Sweet Dreams
The feng shui approach to children’s bedrooms

However active they are during the day, children need a place to rest that calms their exuberance and replenishes their energy levels. The bedroom is meant to be a young person’s sanctuary, his or her personal domain where all things magical, creative, inspiring and soothing have their safe place. But it is not always so and I am often asked to help rebalance the atmosphere of this important room.

Choosing the style and theme for a child’s bedroom is complex because its function changes so much during developing years. At different stages and different ages there are different needs and individual interests, plus girls and boys usually have quite different preferences. Nevertheless when assessing how to make the most of a bedroom so that the young occupant thrives, several key actors
are core considerations.

When deciding upon the best location for your child’s room, it is best to first have some idea what direction the house faces and where the potential bedroom or bedrooms face. Even without using a compass you can easily tell where the sun shines at around midday and that will identify the South, you will then be able to roughly calculate the other directions. An active child who wakes early before you are ready to face the day with enthusiasm is best located in the West, Northwest or North, whereas lethargic morning risers are better off in the East or Southeast, where the morning light may induce them to awaken earlier. It could even help to drag an indolent teenager out of bed before lunch.

The next two most likely decisions are choosing colours and furniture and there are some key guidelines in feng shui design that you
could find useful. Considerations change at different developmental ages. For a baby who is exploring every new sensation, colour stimulation is very important. Primary colours work - reds, blues yellows plus their bright combinations of green, bright pink, turquoise and purple. But use white as well to absorb and diffuse their strong energy. Around the cot or bed have mainly soft pastels instead. If sound sleep is a problem however, it will be helpful to cut down on these bright colours, particularly reds, bright yellows and vivid orange, which can actually increase a child’s appetite.

Boys tend to choose blue, though particularly with Northern rooms I prefer to use a warm cornflower blue. One advantage is that blue can help to subdue rising testosterone-charged activity levels in growing adolescents. Indigo blue in bedclothes and earthy mustard yellow ochre décor, or their combinations ,definitely seem to help induce a sound deep sleep that replenishes the energy cells ready for an active new day.

Try to avoid placing a bed in direct line with the door, particularly if it is also in line with a window. Lying in the line of chi between a window and door can feel hugely disturbing, hard to relax and difficult to sleep well. This is a general rule but it does not necessarily apply to every child. Just check it out for yourself. Also avoid having a ceiling light overhanging a bed, even inset ceiling lights are undesirable directly above a bed. Bedside lights are a better option.

These days bedrooms are often too ‘wired up’. It is unhealthy for anyone to sleep in an electromagnetic field, especially so for children. Use a battery-operated clock, radio and CD player. Plan to keep a computer and other electronic equipment inside a wall unit, with a flap that opens down to become a desk top. Switch off equipment including wi-fi when not in use and unplug all transformers because they emit a big electric field. Never have a cordless phone base station anywhere near a bedroom. Remember to check what happens in the rooms beneath or next to any bedroom and make the same adjustments. You could be surprised what a difference they will make to your child’s well-being.

For children who feel scared to sleep in their rooms, try dedicating their favourite cuddly toy to become their guardian whilst they sleep. Most children love that idea and it helps them to feel more secure during the night.

Finally but by no means least, do clear out every single item that is no longer useful, which includes clothes, toys, furniture and wall posters. Let children enjoy having around them what is meaningful for them now. Your child’s bedroom is an integral part of their development and it has a vital role to play in creating a healthy, happy family life.

Sylvia Bennett is a leading feng shui consultant, writer and teacher based in Devon and practicing internationally for over twelve years. She is also an environmental designer and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Contact Sylvia on 01548 580989 www.fengshui-living.com