yang<\/em> is masculine, colourful, expansive and louder. Yin is the inward quality that sends you into yourself, so it\u2019s ideal for good sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nPosition, position, position<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to the ancient design principles of Chinese feng shui and Indian vastu shastra, the master bedroom is best placed in the south-west of your home, considered the relationship sector. More importantly, though, all bedrooms should ideally be placed towards the rear of the property. \u201cWe\u2019re literally looking to be away from the distractions of the street, be that dogs, cars or street lights, noise or trucks first thing in the morning,\u201d Anthony says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The master bedroom is particularly important: it supports those responsible for the family and earning income. \u201cAs you get older, you tend to sleep less well,\u201d Anthony adds. He suggests those unable to change the positioning of their rooms (for example, those who are renting) try screening the front yard with removable fences, hedges or plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a noise and energetic perspective, it\u2019s also better not to have your bedroom against a bathroom wall, or above or beneath the busiest rooms of the house. If you do have an en suite in your bedroom, keep the door shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creating snug spaces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn modern architecture there\u2019s a predilection to make bedrooms bigger and bigger, with lovely views and big windows,\u201d Anthony says. \u201cThat\u2019s not what you want from a bedroom.\u201d Instead, foster a space that\u2019s snug, private and tucked away. \u201cYou don\u2019t want a big space, high ceilings or lots of glass,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avoid over-furnishing the room. Alternatively, you don\u2019t want a stark bedroom. \u201cIt should be a place that brings forth a certain feeling of nurturing, of being held,\u201d he says. To promote this feeling, position your bed in front of a solid wall with the door as far from the bed as possible. Also try not to have the bed on the same wall as the door or too close to a window. Sleeping too close to either can make you feel psychologically less secure in bed, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, you don\u2019t necessarily want the bed pushed off to one side of the room, either. \u201cSomewhere in your brain you prefer a certain level of symmetry,\u201d Anthony says. Matching bedside tables either side of the bed can create symmetry and are also said to anchor and ground you. But keep the clutter off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll doors should be able to be opened 90 degrees,\u201d he adds. \u201cEven though it\u2019s a quiet room, you don\u2019t want it to become stagnant, either.\u201d Also do your best to avoid too much going on in the ceilings. \u201cTry not to have cathedral ceilings and avoid beams, particularly in bedrooms,\u201d he says. In feng shui, protruding, angular surfaces are said to create negative energy called \u201cpoison arrows\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soften hard edges and introduce femininity with more rounded furniture and flowing curtains rather than hard venetians. \u201cA lot of modern architecture and interior design is really stark,\u201d Anthony says. \u201cIt\u2019s taken from what they believe to be the Zen movement but it has been misappropriated. Zen is about not having too much stuff, but it\u2019s not about having everything hard-edged and completely minimal, particularly in the bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having a bed-head and bed-foot can help conjure cosiness. \u201cThe closer you can come to being in the womb, to feeling protected and wrapped up, the better off you are,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Balancing light and dark<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Use thick, light-blocking curtains to shield out artificial light (streetlights, car headlights and house lights), but also the natural kind like the sun and moon. Darkness is essential for your body to produce the sleep hormone, melatonin. However, melatonin performs many roles beyond regulating the body clock. In recent years, low production of the hormone (often linked with shift work) has been associated with increased risk of health problems including cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as endocrine, neurological and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avoid nightlights and lamps to preserve the healthful benefits of darkness. Choose soft, amber-coloured globes such as those of incandescents, or the golden glow of a candle, over fluorescents and energy-saving bulbs. The latter emit blue-spectrum light, which suppresses melatonin. Likewise, keep anything that emits or flashes light out of your bedroom at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep it natural<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because you spend so much time there, it\u2019s important to avoid toxic materials in the bedroom. Choose cotton, wool, timber, bamboo, paper and jute over nylon, acrylic, plastic and other synthetic materials. From a subtle energy perspective, natural substances are more supportive of the human condition, Anthony says. For example, Austrian research shows that sleeping in a stone pine bed improves sleep and reduces heart rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hard and soft furnishings, including mattresses and wood composite bedheads and wardrobes can contain formaldehyde and other harmful toxins. These outgas at greater rates when you heat your home or on hot, humid days.Organic mattresses and manchester are available through specialty suppliers. Also, be wary of introducing toxins through cleaning chemicals, floor treatments, insect sprays, paint, adhesives and light fittings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naturalise your bedroom by adding a degree of texture with throws and hand-knitted and crocheted blankets. Nature isn\u2019t all smooth, Anthony says. \u201cTexture creates that yin<\/em> feeling and absorbs sound well.\u201d Additionally, reference the soothing qualities of nature with pictures and fabric prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCleanliness = sleepiness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Keeping your bedroom clean, tidy and freshly scented can help you sleep better, according to a US study. Those who changed their sheets every day were 19 per cent more likely to report good sleep than people who didn\u2019t. Good hygiene habits can also reduce dust mites, which thrive in mattresses, blankets, pillows, fabric-covered furniture, carpet and dust. Those sensitive to dust mites can purchase dust mite covers for pillows and mattresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mirror, mirror<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of mythology around mirrors creating spaces on the other side that psychic energies can come through,\u201d Anthony mentions.