Hypnotherapy is well known for healing trauma and pain relief. Hypnosis is also extremely valuable in working with sports enhancement, weight loss, motivation, self-esteem, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, increased confidence, smoking, phobias and stress related issues.

Category: Sleep Disorders (Page 8 of 10)

Preparation for Sleep – How to create Feng Shui in your Bedroom

If you’re looking to improve the feng shui in your home, start with the bedroom. The ancient Chinese art of arranging objects is a practice that some believe can positively affect your relationships, comfort, health, and well-being.

Benefits of a feng shui bedroom

Many experts believe that your bedroom is the most important room in your house to apply the feng shui principles. After all, you probably spend the most time in your bedroom.

A feng shui bedroom should be peaceful, relaxing, and balanced. You may also notice you’ll sleep better if objects are organized in a certain way. Some people who practice feng shui also believe that it can lead to better health and success.

While there are different perspectives on what to include and omit in a feng shui room, most experts embrace the same general concepts.

Pay special attention to your bed

We spend many hours sleeping in our beds, so the feng shui of our bedrooms is of the utmost importance.

First, I’d recommend putting your bed in the “commanding position” so it’s facing the door to your room. You don’t want the door to be behind where you sleep, as this is thought to create subconscious stress and uncertainty as you snooze. If possible, there should be at least 40 centimeters of walking space on the left and right side of the bed, with the headboard against the wall. Yes, you do need a headboard! A solid headboard without bars or holes, fastened securely to the bed, creates stability and harmony.

It’s also important to have space available on both sides of the bed. This means that you’ve made space for your partner (or future partner). Believe me: Nobody likes to sleep on the wall side! This also allows for a nightstand on each side of the bed. The nightstands do not have to match; however, it’s better if they are similar in size.

Take some time to make your bed every morning and thank it for supporting you every night. It’s a beautiful way to start your day with a little bit of order and peace. That energy can resonate throughout the whole day until your bed welcomes you back to sleep at night.

The 5 elements of feng shui

Feng shui divides everything into five elements that attract different energies. These elements need to be balanced in order to create harmony.

The five elements are:

  • Wood: Wood channels the power of creativity and growth. Trees, plants, or green objects can be used to represent this element.
  • Fire: Fire is the most powerful element. It harnesses passion, energy, expansion, boldness, and transformation. You can use candles or the colour red to bring the fire element into a room.
  • Earth: Earth represents stability and strength. Incorporate the earth element with rocks, carpets, old books, and anything brown or tan in colour.
  • Water: Water is related to emotion and inspiration. Water features, such as an aquarium, or items that are the color blue can represent this element.
  • Metal: Metal unites all the elements, while bringing focus and order. Use objects that are metal or white, silver, or gray in colour.

From using colours to placing certain objects in specific areas, there are lots of ways to bring feng shui into your bedroom.

Here are some best practices:

Declutter under your bed

Store items out of sight. This allows for energy to flow freely around you while you sleep. If you must store belongings under your bed, only stow soft pillows, blankets, linens, or other sleep-related items.

Buy a headboard

In feng shui, a headboard represents stability and support. Look for a headboard that’s solid wood, without bars or separations in it. Be sure to fasten your headboard securely to your bed.

Position your bed correctly

Place your bed with the headboard against a solid, supporting wall. Be sure it’s positioned as far from your door as possible, but not directly in line with your door.

You want to be able to see your door while you’re in bed, but you don’t want to be aligned with it. The idea is too much energy will flow through the door.

Use pairs

Feng shui experts believe that pairs are harmonizing. If possible, use pairs when placing furniture or other objects. For example, use two nightstands, one on each side of the bed. Ideally, the nightstands should be round with matching lamps on top.

Incorporate the right colours

Feng shui bedroom colors should be calming. As a rule of thumb, use furniture, bedding, and accessories that are neutral colour tones. Traditional primary colours, such as reds and blues, are usually not a good choice.

You can incorporate the colours that represent the different elements, but make sure they aren’t too bright or overwhelming.

Use soft lighting

Soft lighting, such as that emitted from table and desk lamps, is ideal for a feng shui bedroom. Also, try to incorporate as much natural light from windows as possible.

Choose inspiring artwork

Hang pictures or artwork of nature, peaceful scenes, or inspirational quotes. The most motivating image should be placed across from your bed so that it’s the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning.

Hire a feng shui expert – If you’re interested in feng shui, you may want to hire a professional who can come to your home and help you properly place your items and decorate your space.

When evaluating your room, feng shui experts may use a tool called a Bagua map that outlines different life areas, or stations, including:

  • health
  • wealth
  • marriage
  • fame

These areas correspond to different parts of a living space to help you determine where to place items.

What to avoid in a feng shui bedroom

Some common feng shui no-no’s can disrupt the energy of your room. Here are some things to avoid when creating a feng shui bedroom.

Don’t use mirrors

Mirrors are thought to disturb sleep and make the energy in a bedroom too active. You should especially avoid placing a mirror directly in front of your bed.

If you really want to have a mirror in your room, you can put one inside a closet door or have it face a window.

