Bedroom Design: Where Should the Bed Go?

The bed is usually the widest and longest piece of furniture in any bedroom. Since beds take up so much space and are such an essential part of the room’s design, it can be difficult to know exactly where to position your bed when designing your bedroom. There is also a great deal of philosophy surrounding the bed and its location within the room. 

So, where should the bed go? Here are some ideas for arranging your bedroom with harmony and aesthetics in mind:

Consider the Rules of Feng Shui

According to Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese practice of design, the bed should be placed along the main wall of the room. This should be the wall that is the farthest from the door without being right across from it. Why? Many cultures around the world, including China’s, associate feet facing the doorway with death. Probably not exactly the kind of association that you want in your bedroom. 

Of course, sometimes placing your bed with your feet facing the door simply can’t be avoided. In this case, you can place a bench, storage trunk, or another tall object at the foot of the bed to change the dynamic. Depending on the layout of your room, you could also place your bed diagonally in a corner. 

No matter what, being able to have a clear view of the bedroom door and a full view of the room from the bed is considered a key rule in feng shui. Try to avoid placing your bed against a wall with a bathroom on the other side of it. You should also be away from the window. If you have to place your bed on the same wall as the door, hang a mirror, so that you can still see the entrance to your room. Space on both sides of the bed is a positive, too, although young children will often need at least one side of their bed placed along a wall. 

Organization Can Make a Difference

If you’re having trouble finding space within your room for the bed, moving a dresser into the closet can free up more floor space. It’s also important to make sure that the furniture in your room is well-suited to the size of your room. Using furniture that is too large for your room can negatively affect the look of your room and take up valuable space. 

After you’ve set up your bed, resist the urge to use the bottom of it for large amounts of storage. Plenty of space below the bed adheres to feng shui, but it can also give the illusion of a much bigger room. This is true for all of your furniture. Choosing end tables and other pieces that are designed with a small amount of space below them will make your room feel spacious. 

Another feng shui necessity? A headboard. If you don’t have a headboard, you can DIY your own for a personal touch. 

Design Rules Are Made to Be Broken

Of course, feng shui is just one of many helpful guides for designing a bedroom. If your room is uniquely shaped or in an unexpected part of the house, you might find that breaking all of the traditional rules is actually the best design choice for you. For instance, most people instinctively don’t want the bed to be visible from outside of the bedroom door. If this is your preference, you might find that placing your bed against the wall or on the same wall as the door is necessary to keep the bed out of view. After all, comfort and security are key parts of feng shui design. 

Use the Rest of Your Bedroom Space Well

When it comes to bedroom design, it is said that simpler is better. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your room should be lacking in personality. You can maximize the potential of your bedroom by keeping the space free of clutter and well-organized. Include a luxurious bedding set and live plants in the room to really tie the look together. If you’re feeling bold, richly warm colors are growing in popularity for bedrooms, but neutrals are always a tried and true favorite. For smaller rooms, you can try choosing light colors for things like paint, curtains, and rugs to make the bedroom seem larger. Mirrors can give bedrooms a similar effect, as they help bounce light around the room. 

Light plays a powerful role in home design, truly setting the ambiance of each room. A bedroom is typically a versatile place that needs to be relaxing for sleep, but also vibrant for daytime hours spent in the room. Dressing your bedroom windows with sheer curtains is a beautiful choice for a warm, inviting natural light. You can pair drapes with plantation shutters to block out early morning light, or you can choose to forgo them altogether in favor of the light control that plantation shutters provide. 

Plantation Shutters in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C

Sophisticated and functional, plantation shutters are a stylish choice for any bedroom. Shenandoah Shutters has been crafting hardwood plantation shutters in Richmond, Virginia for over 30 years. Our authentically wooden shutters will help you turn your bedroom into a sanctuary for years to come. With plantation shutters, you can easily filter sunlight in or out of the room for the perfect mood lighting. Plantation shutters are easy to maintain. At Shenandoah Shutters, we don’t even use a tension system. Plantation shutters are safer for children than blinds, too, thanks to the lack of dangling  cords. 

When you order your plantation shutters, you’ll be able to choose between our milky whites, rich stains, or custom color options. You can also explore our traditional and contemporary plantation shutter design selections. We can fit shutters for any window, including tilt-ins, casements, and unusual shapes. 

Shenandoah Shutters is open and ready to safely serve you during the COVID-19 pandemic, with careful precautions being taken. Call us today to schedule a free consultation for your plantation shutters.