Want to instantly improve the Feng Shui of your bedroom?
Add a headboard to your bed.
Like the Mountain it resembles, a good headboard provides you with a sense of security and support.
A good headboard also empowers you, strengthening you in the Command position and creating a safer haven if you have no choice but to place your bed out of the Command location.
You’ll reap greater Chi energy benefits with a good headboard, too.
But for best Feng Shui results, you can’t use just any headboard.
A headboard with good Feng Shui has a few essential characteristics:
It’s made of solid wood, or it’s padded.
- Wood has a natural warmth and “give” to it, while padded headboards are super-comfortable and inviting to the touch, adding some sexy sensuality to your bedroom.
It’s solid.
- A solid headboard gives you a sheltered place where positive Chi can cradle and nourish you all through the night. Bars, slats and openwork are no-no’s because they allow Chi energy to flow right over you and quickly through the open headboard.
It’s attached to the bed.
- An attached headboard makes you feel secure when you lean up against it.
It’s in proportion with the rest of the bed.
- Headboards that are either too high or too low feel unnatural and will not cradle you as you sleep.
It has a soft silhouette.
- No sharp edges or corners, please!
A headboard provides a feeling of sweet sanctuary like few other things can do.
For much, much more about creating good Chi energy in your bedroom, check out my new ebook Feng Shui In The Bedroom: Your Path To Love, Romance & Intimacy.
(Photo by angi231700 on Creative Commons)
What about a headboard with builtin shelves and a reading lamp? If it’s a no-no, is there a way I can fix it without replacing?
Sam — thanks for a great question, which will apply to a lot of people. You’ve inspired me to write a followup blog post about it next week but here’s the short answer: make sure the shelves are clutter-free, and move the lamp as far from your head when you sleep as possible.
Hello Ann, Thanks for your wonderfully simply yet informative website. How can I cure the bad feng shui of having an iron headboard of open design (something that I am not fond of, but can not replace)?
Hello there, Thanks for your kind words :), I really appreciate them!
The goal with your headboard is to create the security of The Mountain behind you when you’re in bed. To that end I would suggest hanging a padded textile of some kind over it: a beautiful textured throw, for example. Alternatively you could disguise the headboard with large pillows during the day and to lean on when you’re relaxing in bed.
And then replacing the headboard as soon as you are able!
Thanks for those tips. Sometimes we cannot sleep due to the bad position of our bed. It is really good to apply feng shui in your rooms since it really helps in designing and positioning of your bed.
Thanks for your comment — I think Feng Shui in the bedroom is the MOST important Feng Shui of all!
Kim, yes, you are very much correct. I would be happy to speak to you about all this whenever you are able to do so.
I have an open headboard. I need advice how to bring good with open headboard. Is there a cure or remedy?
I’ve received this question several times recently and will be posting an article about it shortly. Thank you for asking.
Hi Ann
How are you?… Question please.
I live in a small, self contained, flat, in other words, one room. It has taken me 3 weeks to change my single way of living and thinking, into, a couple’s flat, as I am now wanting (and ready) for my soulmate 🙂
Long story short… Do I really need a bedroom headboard? It will look like my room is crowded if I get on or make one. The front of my bed is up against half the wall… So only one person can lean against the wall while the other can’t… It’s the way the room has been built…
Also… Should I cover the microwave door, since there is a mirror reflection?
I like my room the way it is now… Just need your advice on the ‘feng shui’ rule…
Thanks for your answers
xo Z
Hi Zelia,
Thanks for this great question. It sounds as though you have been doing a lot of good work to shift the energy in your flat!
Regarding your question, the Feng Shui purpose of a headboard is to create the feeling of having a mountain at your back, protecting you and cradling you while you sleep. It would be best for relationship energy if the second person also had something to lean back on, so that the two people can have a balanced experience while in bed. Even a set of sturdy shelves might do the job. If a headboard is impossible then I suggest two things
— Symbolically create this same feeling by putting large square pillows behind your regular sleeping pillows. These look like a headboard during the day, but can be removed at night, and don’t add any extra square inches to the footprint of the bed.
— Paint the wall behind the head of your bed a different color to mimic the look of a headboard without taking up any space at all.
The reflection off your microwave is probably OK unless it directly faces your bed while you sleep, or reflects light into the room at night. If this is the case I would at least cover it when you go to sleep.
Good luck and here’s to good relationship Chi!
