Feng Shui Tips for Kids' Bedrooms
Kids, their bedrooms and Feng Shui. Feels like a good time to write about our most precious population and the psychological effects of their most important space which affects them more then ever in the current world we are living in. We are all affected by our spaces but more importantly the interior of our homes can alter our children's mood, behavior, and of course their sleep. After seeing many posts by moms seeking help with getting their kids to sleep through the night (and I don’t mean babies, even though some of these tips do apply) I decided to write this blog post in the hopes of helping parents with toddlers and school aged kids. We can all use a little bit of help with all the virtual learning and lots of time spent in our homes.
A painting for the Children and Creativity area created by an amazing Feng Shui colleague and artist Caroline Patrick Bornei.
Tip: One of the best ways to enhance a specific area in your home is to include artwork that is tailored to that space. Caroline creates beautiful artwork to support Feng Shui and bring harmony to interiors.
Colors
As far as colors go, the bright primary colors that are often used in children's toys, furniture, wall decor always baffles me as the bright colors are very stimulating and just encourage hyperactivity. Children’s books/toys already have so many bold colors in them, I definitely don’t recommend including bright colored furniture or walls but rather subdued colors to serve as a backdrop. It’s still possible to use colors on the walls without it all being neutral but pay close attention to the tones/color intensity of the chosen colors. As for furniture, why go for those primary colors as I’ve seen in many people's homes? You can always go for bright bedding with fun prints that you can change throughout the years without changing the entire look of the room.
Patterns, prints
Be mindful of the wall color, the wallcoverings especially shouldn’t be too busy. For example, stripes, and other bold patterns will not be productive in calming the child's mind when going to sleep or taking a break in their room. As a Feng Shui interior designer I don’t recommend very bold or very dark paint colors in kids bedrooms. Kids are busier than ever and many are overwhelmed from the many daily activities so providing rooms with simple soothing colors will help them get the rest necessary in their bedrooms and allow them to recharge. Patterns and/or prints that are too busy are also not recommended as it might be too stimulating for kids. Go for softer colors and if doing prints, be mindful of what they represent and how busy the patterns are.
Decluttering, organization
Make sure there’s ample storage space in the room to put away all of those toys, activities. And go through them often to make sure that only the necessary items stay. For example, toys and activities that the kids outgrew could be donated to make room for new age appropriate things. Organization is very important in kids rooms as well. Providing enough storage pieces is crucial in having the room clutter free.
Bed - command position
If possible, the bed should be positioned in it’s optimal position with view of the door but not directly in front of it. I often see beds positioned in front of windows, unless that’s the only option in the room, I recommend placing it away from the windows. It provides a more peaceful state of mind having the bed away from the windows. The bed should also be not too small and not too big just like in the children's story that we all know so well. A child needs to feel protected and supported in their bed. Placing the bed’s side against the wall also provides the much needed comfort to smaller children.
A supportive headboard is recommended and as far as kids beds go, having it next to a wall provides the support and comfort that they need. Take a close look to the location of where their headboard/head is positioned. Ideally it shouldn’t be directly behind a stove or bathroom plumbing if at all possible.
Under the bed storage
I advise against beds with storage underneath unless of course there’s a need for such storage in smaller spaces/homes. You would be surprised to see how the items under our bed affect us without us realizing it. Be mindful of what you store underneath and keep it to soft items such as extra linens or soft toys. Don’t store any toys, textbooks or games underneath the bed.
Lighting, Windows
As in all types of rooms it’s good to have multiple layers of lighting so that levels of light can be adjusted as needed. They might need a different type of light to do their studying/school work during the evening compared to reading a story before bedtime. Most importantly, don’t forget to open the windows for some fresh air from time to time.
Electronics
Electronics in the bedroom is a big no-no in Feng Shui but nowadays with everyone studying/learning from home it is hard to avoid it in the bedrooms. As much as possible, keeping the electronics out of the bedroom is recommended and if necessary to have a laptop or computer in the bedroom, trying to avoid additional unnecessary electronics is advised.
Art, symbolism
For kids who are having a hard time falling asleep in their room, take a closer look at the artwork, posters, drawings and anything that is on the walls especially those pieces by the bed or the ones that the child has a view of when waking up or going to sleep. The art that we see especially on a daily basis affects what we think about so choose images that provide the kids happy thoughts.
Furniture
More than ever, the need for a desk in a kids room is needed for virtual school lessons but even prior to the pandemic I always recommended that each child has his or her own desk for a dedicated work area if the space allows. A proper desk chair is best to encourage good habits from the start and to provide ergonomic support.
Check for towering furniture pieces either near by or especially in front of the child's bed. There shouldn’t be any tall pieces of furniture that might leave an uneasy feeling when going to sleep, waking up or sleeping.
Room position in house
The position of the room in the house should also be considered. Rooms above the garage are not ideal for children’s rooms and if a child is having a hard time in their room and there is a possibility of switching rooms, the location of the room and the position in the house might make a difference.
Above all, be mindful of what’s in the room and try your best to create a calming environment for your children in their most precious space so that they get the rest they need and are full of energy the next morning to conquer the world!
If you’re looking for help in improving your child’s room, please contact me to set up a complimentary 15 min phone call to discuss how I can be of help. And if you enjoyed my tips, please leave a comment below as that would mean the world to me especially if you made a change for the better. Thank you!
Hi. I'm Marina. I'm a NY State certified interior designer and certified Feng Shui practitioner.