Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui for Bedrooms

Anjie Cho August 25, 2019

I would love to hear your opinion on one feature of my room (in a three bedroom apartment). The entrance of my room does happen to be almost directly across the entrance to the apartment. My bed is a few feet (~2ft.) from the entrance to my room, and I can see the door when I lie in bed. The headboard touches the back of a beat up leather couch that faces the two windows in my room (one north, one east). I feel uncomfortable and have trouble sleeping with this positioning but am not sure how to change it. Is there any way for me to move them in a way that might be better for the energy of my room? I’ve also tried the bed rotated clock-wise so the headboard is against the wall on the right side. Thanks!

Valerie W., New York, NY

Hi Valerie

Thanks for your email. The sketch helps tremendously. A picture says a thousand words!

Q&A Sunday- Feng Shui for Bedrooms_Sketch.jpg

There are a few feng shui issues that stand out with the floor plan of the room.

My first suggestion is to swap the sofa area and the bed area. By having the bed closer to the door, and the social “living” area with the sofa in a commanding position because it’s further back, this implies that your private life is not as private as you need it. Or perhaps your public life commands what happens to you internally. It’s preferable to have your bedroom further from the door if you can do that. If you can't, try this option.

Second thing, the headboard is floating in the middle of the room. In feng shui vocabulary, this means you have no support in your life, and you’re just floating along without security. It’s no wonder that you feel uncomfortable! Locate the bed in the commanding position, with the headboard against a wall and facing the door if possible. See my articles on the commanding position. It’s OK to put the headboard against a window if you’re not on the ground floor. Also if possible, it’s best to have space open on each side of the bed. Read this article.

A couple of other things to consider: try not to place the headboard on a wall with a toilet on the other side. I see that the washroom is next door on the left. Also, if possible please relocate your desk(s) in the commanding position? Do you really need two desks? The room seems small for two desks.

I hope this helps! Send us some photos!

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.

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Finding the Right Place for a Home Office

Anjie Cho August 21, 2019

featured in New York Times by Ronda Kaysen

When working from home, where you work is often an afterthought. But it shouldn’t be.

Earlier this year, I faced a conundrum that many of us who work from home know well: Where in the house can I actually work?

Unless you’re blessed with a home large enough for a dedicated office, or are a truly nomadic worker and able to set up shop on a sofa with nothing more than a cup of tea and your laptop, you’re inevitably going to have to carve out space in a room that isn’t naturally intended for work.

Any spot you choose has the potential to diminish what you had before. Set up camp in your bedroom, and you’re left staring down your desk when you’re trying to get to sleep, all those unanswered emails calling to you as you lie awake at 4 a.m. Move to the kitchen or dining room, and snack time becomes an endless loop. (Why work when you could sample that fresh salsa from the farmers market?) Steal a corner of the living room, and suddenly your prime social area feels like some weird break room outside an office cubicle.

These were my options when I relinquished my airy bedroom office to my son when he outgrew the room he had long shared with his sister. I knew this day would come, and yet, when it did, I still didn’t have a good answer for where to go.

So I went to the place where all objects with no obvious home inevitably end up: the basement.

…read full article

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How to Create Good Feng Shui in Your Home

Anjie Cho August 14, 2019

featured on The Spruce

Creating Good Feng Shui

It can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start when it comes to cultivating good feng shui in your home. What rooms should you begin with? How do you start fresh or what do you do if a room is already decorated? Thankfully, it doesn't need to be challenging. We've compiled a few ideas that will kickstart your journey to a happier and healthier home. So whether you’re new to feng shui or an expert, here are nine essential steps to create good feng shui in your home.

Brighten Up Your Entry

In feng shui, your entry represents how energy enters your home and your life. We say the front door is the “mouth of qi.” Naturally, the entry is first place to start when you want to create good feng shui in your home.

Start with decluttering and removing any debris. A lot of objects tend to accumulate at the front door. I'm not saying it needs to be completely empty, but rather uncluttered. Make it work for you.

Next, sweep and clean up the area. The front entry (interior and exterior) is often overlooked. Wipe down the door and shake out the door mat. Take a good look around.

…read full article

by Anjie Cho