Q&A Sunday: Improving a Bedroom

Anjie Cho March 15, 2020

Is it ok to place the bed where the headboard is on the same side of bedroom door? Opposite the door is a 2-door built-in closet, and the window is in the corner on the on the same side of the closet. Also, the centralized air conditioning outlet is on the same side as the entrance, and the air is blowing right on our heads when we sleep. I'd like to do a complete make over of the room to create more space and am thinking of getting rid of our TV stand with cupboards and our dresser. What is the best color for a bedroom? Is pink relaxing? I am a widow, so only my daughter and I are sleeping in the room.

Carina T., Salmiya, Kuwait

Hi Carina

Hello to Kuwait! Thank you for your email, floor plan and questions.

First question: Headboard on same side of bedroom door

According to the basic feng shui principle of the commanding position, you do not want locate your headboard on the same wall as your bedroom door. In your floor plan it looks like your headboard is not on the same wall. So that would be good, and you would be in command.

When you arrange your bed so that you cannot see the door from your sleeping position, you are unable to see what is coming at you, both physically and metaphorically. In feng shui philosophy, it's best to be able to see what may be approaching you so that you can seize opportunities and prepare for other circumstances. Physiologically, having your back to the door produces a stress response, and even though you may not feel it directly, it wears down over time and can create health issues.

However your bed is right next to the wall. It would be better if you could have some space between the bed and the wall. Perhaps because you are a widow, you need that extra support on the side wall. But overall it’s better to move that bed away from the wall if you can. Ideally 18”, but as much as you can.

Second question: Air conditioning blowing on your heads

This is not very comfortable to have the air conditioning blowing on your head, however I don’t think you have enough room to place the bed in any other location. Is there a way to change the direction of the air so it’s more comfortable? This is more of a mundane issue, as the bed location is more important.

Third question: Making more space, removing TV stand and dresser

It would be great if you could eliminate the TV in the bedroom, as it creates a more peaceful and EMF-free environment. This is especially important if you have sleeping problems. The dresser can go, if it’s not necessary. Then that gives you some space to move your bed over more into command and off the wall.

Final question: Color for room

In general, I always ask what color YOU like. But as a guideline, blues and greens, as well as earth tones can be healing, relaxing and supportive. Pink is not necessarily relaxing… but if it’s a color you like, listen to your intuition. Pink relates to relationships and the mother in feng shui philosophy. It’s also feminine and yin. So maybe you’re drawn to pink because you need some support!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday" (formerly “Question of the Month”). We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

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Q&A Sunday: Daybeds and Feng Shui

Anjie Cho February 23, 2020

I was listening to your Episode #12 and was wondering what your feeling is on daybeds; I live in a studio and have a daybed that acts as a couch and my twin size bed. The space simply cannot accommodate a larger bed. Do you have any recommendations as it relates to modifying the space to make it more auspicious for attracting a partner?

Rita P., Queens, NY

Hi Rita!

Thank you so much for listening my podcast (including Episode #12: Making Space for Love) … and also thank you so much for writing in!

Yes, daybeds. I remember they were so popular when I was a teenager. My sister begged my mom for a daybed so her friends could come over and sleep on the bed that you could pull out below.

In this case, you only have the twin bed and nothing below. I very much understand that in studio apartments you only have so much room, and if a twin bed or a daybed that acts as a sofa is all that you can manage, then it is what it is.

As I discussed in the podcast, a twin bed, with the long end against a wall, is not the most ideal for attracting a partnership, because it’s not exactly open on both sides.

In addition, the twin size only accommodates one person comfortably, and with the long side against the wall, if you could somehow both squeeze in, one partner may feel trapped! We definitely don’t want that, do we? 😃

Some possible solutions may be:

- Upgrade to a pull out sofa or futon that becomes a larger bed (I understand that you may not have room for that either).

- Get an additional twin bed that pulls out from under the daybed to make it a larger bed. When using this bed with the split, be sure to use a red sheet under any other sheets to mend the split.

If none of this is possible, listen to the podcast again. Look at some of the other love-related blog posts, and use the other tools to attract love, such as activating the opposite gua, self-knowledge, and keeping the bed clean underneath. I would also suggest the most basic feng shui cures, like making sure the bed is in commanding position.

A bed that can comfortably accommodate two is, of course, the best option for welcoming love, but if your space doesn't permit that, there are plenty of ways to show the universe you're looking for a partner! If your daybed isn't going anywhere anytime soon, aim for these other feng shui adjustments and remember that intention is one of the most important aspects!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday" . We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui questions!

Visit the Holistic Spaces Store

Feng Shui Plants: Greenery that Goes the Extra Mile

Guest User February 12, 2020

featured on Léon & George

Indoor plants do so much for us. They add beauty to our space, clean our air, and come with a myriad of mental health benefits to boot. But what if they could do even more? According to the teachings of Feng Shui, they can.

We asked expert Anjie Cho of Holistic Spaces to give us the scoop on how plants can bring us good Feng Shui, which plants are particularly impactful, and where to place them in our homes to maximize the benefits.

“Plants are a way to bring nature’s energy into our homes and interior environments. Nowadays, we spend more and more time indoors, and having plants in our homes is a way to reconnect with nature and ground us,” says Cho. “In an energetic sense, they are very healing for us, and in a practical sense, they improve the air quality, provide soft surfaces, and beautify our home.”

What Is Feng Shui?

In a nutshell, Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy which uses energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment and the natural world. Translating to “wind” (feng) and "water” (shui), the basic principles of Feng Shui lie in the belief that we can live more harmonious and fulfilling lives if we connect and flow with the space around us.

…read full article

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.