Tag Archives: solution for beams over bed

June 1, 2010 · 11:18 pm

CURVY BEAMS: Thumbs Up

This pic comes from the same house as the last post about the 5 elements. I wanted to show you how sometimes beams are okay. Here the beams are straddling the bed on either side. Since they aren’t crossing you as you sleep, you aren’t really feeling the negative weight on you. (That’s a good thing, because these beams look really heavy!) Also, the unique curvature of the beams and the ceiling I think solve some of the feng shui problem. The curves certainly add yin appeal to all the square yang shapes used elsewhere in the room. Usually I disapprove of too high ceilings in the bedroom but here the headboard of the bed seems almost extended by the big red painting over it and then the clerestory windows above—all of it works and anchors the bed so it’s not swimming in a too big space.

TWIGGY BEDROOM IMPROVED BY FENG SHUI

Photo Credit: Roger Davies for Elle Decor

This is what some of my blogger friends call a “drool worthy room”. Elle Decor has the entire makeover of the barn this bedroom is situated in if you click here. I love the bed and the whitewashed bare barn but I always look with feng shui eyes. So let’s improve the feng shui here with some Feng Shui By Fishgirl touches:

1) Beam me up, Scottie! There are not only beams from the ceiling, but also cross beams from the twig bed. An easy fix is to tie a white linen or cotton “crumb-catcher” canopy to the bed. You can find a sheer fabric so you still have a light airy feel to it. White equals metal in feng shui terms and metal cuts the impact of the wooden beams. That disperses the energy so you don’t feel oppressive weight bearing down on you while you’re trying to get a good night’s rest in that gorgeous twig bed!

2) Balanced Side Tables…unless this is a guest room where one won’t be staying long, the feng shui would be better served by two matching nightstands and/ or two matching lamps. If it’s the master bedroom, the idea is to have equal balance so that no partner has dominance over the other. Unless you’re into that kind of thing of course, but that’s a different blog altogether!

3) Poison Arrows…the uncovered windows are in alignment (directly across from each other) and this causes a “poison arrow” of too-fast-moving ch’i. Again, a filmy cloth barrier would do the trick and still let the light and openness into the room. It doesn’t need to be a curtain. It could be a shade or shoji screen or even a bead curtain. Use your creativity!

Be sure to check out Elle Decor for the rest of this cool barn house. What would you do differently? Or, what do you love about it?

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Filed under Architecture, Feng Shui, Interior Design, Uncategorized

Tagged as bedroom feng shui, elle decor, Feng Shui, feng shui and windows, feng shui by fishgirl makeover, poison arrows, solution for beams over bed, wood beams

January 29, 2010 · 5:05 pm

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTIE: Beams & Feng Shui

This photo that I lifted from Apartment Therapy gave me a perfect illustration of “beams over the bed” feng shui problem. What we’ve got is a gigantic wooden beam crossing over the bed at about chest position. Then we’ve got support beams coming from the walls up to the cross beam that would be positioned over the sleeper’s head. What’s wrong with this picture?

Beams carry a lot of weight (that’s kind of their job, actually). In feng shui terms, the weight is then energetically pressing down on you if you are immediately under the beam. That’s fine if you’re in a temporary sitting area such as a dining room or living room. But it’s not fine for working at a desk all day or sleeping in a bed all night. Sooner or later it will give you problems with headaches, lack of sleep, pressure in your relationship and other problems.

It appears obvious to me that this bedroom is set up to enjoy the view out a window opposite the bed as well as the fireplace. This is where the bed has to go. No worries, Feng Shui By Fishgirl always has a solution. A classic feng shui solution would be to hang a firecracker under the beam. Doesn’t seem like that would work into the decor or add to the romance, does it? No. Therefore I would suggest painting the beams white. White is the feng shui equivalent of metal and metal cuts wood. In addition, I would create a canopy of fabric coming up from behind the bed and draped across to attach to the beam. This would transform the bed into a custom made canopy bed, bring down the ceiling height for a cozier sleeping experience, add some yin (feminine) energy, and solve the problem of the beam.