\u201cWhether you believe that or not, somewhere deep down inside us we kind of do. It\u2019s said to set up a subtle vibration in the room. If you have to have mirrors in the bedroom, it\u2019s essential that you at least can\u2019t see the mirror when you\u2019re in bed.\u201d If you can\u2019t move it, paint it or cover the mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also be aware of the kind of imagery you have. Make it appropriately restful and avoid images of water or the sea. \u201cPictures of movement bring forth a subtle movement in the room itself, so it disturbs your quietude,\u201d Anthony says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ditch the tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here, the rule is to simply keep it out. \u201cYou don\u2019t want anything that has that electrical yang energy in your bedroom,\u201d Anthony says. \u201cAgain it\u2019s a quietude thing.\u201d This applies to small and big screens, including TVs. \u201cYou\u2019re not wanting to invite the whole world into your bedroom, which brings forth a whole lot of stress and anxiety, murder and mayhem and chaos. It also creates a social divide in the family. People go to this electronic entertainment rather than interact with each other. It\u2019s also about your brain being able to switch off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The LCD screens that light modern TVs, computers, tablets and phones emit blue-spectrum light, which disrupts your internal biological clock. And, like other electronic devices, they\u2019re a source of EMR (electro-magnetic radiation). \u201cWhere you spend the most time it\u2019s important to make sure those areas are correct,\u201d Anthony recommends. \u201cYou spend about a third of your life in that space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tone it down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Likewise, the colours in the bedrooms of both adults and children should be nurturing and quiet, Anthony says. Avoid vibrant, bright colours like fire-engine red in preference to muted pinks, burgundy, green and anything earthy. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t use bright white \u2014 it\u2019s too hard and clinical. Black is a bit over the top and depressing; greys can create depression.\u201d He recommends colours similar to skin tones \u2014 anything from off-white to dark caramel. \u201cThese bring forth feelings of your mother and human contact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a feng shui point of view, purple in bedrooms is said to psychically open you up. In fact, a study of 2000 people by UK hotel chain Travelodge found Britons slept worst in a bedroom painted purple. Red, grey and brown also produced poorer sleep. Certain shades of blue, yellow, pink, orange and silver were associated with the best sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also tone down that other sense: sound. Ensure your bed and door don\u2019t creak, use materials that absorb sound \u2014 like rugs \u2014 and keep anything that makes noise out of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hot and cold<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Artificial heating and cooling can be another source of unwanted noise. \u201cIt dries out your nose and throat because it dehumidifies the air radically,\u201d Anthony says. \u201cA fan is better, but it creates a lot of movement, which is not good for sleep.\u201d If you do have a fan, avoid having it directly over the bed. Remember that poison arrow effect? In summer, if you\u2019re able, use the natural ventilation of your window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Electrical blankets, which emit EMR, are another no-no. If you insist on having one, turn it off and unplug it before you go to bed.Temperature issues are a common reason for insomnia. Blankets and throws that can be pulled on or off according to comfort are a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t make it about work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ideally, you don\u2019t want your work stuff, desk or gym equipment in your bedroom. \u201cFrom a psychological and subtle energy perspective, if that\u2019sin the same room as you it\u2019s going to badger you,\u201d Anthony warns. Those without any other option (again, if you\u2019re renting or living with your parents) should keep such zones neat and tidy and at least have a way of getting it out of their psyches and sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave something like a roll-top desk to shut it off, or at least throw a sarong or blanket over the whole lot and put it to sleep,\u201d he says. Screens can be a useful strategy. \u201cThe more you can make it into its own separate room, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s OK to have a little lounge chair with a side table that you can have some quiet time in. You can multi-purpose the bedroom, but don\u2019t it make it about work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Energy disturbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fish tanks, water fountains, pets and even pot plants can disturb the quietude of the bedroom. While introducing natural elements through biophilic (nature-based) design is desirable, plants and water tend to have too much yang <\/em>life-force, Anthony says.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther energy disrupters include clutter, washing baskets and bookcases. \u201cIt\u2019s not a place to be storing things,\u201d he says. \u201cA few books if reading at night is OK.\u201d The edges of shelving are also said to create poison arrows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also avoid items hanging over the bed, such as pictures. \u201cOn a subtle psychic level, you tend to worry it\u2019s going to fall and hit you,\u201d he says. If you must have something, make it a soft tapestry or similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First published on <\/em>wellbeing.com.au<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Deep restorative sleep is the foundation of a good life. By looking to age-old design ideals and Mother Nature herself, you can craft a bedroom that helps you thrive. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":414,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[103,73],"tags":[132,133,134],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":416,"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410\/revisions\/416"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wellbeing.com.au\/curious\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}