If you want to makeover your bedroom or just want a little interior design inspiration, why not try doing it the Feng Shui way?
I’ve always loved Feng Shui. To think the placement of objects around your house can reflect or effect your life situation intrigues and inspires me. Did you know certain colours, images, symbols and the direction objects are placed can all help improve various sectors of your life? Adding a bowl of coins to your wealth area or including a pair of matching items in your relationship sector, are all small but powerful ways you can activate the different areas of your life and reach closer towards your goals and dreams.
Ba Gua Chart (opening image)
Each of the nine sectors of the Ba Gua reflect nine sectors of your life and they each have a particular area within a house or room. To locate the sectors within your room, hold the Ba Gua chart so that the door to your room falls within the Knowledge, Career or Helpful People sector. Imagine the Ba Gua chart being placed on the floor of the room. Wealth will always fall in the back left corner and relationships in the back right corner away from the door.
I've found some vintage items for each sector of the bedroom (or any room really) that gives you an idea of the type of items to place in sectors you wish to activate.
Wealth & Prosperity
Location: Back Left Corner (or South East)
Colours: Red, gold, purple, light green
Suggested Items: Bowl of coins, faux million dollar bills, valuable items, images or symbols of fish (represent prosperity and success), images of trees.
Silver Plate Bride's Basket - Birdini (Etsy) $60
This silver plate would create a look of wealth and abundance if it were overflowing with gold coins or jewelry.
Fame & Reputation
Location: Back Centre (or South)
Colours: Red, orange and yellow
Suggested Items: Candles, bright light, framed certificates and diplomas, images of the sun, fireworks or people you admire.
Ruby Red Perfume Bottle - Viola Blush (Etsy) $225
Vintage Tablecloth - Gramas Attic (Etsy) $125
Any red items from petite vintage perfume bottles to more elaborate red fabric draped over dressing tables, are all ways to ignite the fire element in your fame and reputation area.
Relationships
Location: Back right corner (South West)
Colours: Pink, peach, red, white, yellow and beige
Suggested Items: Pottery and clay items, crystals, items in pairs, artwork depicting two people looking happy (no images of lone figures), picture of island getaways or romantic cities, images of friends.
Lipstick Red Heart Container - Sweet Love Vintage (Etsy) $13
Pair of Milk Glass Lamps - 1 Glassy Dealer (Etsy) $110
Any symbol of love and happy, healthy relationships will work in this section of your room. Store treasures in a heart-shaped container or try and find a pair of items such as these lamps.
Creativity & Children
Location: Right side, middle (West)
Colours: White and metallic colours such as silver
Suggested Items: Toys, games, art, images of a lake, lamps, metallic objects, symbols of creativity
*placing images of your kids in the bedroom is usually not recommended as the bedroom should be about you and should be your sanctuary. Any other room in the house should be fine.
The Little Prince Book - Samy St Clair (Etsy) $10
Alphabet Game and Chalkboard - Jacklynn 4 (Etsy) $95
Stirling Silver Yo Yo - Sunday and Sunday (Etsy) $65
Your favourite childhood books or games are wonderful anchors to use in your Creativity & Children section. There are so many interesting and beautiful vintage toys and games to be found online and small, unique pieces can look very sweet situated somewhere on the middle, right side of your room.
Helpful People
Location: Right corner foreground (North West)
Colours: Black, white, silver, grey and gold
Suggested Items: Terracotta pots, request box, address book, symbols of places or people you want to work with, Buddha image, images depicting heaven and helpful people or symbols such as angels.
Silver Angel Wings Earrings - Evangeline 08 (Etsy) $60
Antique Victorian Gothic Print - Neat Curios (Etsy) $35
Having an image of an angel in either picture of jewelry form can symbolise protection, guidance and being looked after. Try and find any item that represents these qualities to you.
Career
Location: Middle foreground (North)
Colours: Blue and black
Suggested Items: Metallic objects, symbols of your ideal career, blue items, blue lamp
Aladdin Teapot - Susabella Brownstein (Etsy) $125
Blue Lamp Fixture - Smart Streets Squirrel (Etsy) $135
If you have bench space in your career sector, you can place a blue ornament such as this Aladdin's lamp or if you only have wall space, try hanging a picture in a blue frame.
Knowledge
Location: Left corner foreground (North East)
Colours: Green, blue, yellow and beige
Suggested Items: No clutter, world globe, images of sunflowers or other yellow flowers, animals such as dolphins or elephants, images of mountains, beaches, gardens or Buddha, blue candles, meditation cushion, books you are studying.
Vintage World Globe - Le Vintage Maison (Etsy) $60
If you place a world globe in this sector, be sure to spin it daily to activate chi (energy).
Family
Location: Left side, middle (East)
Colours: Green, blue and brown
Suggested Items: wood items, bamboo (symbolises longevity), family heirlooms, wooden frames, sculptures, family documents, images of trees, rainforests and landscapes, wooden bookcase.
*images of family members should be kept for other rooms in your house.
Vintage Jewelry Box - Castle of Charm (Etsy) $82.99
Keep your most treasured family mementoes in this area, but only ones that evoke fond memories.
Health
Location: Centre
Colours: Yellow and green
Suggested Items: Ceramics, pottery, stones, shells, bamboo (symbolises longevity), image of animal such as crane, image of sun, sunrise or flowers, round rug.
Silk Kimono Obi Fabric Cranes and Chrysantimum - Puck 513 (Etsy) $55
It can be difficult to place items in the centre of your bedroom as the bed usually takes up the whole of this space. At the very least, kept the area neat and tidy and try tying a yellow scarf or drape this beautiful kimono across the end of the bed.
More Feng Shui Bedroom Tips
- Do not sleep with your feet pointing directly out the door. The ideal bed position is diagonally opposite the door. You should be able to see who comes through the door. Try not to sleep under a beam either.
- Try not to have a mirror or TV reflecting your image as you sleep. If you cannot fix this, try and cover the mirror with a fabric when you sleep. Apparently mirrors can act as a third party in a marriage or partnership and may cause relationship trouble.
- Sleep in your best direction. Once you find out your Kua number (based on your birth date) you can determine your four most auspicious directions and four inauspicious directions to try and avoid. You can click here to find out your Kua number.
I’m not a Feng Shui expert but I’ve devoured many books on the subject, so these ideas are just my personal suggestions. If you want to learn more about Feng Shui, you could try reading a few of my favourite books such as 'Feng Shui Your Life' by Jayme Barrett or any books by Lillian Too.