Ann
Blessings Ann
LOL!! While I was reading your reply, my friend came over for a visit, and guess what she brought me as a gift?…
Two small square pillows! I was in shock & so was she when I told her about me contacting you 🙂
Feng Shui (& the Universe) was really listening and working…:)
So now that I believe you have ‘powers’… how about using them for my soulmate to finally enter my life…:) (LOL)…
Thanks Ann for your help, and it works. As I walk into my (small) flat, my bed now looks like it has a bed-board. I love it.
xo Zelia
Awesome — that’s the power of synchronicity at work in your life! I’m so glad it worked out so easily for you, and thanks again for a great question.
ps — sending all good energy for your soulmate to appear very soon!
i was thinking of adding a soft white rounded brick paneling behind my bed is this good or bad Feng shui
i currently have a padded headboard which will remain
it is a small bedroom
the rest of the rooms walls are in soft rose
Hello Kit,
This could be very nice, as brick represents the Earth element in Feng Shui and it is always good to have the Earth element in a bedroom. The padded headboard is excellent and the paint colors also sound good.
I was clicking on various links and ended up on this article – it struck me as so funny because I’ve never really liked my master bedroom bed (iron bed open head and foot board). My guest bedroom bed has a solid headboard and is solid wood. I have always liked it more than the master – and now I understand a bit more of the “why” — I may have to finally switch them out.
Hi Kate — So glad this post resonated with you. Let me know what happens when you make the switch!
Ok I am making a upholstered headboard, and I need suggestions for material. I LOVE Dark Blue …Big Bold Bird print? What is best for good sleep/sex/solid partnership… in printed material headboards
Hello Victoria,
Great question! I would suggest a smaller print that blends with the rest of your decor and doesn’t dominate the room. You also want to avoid any sense of overwhelm when you’re in bed with your partner. Be sure also to use sexy, skin-toned colors in your bedroom decor. Good luck!
Hi there!
Pls tell me the best place where i can put the headboard. East south west or north. Thank u
The best place for your headboard is in the Command Position of your bedroom, whichever direction that faces. Please take a look at my blog posts about it! Thanks 🙂
Does color and style of headboard matter? Mine is wood painted white and shutters style at head and foot boards… Is this good or bad feng shui? What does white mean? Please advise. Thank you!
Hello Ann,
If your headboard is solid and you can lean comfortably on it when you’re sitting in bed, then it has good basic Feng Shui properties.
White is the color for the Metal element (you can find out more about this if you search for White, Metal or Five Elements in the search box). I suggest that you read up on it to find out what kinds of things you can do to balance the Five Elements in your bedroom. Here’s to good Chi!
Hello Ann,
Thank you for your lovely advice… An enjoyable read
My question please, what about a metal headboard? What’s your thoughts on this? I’ve recently obtained my late grandmother’s headboard and there is so much sentimental attachment and love to it, however, is metal suitable for headboard?
Kindest regards
Michelle
Hello Michelle,
Thank you for your kind comment and good question. While metal headboards are not ideal in terms of Feng Shui, it all depends on how you are sleeping in the bed, your health, the happiness and health of your relationships, and so on. If all seems to be well, then no change is necessary. Meanwhile to blunt and soften any negative energy that may be coming from the cold metal material, you may wish to drape a quilt or other textile over the headboard.
I have a wooden headboard with shelves. So in trying to take your advise I rolled up one of those egg crate mattress pads and put it down the leg of a silk pajama bottom (that’s a bit small for me.) I fed the other leg inside the roll. I don’t know how to email that picture to my computer to add it but the pajama bottom is so beautiful I couldn’t get rid of it and it fits perfectly into the middle slot of the shelf of the headboard. It has kind of small paisley print with colors of purples, blue, red, pink, grey, black, tan…a very sensual look. But on the top shelf I have had an Elephant statue with 2 babies in front of her (all trunks are up.) I also have 2 candles-one on each side-are the elephants ok or I have a very nice plate with stand of Mona Lisa I could put there. I have a beautiful picture I was going to put above the bed to make it a kind of headboard. Wish I could add a picture…but wouldn’t know how if I could.
Thank you,
Susan
Susan, this all sounds good to me. Whatever you put on the top of your headboard, make sure it is absolutely stable with no danger of falling on you during the night. The best object(s) for your headboard depend on your life goals & challenges right now. If you’d like to send a picture, please use my Ask Ann page. Thank you.
I have been given some little fairy lights that can be added to my bed headboard, they are worked from two small batteries, could you tell me if you think this would this be bad?
Janice, this sounds fine (cozy :), as long as you keep the batteries as far away from your head as possible.
Hi, I’m thinking to get a bed for the new house from http://www.comfortfurniture.com.sg/products/bedroom/pipe-bedframe/ . Is this consider as a bad fengshui bed? And also a metal or wooden bunk bed is more advisable for my gals?
Thank you.
Hello Mel,
Please use my Ask Ann page to re-send your question, and I will be happy to take a look at the link and give you advice about your bed. Please also include more information about your “gals” -> I’m not sure who you are referring to. Thanks.
