Q&A Sunday: Improving a Bedroom

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!

The Benefits of Natural Sunlight: Health, Happiness and Beauty

The sun is a star fixed at the center of our solar system — everything revolves around it. In many ways, the sun sits at the center of our lives, too. We orient our homes to capture its warmth. We keep time by its passage. It produces the heat and light that keeps us alive. 

These are obvious ways that we depend on the sun. But science tells us that we benefit from sunlight in surprising ways too. Did you know that sunlight can:

• Make you happy? 

• Help you to sleep better? 

• Boost your immune system?

• Reduce your risk of cancer? 

• Lower your cholesterol and blood pressure?

Research shows that a few minutes of sunlight each day can produce so many significant benefits. Health care professionals may not agree about how much sun we need, but they do agree that we suffer without it. 

The Science of Sunlight

The rising and setting of the sun has a lot to do with our body’s natural rhythm, known as our Circadian Rhythm. Our body’s hormones actually respond to sunlight. At night, our bodies produce melatonin to make us drowsy. Come morning, our bodies respond to sunlight by producing serotonin, a “feel good” hormone that stimulates our brains, influences our moods, controls our appetite, and fights stress. Without sunlight, our body can fall out of its natural rhythm. 

In response to direct sunlight, our body produces vitamin D – crucial for healthy immune systems and skin, brain activity, and bone growth. Vitamin D has also been proven to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, fight disease, and to encourage better sleep.

Disruptions (or lack of sunlight) can trigger a domino effect that leads to poor sleep, depression, and compromised immune systems – an obviously unhealthy cycle. Kind of makes you a little eager to get out in that sunshine, huh? It should. We have a long history (and healthy relationship) with the sun and that’s not going to change any time soon. 

So how can you add more natural light to a dark space?

• Add some shine

The more shiny surfaces you have in a room, the brighter it will appear. Add brass doorknobs and lighting fixtures, mirrors, silver frames, or acrylic furniture.

• Treat the windows

For maximum sunlight, keep your windows unobstructed. Choose sheer fabrics, or cover only the outer edges of the window to create a larger appearance without blocking any light.

• Go light and glossy

Lighter paint colors on the walls and ceiling – especially the glossier finishes – will reflect the most light back into the room.

by Anjie Cho

The World's Favorite Color: 50 Shades of Blue

Thinking about using blue in your home? You’re not alone. The color of water and sky is universally popular.  Blue is consistently regarded as the color most people prefer. 

Blue is a complex and sometimes contradictory color, yet it is rich with rewards — if you know how to use it.  There are many shades of blue, so which do you choose?

The Many Moods of Blue

Finding the right blue is determined by matching the tone or shade to the occasion. Let’s explore some of blue’s moods so that we can find the right shade of blue for you and your room.   

• On the dark end of the spectrum, blue invokes trust, intelligence, and authority. 

• A bright blue, in the middle of the spectrum, can suggest cleanliness (thanks to associations with water), strength, or dependability. 

• At the light end of the spectrum, a ‘sky’ blue can inspire feelings of serenity and calm. 

If you’re thinking about how you can use blue, let’s talk first about the room in question and match the use of that room with specific characteristics of blue.  

Putting Blue to Work for You 

When choosing blue for a space, be sure that the room’s function matches the color’s tone. 

If the room is one in which mental stimulation is required, like an office, try a brighter blue – on the darker end of the spectrum. It will help to create an engaging and dynamic mood for the room. From a color psychology perspective, blue is reliable and responsible, so if you want to take on those qualities, work in a darker blue room.

If you have a room in which calm or peace is desired (bathroom, yoga or meditation room), opt for a light ‘sky’ blue. Pale blue can actually lower pulse rate and body temperature, evoking feelings of relaxation. There’s a reason that so many spas include blue in their color palettes!

If you are thinking of painting your kitchen or dining room blue, remember the physical effects of this color.  Because it relaxes the body and lowers pulse rate, it is also reducing metabolism. So food may not taste as good in a blue room. And since blue is rarely seen in fruits and vegetables, it is not thought of as an appetizing color. If blue is your choice for eating areas, try placing blue accessories around the room: rugs, seat cushions, placemats, plates, glassware, vases and flowers. You may find that this is ‘blue enough’ for you.

From ‘blue ribbon’ prizes and IBM’s supercomputer Deep Blue, to the Blue Room in the White House, there are many great reasons for using this soothing color.

by Anjie Cho