Plants in a Feng Shui bedroom
It is often said that it is not advisable to put plants in a bedroom. At the same time, everyone agrees that plants bring a beautiful energy into our home.
So what advice should you follow? How to find the right ideas for bedroom decoration when the tips contradict each other? In this article, I propose to explore the subject: first of all, to better explain how plants are managed in the feng shui principles, then to remind you of the good practices to observe for the interior design of the room. Finally, we will see if feng shui allows plants in the bedroom, and if so, which plants should be favoured in this particular space. Follow the guide!
Plantes with Feng Shui
In Feng Shui, plants can be used in three ways:
- For their ability to purify the air and create a soothing atmosphere in the rooms (especially depolluting plants)
- For their ability to nourish the areas of the home that need the Wood element.
- For their undeniable decorative value
Of course, as you may have guessed, what is the easiest and quickest way to bring the wood element into an interior? With a bouquet of fresh flowers or a green plant!
Feng Shui is based on the idea that everything in the universe is connected and interconnected, including humans, animals, plants and inanimate objects. When energy flows freely, the environment is in balance and life is harmonious. However, when energy is blocked or stagnant, it can cause imbalances in the lives of the people occupying the living space.
Adding plants to the interior of the home can be beneficial in Feng Shui, as plants can actually help to improve the energy of an area. Remember my article on Bagua: the home is divided into 8 zones according to cardinal orientation. Each zone or sector needs to be harmonised differently because the Chi flowing through it has different characteristics.
Thus, although everyone agrees that plants are beneficial because they can help purify the air (by absorbing toxins and producing oxygen) while helping to create a feeling of calm and relaxation, Feng Shui will restrict their use in certain rooms of the house. This restriction will not, however, be in relation to the use of the room (bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom). It will be the sectors of the Bagua that will guide the expert in the recommendations.
A green plant is not neutral in Feng Shui. The energy it releases must not contradict the energies of the area. According to the Chinese 5 elements cycle, wood controls water. All rooms in the northern part of the house should not have a lot of house plants. In the same way, since wood destroys the Earth, they should be avoided in the 3 sectors of the LoShu square which benefit from the Chi of this element: the South West, the centre and the North East.
As we have seen, green plants are considered symbols of growth and vitality, and can be used to strengthen the Wood element; but flowering plants, such as roses or peonies, can be used to strengthen the Fire element at the same time (which loves Wood anyway, since Wood feeds Fire, right?
The feng shui bedroom
Before asking the question of the green plant in the bedroom, it is first necessary to make sure that the bedroom respects the most basic feng shui principles. Let me give you some good advice on how to make your bedroom a place that is conducive to soothing and falling asleep.
First of all, the bedroom is a room reputed to be yin so, in this sense, the colours and materials must have shades that respect this adage: rather pastel shades, soft materials, subdued lights… You should also avoid bringing in elements that are too yang, such as television sets or computers. Moreover, the decoration will be made in the respect of the elements related to the zone in which the room is located (green and brown colours in the East, pink in the South, yellow in the North East, grey in the West, etc).
The layout of the furniture, whether it is the bed, the chest of drawers, the wardrobe or even the desk, must be done in such a way as to ensure the free circulation of chi. But be careful, the energy must not be too violent. The bed, for example, should not be directly opposite the door, nor in the door-window flow (these configurations would risk disturbing sleep). The feng shui expert also dislikes large, wide beds that require separate bed bases, as this creates a line under the bed, which is not ideal for the couple…
If possible, when the configuration of the room allows it, the bed should be oriented in one of the 4 favourable directions of the sleeper. To know them, it is necessary to calculate the Kua number. Indeed, in feng shui, we do not say that you should always put your head in the North! If North is part of your personal directions then yes, I agree! But obviously, this is not the case for everyone, and even less for all the people who belong to the West group. If you would like more detail, I encourage you to download my free ebook “All about the Kua number” by clicking on the image below.
Can we put plants in the bedroom?
The answer is yes! It is entirely possible to put plants in a room, and it can even be beneficial for the air quality and your general well-being. Plants produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, which can improve indoor air quality by reducing pollutants and increasing humidity.
So why the urban legend about the dangers of having plants in the bedroom? Probably because we listened carefully to the biology teacher who explained the phenomenon of photosynthesis. Yes, plants produce oxygen and reject CO2 but the phenomenon is reversed at night! Ah, so the nasty plants are sucking up our air while we are sleeping and filling the room with toxic gas! Let me reassure you, no plant respiration is dangerous for humans. They do not emit more carbon dioxide than your spouse! The amount is too small to have a negative effect.
Plants have a calming effect and can help create a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere in a room. However, it is important to take into account certain factors. Firstly, make sure that the plants you choose are not toxic or allergenic to you or your pets (if you have any). Secondly, consider the amount of natural light available in the room, as not all plants have the same needs. Finally, make sure that the plants you choose do not require a lot of water or care, as you will tend to skip them (it feels like a lifetime).
It is perfectly possible to put plants in a room, but make sure you choose appropriate plants and take into account the conditions of the room before doing so. Because a plant should always be in perfect health! If it is wilted, lacks light or is simply sick, the energy it brings will not be beneficial to the Chi. Sick or dying plants can cause energy problems, so it is important to choose healthy and vigorous plants, and to ensure that they remain so by giving them all the necessary care.
Finally, you should avoid placing plants too close to your bed, as this can cause disturbances in your sleep (as can any living thing placed next to you).
Which plants should be favoured in feng shui?
In general, plants with rounded leaves are preferred: rounded leaves are considered more beneficial in Feng Shui than pointed leaves (such as dracanea or aloe vera) because they create a feeling of softness and calm.
Thorny plants should be avoided: the symbolism of the thorn does not correspond to a vibrant chi and these plants can even cause physical injuries. Exit the cactus!
The bonzai, despite a false belief, is not at all recommended in feng shui. We are constraining the growth of a plant, we are preventing it from growing: the energy that emerges is the opposite of what we are trying to obtain when we place a green plant to bring the wood element!
Similarly, I am not a fan of terrarium-type structures. You put plants under a bell. Do you think we are still in a growth energy?
Here are some examples of the types of plants that can be recommended:
- Plants with green leaves: plants such as ivy, laurel or bamboo are considered to be symbols of growth and vitality
- Flowering plants: roses, peonies, orchids or daffodils are considered symbols of beauty and luxury (they can be used to reinforce the fire element in addition to wood).
- Plants with large but not pointed leaves: banana trees, fig trees, rubber trees…
Some plants are particularly depolluting:
- Crassula ovata (jade tree)
- Bamboo stalks
- The orchid
- Spathiphyllum (peace lily, moon flower)
- Ficus
- Chlorophytum
- Eucalyptus
- Rubber
- Dieffenbachia
- Philodendron
- Syngonium
- Chinese evergreen
- Boston fern
I hope this article will give you some ideas to place plants in your room and that it remains feng shui! Finding the inspiration to decorate your room in a way that respects chi, sleep, the Bagua sectors… I know, it’s not easy! But if you knew how important it is to heal the energies in the bedroom! This is a former insomniac who tells you so!
