Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui for a Captain's Bed

We have a captain's bed in our bedroom, but it is built into the three walls, and the bed is not in command position. The bedroom is in the Benefactors area of my home. How do I adjust our room/bed to promote positive feng shui?

Brenda C., Ansley, NE

Hi Brenda, thank you for your question!

In New York City people are always trying to maximize their storage space, so this question comes up often. Although it seems like a great idea to utilize the space under your bed for storage, it is not positive for feng shui purposes, except in a guest bedroom. For those of you who are unfamiliar, a captain's bed is a bed that's typically on a platform of sorts with a lot of storage underneath.

Why are captain's beds, or loft beds, not good feng shui?

First of all, you are very close to the ceiling, which doesn’t allow much room for chi to move around you sufficiently. The pressure from the ceiling pushes energy down on you.

Second, the storage under the bed does not allow chi to flow around you and underneath. The best situation is one in which there is space under the bed as well as plenty of room above.

Third, this bed is tucked into an alcove, closed on three sides. Feng shui-wise, it's best if only the headboard is up against the wall so your growth is not limited.

In addition, because of the bed's location on the feng shui map, this may indicate and create stuck energy in regard to benefactors in your life. You may find yourself with fewer helpful people in your life. We make money, improve our careers and find a lot of success by surrounding ourselves with supportive and resourceful people. When we are having difficulties, it’s a great idea to surround ourselves with positive people. 

The best suggestion is to get another bed. If that cannot be done, can you move the storage above and the mattress below? Be sure to reduce the storage on top. Avoid any objects negative in nature under or above your bed. If possible, relocate the storage out from underneath the bed completely. Remember, what storage you do put on top, be selective about it, and if possible move as much of this storage as you can outside of your bedroom.

I hope this helps! I can only give so much assistance without a full consultation, but thank you so much for being such a great supporter of my blog. I know you read regularly, and I appreciate all your comments and support.

by Anjie Cho


Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our a unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.


Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday".  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

Small Bedroom Ideas: The Best Ways to Maximize Your Tiny Space

featured on wirecutter by Caroline Biggs

Small bedrooms pose big challenges, particularly if you’re short on closets or if you need to fit in a home office. That’s why we asked five design and organizing experts for advice on getting the most out of a tiny bedroom, then tested decor in a 275-square-foot New York City apartment. Whether you want a storage bed, a compact nightstand, or a room divider, the 19 items we recommend should help maximize your small space.

Why you should trust me

I’ve been writing about small-space design for over seven years, for publications including The New York Times (now the parent company of Wirecutter), Refinery 29, Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, and Domino. For this guide, I researched hundreds of bedroom furnishings sold through Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, The Container Store, IKEA, Target, and other retailers. I tested more than a dozen items in my own 250-square-foot apartment and I evaluated other products in person at IKEA and West Elm.

I also spoke with five home-organizing experts to get their insights on designing a small bedroom: Emily Henderson, interior designer and blogger behind Style by Emily Henderson; Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, professional organizers at The Home Edit and authors of The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals; Tali Roth, interior designer at Homepolish; Anjie Cho, interior architect, holistic designer, and feng shui educator; and Nicole Anzia, professional organizer and founder of Neatnik.

How to organize a small bedroom

Before you decide what to buy, consider the types of items that work best in a small bedroom. Our experts recommended thinking about these four general guidelines to help maximize every inch.

…read full article


If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design Feng Shui certification program. Laura Morris and I launched our program in September 2018. To get on the list about it, sign up at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com.

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish.


Q&A Sundays: Using Feng Shui Crystal Balls

I bought a feng shui crystal a long time ago because it was pretty but I have no idea how to use it properly in my home. Help!

Jennifer K., Yonkers, NY

Feng shui crystals are used to adjust the flow of energy in a space. They are particularly effective for bringing light, brilliance and clarity to home or office space. Feng shui crystal balls are made of faceted glass, as shown here. I often recommend Swarovski leaded crystal glass balls, which refract the most light because of the lead content. Note, the lead is not harmful to you.

These feng shui crystals are easy to find online (check out the crystals at my store), and they come in various sizes. For feng shui purposes, most interior spaces should use crystals of 40mm or larger. In feng shui, it is also very important to hang feng shui crystal balls using a red cord.  Red is a very auspicious color and represents protection.  It’s even better if the cord can be a length that equals a multiple of 9 – like 9”, 18,” 27” etc.

Although there are many applications for feng shui crystals, they are best prescribed by a feng shui practitioner. However, there are some general uses that I can share with you.

Bring Light to your Entry 

Place a feng shui crystal ball in a dark or small entry to expand the space and attract positive energy, which then disperses the good chi into your home.

Clarity for your Mediation practice

Place a feng shui crystal ball above your meditation seat or just in front of you such that you can see it. It will expand and provide clarity in your practice to create harmony and peace within your inner and outer spaces.

Focus your Career

Place a feng shui crystal ball directly above your head while sitting at your desk. Be sure it’s fastened well and secured. The crystal will assist in focusing your energy specifically in light of your career and the work you do.

You can also click HERE to watch an eHow.com video on how to use feng shui crystals.

Thank you for your question Jennifer. It is actually a common one, and hope it helps you and the other readers. 

by Anjie Cho


Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our a unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.


Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday".  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!