open the door and everything is cluttered, it can affect your day-to-day life.”

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Dive deeper into feng shui to transform your life!

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Create sacred spaces that support, and nourish.

Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui and Autism

Anjie Cho November 17, 2019

I found your blog last week and I totally love it. I've already done a couple of simple adjustments that have actually made a great impact on the space. Like moving my couch into a commanding position and clearing my entry way. I also noticed that my son, who is severely autistic, has been affected as well. Our living room seems to now be his perfect place to sit and do a quiet, focused activity- usually reading a picture book. How do you think feng shui applies to those with sensory issues, like autism and Asperger's syndrome? Do you have any recommendations on applying feng shui to an autistic child's bedroom?

Danielle P., Columbia, MO

Hi Danielle,

Aww thanks so much for your kind words. I’m so happy that the feng shui adjustments have impacted your son in such a positive way! I think this is a really important subject, so I also consulted with two other experts. My sister, Stephanie Cho, is a psychiatrist at George Washington University, and my friend Nancy Guberti, practices functional medicine and has worked with dozens of autistic children.

We all (Stephanie, Nancy and myself) agree that placing autistic children in the commanding position creates a safe and soothing environment. From the feng shui perspective, the commanding position sets you up so that there are fewer surprises; you can literally see what or who is coming into your space. For an autistic child, this helps to prevent opportunities for disturbances and creates a calming space.

Stephanie advised that for aspects of the environment that are sensory oriented, such as colors or smells, the feng shui guidelines are not as applicable, as this depends on each autistic child. Their associations with their senses are highly individual. Therefore it's best to notice and be aware of what colors, scents, or objects have positive associations with each child. Then it can be helpful to place that in their bedrooms. But by far, the commanding position is the way to go with the bed and, if possible desk or sitting areas.

The commanding position would place the bed (or other major furniture) such that when one is lying in the bed, that they can see the door while not in line with this door.

Nancy also suggested clutter-free environments for autistic children's bedrooms. The less busyness, the better. Less sensory input and "noise." I would recommend using storage with doors or bins. This is a great way to cut down the clutter and reduce the amount of noise in a space. :)

I'm thrilled to hear that the small changes you made as a result of our blog have made such an impact in such an important area of life. You and your son are proof that feng shui really does work! Please let me know if you make any of the adjustments Stephanie, Nancy and I have suggested and how they work out!

by Anjie Cho

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our a unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.