Positioning your bed correctly is crucial in feng shui, which studies the flow of qi, or energy, in your space. This ancient philosophy seeks to balance qi to enhance well-being. Since we spend a lot of time sleeping, it’s vital to ensure your bed adheres to optimal feng shui guidelines. Having a bed facing the door, for instance, is typically seen as poor feng shui. Our private time in bed makes its feng shui placement particularly impactful, as we are most open to surrounding energies when asleep.

The Coffin Position

Most of the dozens of schools of feng shui agree that the bed should not be aligned with the door if possible. The classical feng shui schools have something called the “coffin position.” This describes one way in which your bed can be in line with the door. 

The coffin position is when you’re lying in bed, and your feet are pointed toward the door. In feng shui, the coffin position is considered unlucky and said to disrupt sleep.

The Commanding Position

When your bed is aligned with the door, it’s also out of the “commanding position.” Ideally, you want your bed in command, which means you’re in command of your life. This places you in the best position to receive positive energy, improving your success in the world. To be in the “commanding position,” you want to have your bed situated so that when you’re in bed you can see the door without being in line with the door.

Flow of Qi

Another reason why it’s not ideal to have your bed aligned with the door is that when your bed is in this placement, the qi (life force energy) comes in through the door and directly into the bed.

Check If your Bed Is Aligned With the Door

Your bed is aligned with the door if you walk in straight through the bedroom door and keep walking in a straight line, you run into your bed. This is exactly how the qi flows directly into the bed. The diagram below shows two examples with a suggested correction.

How to Adjust a Bed Aligned With the Door

Move the bed

The first and best choice is to move the bed. Again, if at all possible, the most ideal way to correct a bed that is aligned with the door is to move the bed. A lot of people are resistant to this: They just jump to the second (crystal ball) option. But to be honest, the second option should only be used if you really can’t move the bed into a more favorable position. 

Add a footboard

While footboards are genuinely not recommended for good feng shui since it is thought to block the flow of qi, they can work as a corrective element in the case of a bed that must face the door. This means you may end up sleeping in the coffin position. In this case, the footboard would work as a buffer to the door.

Hang a Feng Shui Crystal Ball

Another way to adjust a bed that is aligned with the door is to hang a feng shui crystal ball. If you use this method, be sure to purchase a new faceted feng shui crystal ball and hang it with a red string. The faceted crystal ball will deflect and disperse any qi that comes in through the door so it doesn’t rush towards you in bed.

Hang the new crystal ball from the ceiling halfway between the bed and the door. The length should align with the top of the door frame. Be sure that the door does not hit the crystal ball. See the diagram above for recommended locations.

Use Furniture to Adjust

If your bedroom is large enough, you can place a piece of furniture, such as a screen or a free-standing bookshelf, halfway between the bed and the door. This will also deflect and disperse any qi that comes in through the door. It’s good option. 

If you use this option, be sure that the room is still spacious and not cramped. There should be a generous amount of space to get in and out of the bed and in and out through the door. Basically, don’t use this adjustment if the furniture becomes an obstacle to the door or the bed. Instead use the crystal option above.

Add a Mirror

Using mirrors is another way to correct a bed that has to be aligned with the door. In this case, you can add a mirror on a side wall to see the room entrance while lying in your bed.

Tips for Feng Shui in the Bedroom

In addition to focusing on the feng shui bed placement, there are other best practices in the art to promote well-being and restful sleep including:

• Position your bed facing south: In feng shui, the south is considered auspicious.
• Add a headboard: Adding a headboard is another way to promote the flow of qi in a space. Your headboard should be solid, securely attached, and face south (or west).
• Don’t sleep under beams: If possible, avoid sleeping under beams. Beams are thought to disrupt sleep and well-being because they create feelings of pressure and negativity.
• Don’t hang pendant lights: Pendant lights are thought to bring bad luck.
• Don’t sleep underneath a fan: Avoid sleeping directly underneath a fan because this is believed to disrupt the flow of qi in the space and therefore your sleep.
• Place your bed against a solid wall: Place your bed against a wall for good feng shui. The wall provides good support.