Avoid placing your bed under ceiling features

Your bed shouldn’t be placed under a ceiling that contains beams, a skylight, a fan, or an angled design. If your ceiling does contain these features, position your bed so that you don’t sleep directly under them.

Get rid of all clutter

Unnecessary clutter can really disturb the energy in your room. Keep all your items organized, and if possible, out of sight.

No plants or flowers in your bedroom

Plants are thought to contain too much energy for a bedroom. Keep all plants and flowers in other rooms.

Don’t store books in your bedroom

While it’s OK to keep a few books in your room, too many can overpower your space and make it feel like a place of work.

Say goodbye to electronics

TVs, laptops, and smartphones in a bedroom can all disrupt your sleep. They release electromagnetic energy even when they aren’t being used. If you can’t bring yourself to get rid of your phone at night, keep it at least one and half meters away from your bed.

Here are additional tips for feng shui that do not belong in the bedroom and more important points on how to position a bed:

  • Don’t place your headboard against a wall that has a toilet on the other side or your good fortune could be flushed away. If you have a primary bathroom connected to your bedroom, also avoid placing your bed in direct alignment with the bathroom door.
  • Don’t place your bed under any low beams, soffits, or sloped ceilings or you will feel pressure.
  • Don’t place water fountains, water features, or images of water in your bedroom, as that could encourage good fortune and love could wash away. While water elements (like fountains and artwork depicting oceans) can promote good feng shui in the home, they should also be kept outside of the bedroom since they give off too much energetic yang energy.
  • Don’t push the side of your bed up against a wall. Make sure your bed is positioned on a wall where you have space available on three sides of the bed (left, right, and foot) so that energy is not trapped.
  • Don’t put lights that can cast harsh brightness above your bed they can cause feelings of unease at night.

Preparation for Sleep – Best Plants for your Bedroom

Adding some plants to your bedroom can be a great way to create a peaceful sanctuary, whether they’re by your bedside table or serving as an impactful statement plant.

The benefits of a greenery on wellbeing and mood are well documented, but the best bedroom plants are great for physical health, too. Many of the best plants for the bedroom are air-purifying plants, filtering out toxins and releasing oxygen to improve air quality in your sleeping space.

There’s a perfect plant for your space, whatever the size of the room. A small bedroom idea is placing a compact plant or two on your bedside table, where it’s the last and first thing you see, to help you to feel calm and relaxed both when going to sleep and on waking up in the morning. Try a trailing plant to cascade from a high shelf, a trio of succulents on the windowsill, or for bohemian bedroom ideas, a tall statement plant in the corner.

For bedrooms with little natural light, there are many options for low-light plants, or to emulate positive energy, include some feng shui plants.

Read on to discover some of the best compact, trailing and statement plants chosen by the experts for the bedroom.

1. Open Weave Madagascar Dragon Tree

‘The Dracaena marginata Open Weave is the epitome of a statement plant, with its loosely woven trunks and spiky upright leaves,’ says Lindsay Pangborn of Bloomscape. ‘Adding instant height to a room, it has the ability to grow six feet tall or more indoors. It’s perfect for a bedroom with blank walls as a neutral bedroom idea, or narrow corners and can even look great behind furniture.’

Dracaena is also one of the best air-purifying plants, filtering out toxins from the air and oxygenating the room throughout the day – perfect for helping you achieve that great night’s sleep. It also makes an eye-catching room addition if you’re looking at decorating with plants.

2. Mother-in-Law’s Tongue – Sansevieria ‘Snakey’

Sansevieria is a highly architectural plant, producing sheathes of stiff, pointed upright leaves, each beautifully striped and often featuring a golden margin. Hailing from tropical West Africa, snake plant has it all as one of the best bedroom plants – striking looks, an easygoing nature, and fantastic air-purifying and toxin-absorbing properties. 

Compact and versatile, Sansevieria is one of the best bedroom plants and for year round performance is one of the best winter house plants, too.

‘Perfect for a bedside table, this air-purifying hero is very low-maintenance and can even be somewhat neglected, so is perfect for the busy plant parent,’ says Morag Hill, co-founder of The Little Botanical.

As with all options, you need to know how often you should water indoor plants. ‘Water only once every 3-4 weeks and give those leaves a bit of a dust occasionally. This plant will thrive in good light but is happy in a low light area, too, so is perfect for a darker bedroom,’ adds Morag.

3. Swiss Cheese Plant – Monstera deliciosa monstera

Monstera is another great statement plant for the larger bedroom. The large, glossy deep green leaves of the Swiss cheese plant are held on tall, gently arching stems, creating a stately and luxurious feel. Try placing your Monstera in a bright corner on the floor in a rattan basket for an on-trend look as a modern bedroom idea.

‘Monstera is sometimes called “Swiss cheese plant” due to its distinctive large leaves dotted with holes,’ says Lindsay of Bloomscape. ‘If your bedroom has plenty of space, this is a great plant to have, since it needs room to thrive and spread out.’

With its large leaves and ability to remove toxins from the air, Swiss cheese plant is another effective air-purifying plant so one of the best bedroom plants.

4. Peace lily – Spathiphyllum peace lily

Exquisitely elegant pure white spathes rise above glossy deep green leaves, creating a stunning contrast.