Dear Ann!
I think you have excellent content which is quite enjoyable to read; and I appreciate your knowledge! Thank you.
I have two questions that might also be of interest to your other readers:
What are your thoughts on a wing-back button-tufted head board with a slightly rounded mountain shape, and nail heads down each side? Remedies? Color of Natural Olive Green or Deep Violet.
And I’d love to know your thoughts on a pink faux leather upholstered trundle bed set for a little girl’s room. The top is a full size, and the trundle is twin. I will add a pink kid’s bed tent over the one she sleeps in.
Many thanks and best wishes for the upcoming holiday season and New Year!
Hello Marti,
As you know, your bed (and your daughter’s bed) are the most important pieces of furniture in your life. In order to answer your questions in the best possible way I would need much more information about you and your daughter, your life goals and challenges and more. Please let me know if you would like to schedule a mini-consultation during which I can advise you best.
Dear Ann
I have been searching madly for a solution to my problem for months and am hoping you can help.
I have no wall behind my bed, there is a gap of about half a meter then there is the wardrobe housing my clothes with sliding doors (the doors are made up of angle draws in which store my shoes) LOVE what I have designed but my bed a low modern design (which has a low wooden bed head covered in off white leather) has no supporting wall. Since the beginning I do believe it has changed everything about my life, sleep, bad relationship, no real support, health issues etc (that before this change was actually really great and now non existent) everything I have researched says I need a wall behind my bed but I can no longer do that, I am wondering can I do a solid half wall just higher than the bed? Would this help? I am also going to down size back to a queen bed, as I have read going to a king was also a bad move? Please help lol
Hello Christa,
Yes, a half-wall will definitely help in your situation, it is much better than no wall at all. You want to create a sense of The Mountain providing you with support and protection as you sleep. Good luck, I am sure this will make a big difference in your life.
Hi Ann,
Thank you for your thoughtful approach to feng shui! I enjoy reading your articles. And I am curious about your thoughts on a headboard I got yesterday. My question is:
What are the properties of different kinds of wood for a headboard? Particularly, I am wondering about fir, as I believe that is what my headboard is made of. It is smooth and unfinished, with some weathering, used, but well loved, and has a good, wholesome energy to it, even though it has a crack near the attachment to the bed. I asked a guy who knew about woodworking and he said the crack was not a problem unless it got a lot bigger or made the piece structurally unsound (which it does not do). Interestingly, I have long wanted a headboard made of pine, but that hasn’t worked out for me, and instead, I got a prompting a few days ago that there was a headboard for me coming soon. And it is this one made out of fir. I believe this is the one the Universe wants me to have (and not pine), and I feel there is some significance about why, that relates to what they are made of – and I am curious for further insight. What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Jalyn
Hello Jalyn,
To be honest I do not know a lot about properties of different types of wood. I do know that pine is not always a particularly strong type of wood, so I suggest that you keep an eye on the crack in this bed!
Hi Ann,
I enjoy reading your feng shui articles. I have a master bedroom in SW direction. My husband is kua 9 and I am kua 6. Our head will face SW since we don’t have much option positioning the bed. We have a king bed (based on your artitcle it isnt as favorable as queen size). Which headboard would be best for us? Black wood with wavy (concave) design headboard or creamish white upholstered headboard? Could you tell me the meaning of these colors?
Thanks!
Hello Tracy,
I would need to see your floor plan in order to give you a good answer. Please re-submit your question at my Ask Ann page, and attach a plan of your home/bedroom. Thank you.
Is it bad to have a mirror as a headboard.
I really like the depth it gives to my apartment.
When I’m in my lounge room the mirror view shows a reflection of across my loggia. Which is long green hanging plants and my outdoor pond.
The mirror headboard also isn’t that large. 70cm x 160cm
I also have large European pillows against it for sitting up etc
It is framed in white wood. My bed linen is all white. And I have some Beautiful photography on the wall in black and white by Helmut Newton.
Two bedside tables & matching lamps.
I’m hoping a mirror isn’t too bad! Or that other things in my room counteract it!
Hello Tara,
The answer to this question can be found in your own life: are you sleeping well? Is your life going well, with good relationships etc? If the answer is yes, then no changes are necessary. We only make adjustments to try to rectify or course-correct things that are not going well in our lives.
I have two nightstands for each side of my bed with lamps on them each, But the nightstands and lamps do not match; is this terribly bad for bedroom ?
Hello Charlene,
This is fine – in fact it’s exactly what I have in my own bedroom. The point is to make sure that the room feels balanced, and that each side of the bed has equal light and access to a table/nightstand.