In Feng Shui, the bedroom holds immense importance as the heart of rest, intimacy, and personal energy. While many people focus on bed placement and room color, a commonly overlooked area is what’s directly above the bed. Believe it or not, certain items positioned above your head while you sleep can disrupt energy flow (Chi), affect your subconscious mind, and even bring about restlessness or emotional stagnation.
If you’re trying to cultivate a serene and balanced bedroom, these are the five items Feng Shui experts strongly advise keeping far away from the space above your bed.
1. Books: Energetically Overwhelming
Books might seem harmless, but placing them above your bed can energetically overload your space. Feng Shui specialist Dee Oujiri explains that books carry intense mental energy, making it difficult to unwind.
“Think of it as falling asleep beneath a whirlwind of thoughts — that’s essentially what you’re inviting into your energy field,” she notes. Instead, keep your bookshelf in another area of the bedroom, preferably away from the headboard, or better yet, in a study or living room.
Quick fix: If shelving is unavoidable, store non-mental clutter items above your bed like empty baskets or light décor pieces with no emotional charge.
2. Shoes: Walking Over Your Energy
Shoes might symbolize fashion or success, but in Feng Shui, they carry the symbolic meaning of people “walking over” you — especially problematic when placed above or under the bed.
According to Feng Shui wisdom, shoes represent movement, hustle, and the outside world. Bringing that energy into your sleep sanctuary can cause instability and lack of rest.
What to do instead: Store shoes in a designated closet or under-bed drawers away from the center of the bed. If space is limited, create a mini-shrine or shoe rack in the closet, where they’re out of your sleeping energy zone.
3. Photo Albums and Personal Pictures: Emotional Baggage
Hanging family photos or keeping memory-filled albums above your bed may seem heartwarming, but Feng Shui experts warn against it. These emotionally charged visuals can trap you in the past and prevent restful, regenerative sleep.
“Your bedroom should help you focus on the present and future — not keep you emotionally tethered,” says Oujiri. While you don’t have to get rid of meaningful photos entirely, relocating them to a hallway, gallery wall, or even a closet can improve bedroom energy.
Feng Shui tip: If you still want visual art above your bed, go for calming landscapes or abstract pieces that represent future goals or peaceful emotions.
4. Fitness Gear: Overstimulating Energy
Workout equipment symbolizes active, yang energy — the exact opposite of what your bedroom needs. Even passive items like yoga mats or dumbbells above or around your bed can disrupt your sleep and keep your mind buzzing.
“Your room should be your recharge zone. Placing weights, mats, or gym gear overhead confuses the body and sends signals of activity instead of restoration,” says Dee.
Best practice: Store all workout items in a closet or another room. If your bedroom must double as a fitness area, make sure gear is hidden or covered when not in use.
5. Electronics: EMF Exposure and Mental Clutter
From phones to tablets and even small Bluetooth speakers, electronic devices emit electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) that are known to disturb sleep quality and energetic harmony.
Having electronics directly above your head amplifies this exposure. Beyond EMFs, devices also represent mental clutter and distraction — two things you don’t want in your sacred sleep space.
What to do: Charge your devices across the room and never install shelves above your bed to house them. If unavoidable, unplug and cover them at night with fabric to soften their energetic impact.
Feng Shui FAQ: What Can I Safely Place Above My Bed?
Ideally? Nothing. Feng Shui practitioners agree that the cleanest, most energetically sound solution is to leave the wall above your headboard completely bare — or opt for a tall, padded headboard that acts as a protective energy shield.
However, if you feel compelled to decorate the space, here’s a simple rule: only place art or décor that inspires peace, love, or future aspirations. A framed print of a calm seascape, an abstract painting in earthy tones, or imagery of a dream vacation home are acceptable and even encouraged.
Before sleeping, take a moment to visualize your goals using that image — aligning your subconscious mind with positive intention.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to Feng Shui bedroom design, sometimes it’s not what you add — but what you remove — that makes the biggest difference. By eliminating overstimulating, emotionally charged, or symbolically disruptive objects from above your bed, you’ll instantly improve the room’s energy.
Whether you’re optimizing for deeper rest, more harmony in relationships, or simply a more supportive sleep environment, being mindful of what surrounds your sleep space can have a profound impact.