Your bedroom should be a peaceful haven you retreat to for rest and emerge from with a sense of rejuvenated energy. Creating a feng shui bedroom not only instills the peace you’ve been looking for, but according to proponents of feng shui, it encourages better sleep, increases wealth, and promotes happiness and love in your life.

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese pseudoscience that uses energy to harmonize individuals with their surroundings. Though feng shui was historically practiced to orient buildings (typically spiritual sites like tombs) to bodies of water and stars, contemporary feng shui (developed in Western culture in the 1970s) focuses on how to situate human-built environments (like homes and office buildings) on spots with good qi (pronounced chee), or good energy. It’s the art of placement, if you will.

Pairing nicely with the minimalist school of thought, feng shui embraces the concept that an uncluttered space symbolizes having more. And according to feng shui philosophy, when you clear your home, you create freedom and openness in the rest of your life. And we all know we could use a little more balance and openness.

Creating a feng shui bedroom

1. Declutter

From a feng shui perspective, clutter is thought to impede forward progress in life. By getting rid of junk and creating a minimalist bedroom, you can allow for qi to flow freely around the room. Declutter your bedroom by removing any junk stored under the bed and keeping furniture to a minimum. This less-is-more approach also applies to your closet—get rid of clothes that are unflattering, worn, or out-of-style and sort the remaining clothes by color and season for optimal organization and balance.

2. Make room for natural light

To achieve peace and regulate your sleep-wake schedule, you’ll want lots of natural light during the day, soft lighting in the evening, and darkness when you sleep. Open curtains in the morning to let in plenty of natural light, light a few candles or use low-wattage bulbs in the evening for a softer ambience, and shut off all lights off to submerge yourself in total darkness before drifting off to sleep.

3. Improve air quality in the room

You can’t perfect a feng shui bedroom if the air quality is poor. Indoor air pollutants can lead to breathing difficulties and exacerbate respiratory problems like asthma or bronchitis, decreasing your body’s energy levels. Open your windows to let in fresh air or install an air purifier to help you breathe easier. We recommend the Molekule air purifier—this sleek device uses nanotechnology to break down air pollutants and destroy them at the molecular level.

4. Use soothing colors

Feng shui practitioners recommend adorning your bedroom with neutral tones like copper, peach, cream, and tan to promote optimal rest for your feng shui bedroom—these colors are thought to promote sensuality and a peaceful environment. Crisp white walls should be avoided at all costs since they can be stimulating at night.

5. Pare down on technology, make the bedroom a for rest

A good feng shui bedroom should be a place for rest, contemplation, and intimacy. Not only does technology create high electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that ruin your energy flow, it also brings work and stress into your personal life.

Remove computers and TVs from your bedroom and put them in a spare room or home office. And if you have to keep your smartphone in your room as your alarm clock, leave it at least five feet from your bed so you have to get up to turn it off. If you have a smaller bedroom that pulls double duty as a bedroom and workspace, use a lightweight folding screen or curtain to separate the two areas.

6. Carefully position your bed

In feng shui, it’s recommended that you position your bed in the “commanding position.” This position is as far away from the door as possible but in a spot that still allows you to see the door (you want to be able to see the door but not be aligned with it). Keeping your bed in this position provides a sense of safety and protection while you rest.

Have your bed easily approachable from both sides and make sure it’s against a supportive wall. Additionally, you’ll want a solid headboard and mattress for strength and support and comfortable quality sheets for a good night’s sleep. For a zen nightstand, limit items to a lamp, a picture you love, and a small succulent or jar of fresh flowers.

7. Organize your room in pairs

To achieve maximum balance in your feng shui bedroom, outfit the space for two people, even if you aren’t in a relationship. Present the room in pairs, with two nightstands, two pillows, two chairs (if there’s room), and two lamps. In feng shui, pairs are thought to promote harmonious, loving energy.

8. Nourish your senses

For a fuller feng shui experience, experiment with accessories that align with your five senses.

• Smell—Use an essential oils diffuser to breathe in calming scents before bed. Lavender and jasmine are perfect for winding down and de-stressing.
• Touch—Go with soft, inviting fabrics that you’re drawn to. Organic cotton or satin is recommended for your furniture, bed sheets, pillow covers, curtains, and cushions.
• Sight—As mentioned before, earthy tones and pairs bring a wave of peace and balance when you enter your feng shui bedroom. In addition to these elements, choose art that depicts what you want to manifest in your life. For example, hanging a piece of art that suggests success close to your bed can inspire and bring a sense of joy when you wake up.
• Sound—White noise machines can help you relax and unwind at the end of your day. Check out our recommendations for the best white noise apps.
• Taste—Keep food out of the bedroom but always have a glass of water on hand to nourish and rejuvenate you in the morning.

What to avoid in your feng shui bedroom

To create the perfect feng shui bedroom, leave these elements out.

1. Mirrors—Not only do they bounce too much energy around the room, they’re thought to magnify problems and worries.
2. Sharp corners—Sharp corners have too much pointed energy and can create a hostile environment. Integrate furniture with softer edges for less cutting energy.
3. Plants—Because of their movement and carbon dioxide output, plants are not recommended for the bedroom.

However you imagine your feng shui bedroom, a great feng shui bedroom will inspire you, promote balance, create a sense of calm, and reflect love, healing, and relaxation. Use this notion to approach feng shui logically, practically, and with a sense of empowerment.