Choosing where to put your bed is really important when setting up your bedroom. The bed usually stands out the most, so its location affects how the room looks, feels, and functions.
Whether following feng shui principles or just wanting a simple layout, these bed placement tips probably can help you create a cozy and stylish room.
Plus, you’ll find tips on choosing the perfect single beds, mattress, and other essential furniture.
Set Your Bed Facing the Door
Positioning your bed so you can see the door while lying down is known as the "commanding position" in feng shui. They say it brings security and control. You don’t have to believe in feng shui to find value in this bed placement.
Practical tips for bed placement facing the door:
- Diagonal Placement: Place your bed at an angle to the door, keeping it slightly off-center. This allows you to see the entrance without being directly in line with it.
- Use a Mirror: If your room layout makes it difficult to see the door from the bed, strategically placing a mirror on the opposite wall can help reflect the entrance and give you that same sense of control.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️Placing your bed where you can see the door while lying down offers a sense of security and comfort, making it a key design principle in any bedroom layout.
Keep Your Bed Away from Doors
Seeing the door is good, but don’t block doorways with your bed. Leave the space clear around bedroom, closet, and bathroom doors to keep the room open and easy to use.
How to avoid bed-door conflicts:
- Pocket Doors: If you have multiple doors in the room, consider installing pocket doors instead of traditional swinging doors to save space.
- Curtains as Dividers: In small rooms where doors are an issue, hanging curtains in front of closets can create more room for furniture placement. If you're furnishing a small room, consider opting for compact yet stylish single beds to maximize space.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️Clear the area around doors to improve room flow and make the space feel more open and accessible.
Don’t Place Your Bed Under Windows (But Consider Exceptions)
Feng shui says not to put your bed under a window because windows aren’t solid like walls and might block natural light, making the room darker. But, sometimes there isn’t another option.
Creative solutions for bed placement under windows:
- Use a Low Headboard: Opt for a low-profile headboard that won’t block the window or natural light. For more budget-friendly options, check out cheap double bed frames with lower profiles.
- Forgo the Headboard: In some cases, skipping the headboard altogether can create a cleaner look and allow more light into the room.
- Install Drapes: Heavy drapes or curtains can create the illusion of a solid wall behind your bed while also offering privacy and light control.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️Although it’s not ideal to place your bed under a window, you can use drapes or a low-profile headboard to mitigate potential design issues and still achieve a functional layout.
Move Your Bed Between Windows
If your bedroom has multiple windows, placing the bed between them can be an excellent solution. This placement allows you to benefit from natural light without having to place your bed directly in front of a window. Additionally, this setup creates symmetry and balance, which can enhance the overall aesthetics of the room.
Advantages of bed placement between windows:
- Symmetry: Positioning the bed between two windows offers a balanced, symmetrical look, which can make the room feel more organized and visually appealing.
- Natural Light: You can enjoy the natural light streaming in from both sides without blocking any windows.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️Placing your bed between windows offers a great balance between natural light and symmetry, making your room both practical and stylish.
Avoid Placing Your Bed Against a Bathroom Wall
Feng shui warns against placing a bed near a bathroom because water pipes might drain positive energy. Even without feng shui, noise from the bathroom might disturb sleep.
Alternative placement ideas:
- Choose a Quiet Wall: Try to place your bed on a wall that doesn’t back onto noisy areas like bathrooms, kitchens, or busy hallways.
- Move Away from Plumbing: If possible, place your bed as far away from plumbing as you can for a more peaceful environment.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️To ensure restful sleep, avoid placing your bed against bathroom walls or other noisy areas and opt for quieter spots in the room.
Center Your Bed on a Solid Wall
One of the most common and effective bed placement strategies is centering the bed on a long, uninterrupted wall. This creates a solid backdrop for your bed, allowing you to place additional elements like artwork or lighting over the headboard. A centered bed also provides space for nightstands on either side, creating a balanced and visually appealing layout.
Tips for centering your bed:
- Symmetry: Place matching nightstands or lamps on either side of the bed to create symmetry and draw attention to the bed as the focal point of the room.
- Solid Headboard: A solid headboard reinforces the feeling of stability and strength when your bed is placed on a solid wall. Complement this layout with stylish wardrobes to keep the room functional and organized.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️Centering your bed on a solid wall offers a balanced and cohesive look, making it easier to decorate and add symmetry to the space.
Make the Most of an Off-Centered Bed
Not all bedrooms have the perfect layout for a centered bed. Sometimes, architectural features like windows, closets, or alcoves may require you to place the bed in an off-centered position. While this might seem awkward at first, you can use creative furniture arrangements to balance the space.
Ways to balance an off-centered bed:
- Asymmetrical Nightstands: Instead of placing identical nightstands on each side, try using a larger dresser or desk on one side and a smaller table on the other.
- Decorative Elements: Use artwork, rugs, or lighting to draw attention away from the bed’s off-centered position and create visual interest elsewhere in the room.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️An off-centered bed doesn’t have to disrupt your design. Use creative furniture placement and decorative elements to balance the room.
Place Your Bed on the Same Wall as the Door
In some cases, the only suitable wall for your bed might be the same wall as the bedroom door. While feng shui recommends avoiding this placement, there are simple tricks you can use to make it work. One of the easiest solutions is using a mirror to maintain a view of the entrance.
How to make this placement work:
- Use a Mirror: Place a mirror on the wall opposite the door to reflect the entrance and maintain that sense of visual control over the room.
- Bedside Lighting: Add lamps or sconces near the bed to make the area feel cozier and prevent the bed from being overshadowed by the doorway.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️If your bed shares the same wall as the door, use a mirror to reflect the entrance and ensure the room still feels comfortable and secure.
When You Have To Place the Bed Against a Wall
In smaller bedrooms, placing the bed against a wall may be unavoidable, especially if the room layout is awkward. While feng shui typically encourages space on both sides of the bed, there are ways to make this setup work while maintaining balance and harmony.
Ways to make bed-against-the-wall placement work:
- Floating Shelves: Instead of nightstands, use floating shelves to save floor space and keep the area around the bed open.
- Mirrors for Balance: If the bed is pushed against one wall, a mirror on the opposite wall can help balance the space and make the room feel larger.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️If space requires placing your bed against a wall, use clever furniture and mirror placement to balance the room and create harmony.
10. Embrace Bed Placement Under a Sloped Ceiling
A sloped ceiling can make bed placement tricky, especially if it creates a sense of pressure or confinement. However, with some creative design choices, you can transform this challenge into a cozy and stylish layout.
Design ideas for beds under sloped ceilings:
- Use Wallpaper or Paint: Paint the ceiling and walls in the same color to visually connect the space and make it feel less confined.
- Low-Profile Furniture: Opt for low-profile furniture, such as a platform bed or minimalistic decor, to keep the space feeling open and uncluttered.
Key Takeaway:
🕯️Placing your bed under a sloped ceiling can create a cozy nook if you use the right design elements, like paint and low-profile furniture, to open up the space.
Conclusion
Where your bed goes really affects the comfort, style, and use of your bedroom. Whether working with a small space or a unique layout, these bed placement ideas probably may help you create a room that feels relaxing and balanced.
There isn’t one right way, so experiment until you find the setup that works for you.