Although peace lilies are tolerant of a wide range of light levels, and are among the low maintenance house plants, the more light they receive, the more flowers they will produce, so they are an ideal choice for a bright bedroom.

Peace lily care is easy – just ensure the compost remains moist but not wet, dust the leaves from time to time and deadhead any faded blooms. They will also enjoy an occasional misting.

5. Satin pothos – Scindapsus pictus ‘Trebie’ satin pothos, Scindapsus pictus ‘Trebie’

For a more tropical look, satin pothos is another trailing plant that is ideal for a high shelf or hanging pot. Native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Queensland, this exotic beauty boasts flat, heart-shaped leaves in deep green with a stunning mottled silver variegation. Learn all you need to know about pothos plant care to keep it happy and healthy.

‘Scindapsus pictus ‘Trebie’ will add a vibrant splash of colour to any collection and is super easy to look after,’ says Emily Lawlor, owner of Happy Houseplants. ‘Suited to a wide range of light conditions, it’s a prolific grower, forming long, cascading vines that can easily reach the floor. Being tolerant of lower light levels, it is among the best bedroom plants.

This gorgeous, easy-care plant just requires watering once the top few inches of compost have dried out – give it a good soak and allow the excess to drain away.

6. Silver Inch Plant – Tradescantia zebrina tradescantia zebrina

With vining purple and green leaves with silver stripes, the Tradescantia zebrina is perfect for those looking to add a bold design element as a colourful bedroom idea.

‘With long vines, this plant also does well in a hanger or basket. When its long vines are pinched back, the Tradescantia zebrina will quickly branch out to become full and lush,’ says Lindsay. This compact form makes it perfect as a bedside table idea or for styling a shelf.

Native to Central America, Tradescantia thrives in a bright spot out of direct sunlight, with watering as the compost begins to dry out.

7. Weeping Fig – Ficus benjamina

Ficus benjamina is a top choice for a bedside companion.

With an abundance of glossy green leaves on every plant, a weeping fig can help filter out air pollutants, particularly those found in carpets or furniture.

Small weeping figs are ideal for the bedside table, but may need to be moved to the floor as they grow as they will become one of the best indoor trees.

This slender small tree oozes elegance, with the small, pointed dark green or variegated leaves borne on arching branches. Native to South Asia and Australia, weeping figs thrive in a bright spot out of direct sunlight, but must be kept away from draughts to avoid leaf drop. Water whenever the top of the compost has dried out, and an occasional misting will also be appreciated. Once you’ve found a spot where your weeping fig is happy, try not to move it around too much, as they can be sensitive to changes in environment.

8. Red Prayer Plant – Maranta leuconeura maranta or red prayer plant

Offering stunningly colourful foliage, the red prayer plant makes a great focal feature for any room. Each dark green leaf features lime green highlights, pink stripes along the veins and a pinkish bronze underside.

It is so named because the leaves fold up each evening like hands in prayer, before opening up again to greet you in the morning!

The red prayer plant is an easy-going plant that does well in a sunny spot with consistently damp soil. It’s the perfect size as a bedroom plant. Hailing from the Brazilian rainforest, maranta will also enjoy a weekly misting.

Maranta is not to be confused with the calathea, also sometimes know as the prayer plant which is closely related and also among the best bathroom plants.

9. English Ivy – Hedera helix

The English ivy is one of the best bedroom plants. This ivy is an air-purifying plant. English ivy is happiest in a slightly shady spot, so is perfect for most bedrooms.

English ivy is a tough, unfussy houseplant that is ideal for small bedrooms with little surface space, as it is ideally suited to hanging pots where it will tumble gently over the sides.

With glossy, star-shaped leaves that can be either deep green or variegated, it makes a very attractive, naturalistic houseplant. Just don’t let it sit in water – allow the soil to dry out a little in between watering.

10. Succulents – succulents in pots on a bedroom surface

Perhaps the ultimate when it comes to the best bedroom plants, succulents have enjoyed a huge surge in popularity in recent years.

They’re ultra-low-maintenance – it easy to get to grips with how to care for succulents – cute and quirky, and easy for anybody to grow. Just be sure you know when to water succulents.

These desert jewels also come in a wide range of colours, sizes and forms to suit every taste – from the sharp, stripy deep green spikes of Haworthia fasciata, zebra cactus, to the fat, silver oval leaves of Pachyphytum oviferum, moonstones.

For a truly stunning display, group several succulents with contrasting hues, textures and leaf shapes together on a sunny shelf or windowsill. Succulents dislike humidity, so the bedroom is ideal, rather than the naturally more humid bathroom or kitchen.

Although succulents generally have similar care requirements of infrequent watering with the soil drying out fully in between, and bright light – preferably direct sunshine for at least part of the day – some succulents are more tolerant of suboptimal conditions.

Do bedroom plants help sleep? – Bedroom plants can help you get a great night’s sleep, and wake up calm, recharged and ready to take on the day. Not only will a selection of carefully placed plants give your bedroom decor a stylish and contemporary lift, many also filter out toxins and release oxygen to improve air quality in your bedroom.

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