Feng Shui for your Kids' Rooms: Nurturing Growth and Creativity

Always start with the bed.

In Classical Feng Shui, the bed is the single most important piece of furniture in any room, and doubly so for a child whose growing body and busy mind need deep, uninterrupted rest. The principle we work with is the command position, which means your child should be able to see the bedroom door from the bed without being directly in line with it.

• Place the head of the bed against a solid wall giving a sense of backing and safety, which settles the nervous system.
• Avoid positioning the bed so the feet point straight out the door. In Feng Shui we call this the "coffin position," and while I don't say that to frighten you (Feng Shui terminology is famously harsh), children genuinely rest more soundly when they're not lying in the direct path of rushing chi.

• This is also true for your baby in the bassinet or cot. I can understand the thinking behind pushing a cot up against two walls, parents are wanting to protect and nurture, but the same principle stands.

• If possible, keep the bed out from under sloped ceilings, exposed beams, or heavy shelving. That sense of pressure overhead is subtle but real, and little ones feel it more than we do. Likewise, having nothing but fresh air circulating under your child's bed will aid with sleep and general wellbeing. My rule is if you must use the space for storage, store something they could fall asleep on. Spare bedding or seasonal clothing for example.

While we are on the subject of space let's talk bunkbeds. My kids shared a bunk for a few years and now I understand the energy of this I'd have done things differently. In Feng Shui bunk beds are generally not recommended and that's because the lower sleeper may feel heavy, invisible or overlooked. Likewise, the upper sleeper may experience ungrounded, restless energy. Furthermore, siblings sharing a bunk may subconsciously develop an unequal dynamic where the upper sleeper feels superior.

Here are some tips to boost positive energy for bunks and both sleepers.

• Ensure the bunk does not squeak or rock when the upper sleeper is moving around
• Cover the bottom of the bunk so the slats are not visible. Use a calming, soft colour like sage green or blush.

• Add a soft lamp for the lower bunk symbolising a shining light and being seen.

• Ensure the upper bunk has a sturdy headboard providing a sense of support.
• If you notice an increase in power dynamic, introduce a monthly swap of sleep positions.

Get the bed right and you've done the heavy lifting. Everything else is refinement.

Regardless of age, there are a few rules I encourage you to follow.

• Mirrors facing the bed. These can be too activating for a sleeping child and can be unsettling if they wake in the night. If your child is having trouble with sleep reposition them or cover them.
• Screens and electronics. Keep them well away from the bed. Beyond the Feng Shui view, the practical benefit of removing that active energy to sleep is enormous.
• Water imagery in the bedroom. Big oceans, waterfalls, or fish in the sleep space can feel like too much movement. Save Water energy for shared living areas.
• Sharp corners — what we call "poison arrows" — pointing at the bed or desk. Soften them with a plant or a rounded piece of furniture.
• Colour and Stimuli. Keep this muted and to a minimum. If they are at the age where their toys are their most prized possessions, ensure you have a system where these are put away when it's time to sleep.
• Fresh air and natural light. Even of your kids are at an age where they have banned you from their bedroom, sneak in and open those blinds and windows. Teenagers especially need that stagnant energy broken up and an influx of fresh energy and sunlight to circulate their space.

Growing Alongside Your Child

The loveliest thing about Feng Shui for children is that it's never finished. As your child grows from a cocooned toddler into a curious student and then a young person finding their independence, their room can grow with them. What supported sleep at three may need to make space for study and self-expression at eleven.

Trust what you observe. A child who is sleeping well, playing imaginatively, and settling to their work is telling you the energy of the room is right.

If you'd like help understanding the dynamics of your home or if you need a full energy rebalance, goldenlifefengshui can help.