Feng Shui for Children's Bedrooms

The most obvious factors to take into consideration regarding the children's bedroom is that they are growing, exploring, curious, active, unique and evolving into their true potential. How can you begin to create a space which can reflect all these needs? Given that they spend a third of their formative life in this space, it is vital that the bedroom reflects their personality and desire to grow and explore. Green and blue decor has a relaxing effect while shades of yellow can stimulate their mind, unless the yellow is particularly bright it is unlikely to cause insominia.

Try to keep the central sector of the bedroom floor free for them to use as they please. Whether this is for their games, their projects or simply wrestling with their siblings, it needs to be open and free for the circulation of Chi. Generally speaking, mobiles are excellent in children's bedrooms. They help to circulate the Chi within the space but I wouldn't recommend placing them directly over their head while they are asleep. The position of their bed relative to the door (as with adults) is also vital. However, do let them experiment where they feel most comfortable sleeping within the room.

For younger children, it is important to bring furniture into the room that is of their scale. Living as they do in an adult world, they may feel that they are in Lilliput, surrounded by massive people, huge furniture and wardrobes that look the size of houses! Position a full length mirror from the floor upwards so that they can see themselves. Obviously avoid placing this where their image is reflected while they are asleep. For older children, do allow them the freedom to personalise their space. What colours, what wallpaper, the layout. It is one thing to consider what we think is appropriate but they inevitably have a very different idea.

If two children share the same bedroom, then try to create some form of screening to allow them to personalise and individualise their own sector of the room. Children, like adults, all need their own space. Make sure that they have good access to controlling the lighting of the room and that any bedside light is quick and easy for them to find.

Sleeping under skylights, beams and shelves laden up with books and puzzles is certainly not ideal. The pressure from above can give them headaches and disturb their night's rest. Children adore bunk beds - they are an adventure, they have a choice of fighting for who sleeps on top and who sleeps underneath! If this is the only solution in the space that you have, make sure that the children interchange where they sleep regularly. Sleeping on the lower bunk gives a feeling of being under pressure and being in a cave. To soften this effect, consider painting the "ceiling" of the upper bunk a light colour to give more of an impression of space for the child who sleeps on the lower bunk.