How to Style a Bed In Front of a Window

According to feng shui principles, the bedroom is considered the room in your home that represents you. Take a moment to consider how many hours you spend in your bedroom versus all the other spaces in your home—and remember that, most of the time that we are in our bedrooms, we’re sleeping in the bed. This is why your actual bed also symbolizes you, and this is why the bed placement is one of the first things to consider when adjusting your home’s feng shui.

The principles of feng shui prefer a bed against a solid wall for support and security, but there's also the practicality of not wanting to block the natural light from a window with a piece of furniture, including a bed.

However, there are reasons not to follow these rules. Cozy, small rooms, for example, can't necessarily prioritize feng shui. Instead, they need to focus on the best use of the room and a floor plan that is comfortable for its occupants. And, in cases where the window is the only space to place a bed, there are ways to make a bed in front of a window look intentional and stylish. Here are 11 design ideas to try if you have to put a bed in front of a window.

Tips for a Bed Under a Window

If you have a bed that is placed under a window, it’s not the end of the world. It’s important to approach feng shui from a position of support rather than fear. Here are some or our feng shui tips to improve a bed placed under a window.

Drape the Wall Entirely in Curtains

Whether a bed has one window behind it or an entire wall of windows, draping the whole wall will give the look of a uniform appearance when the curtains are closed. Is it a solid wall? Is it windows? Who's to know! In this space, the luxe drapery even gives the space a soft, high-end hotel look.

Make Sure the Bed is Lower Than the Window

Choose a headboard that meets the window at the bottom of its frame and you'll have a vertical, cohesive look that appears intentional rather than looks like a last resort. This look is even better with a minimalist bed frame that fades into the background.

Create Contrast with the Window and Wall

Most styling tips for putting a bed in front of a window involve hiding the window or trying to make it blend in with the wall and bed. But what if you contrasted it instead? Paint the window trim a color that's exactly the opposite of the walls and make it stand out, then throw in a vibrant colored headboard. Let each piece become part of the design, rather than trying to hide elements.

Add a Solid Headboard

If you have to have a bed in front of the window, and that’s the only place for it, be sure that you have a strong and sturdy headboard that is attached to the bed. This will provide the necessary support, which is not provided by the window wall. The best feng shui headboards are solid, without perforations or bars, which are less supportive.

Install Window Treatments

You can install window treatments like drapes or roller shades to create energetic support. Visually, window coverings can provide a layer of reinforcement for you while you are sleeping in bed. Choosing treatments that are easy to keep clean is important—you don't want to have dust and debris collecting behind and above your bed.

Treat the Window Like a Destination

There's nothing better than an incredible view out of a window, right? So use the bed and other furnishings and accessories to lead your eye past the bed and right to the window. In this room, a line of light fixtures and a wide doorway create a visual journey straight to the window, making the bed feel as if it's in a place of honor, rather than the last place you wanted to put it.

Use the Window as an Extension of the Headboard

By hanging drapery almost to the ceiling, you can create the illusion of the headboard extending beyond its upper limits. Sheer drapery will give a solid look behind the bed, while still letting light in to maintain a bright and airy look. In this room, the black drapery rods echo the light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, perfectly framing the bed.

Secure the Window

The difficulty of the bed placement under the window comes from the lack of security and safety that comes from having a window behind you while you’re in a restful sleep state. Adding an alarm system, locks, or other devices to limit the operability of the window will give you more support and improve the feng shui.

Surround the Bed With Windows

If you can't avoid windows, embrace them. Use multiple windows to surround the bed, and create a light and airy sleeping-in-the-clouds feeling. Try dreamy, billowy drapery and a minimalist frame on the bed to drive home the sense of being one with the outdoors.

Set the Bed Below a High Window

If the bed is situated below a window that's high above the floor, then you can easily place the bed underneath and have the window function as a source of light rather than a distraction. Think about it like a skylight above the bed — just make sure you can get custom window treatments made for it to block early morning sun or bright street lights.

Run the Bed Parallel to the Window

If a bed has to go in front of a window, that doesn't mean it has to back up to the window. You can also run the side of the bed parallel to the window, which can give you the feeling of sleeping next to the sky. Since that likely rules out a nightstand on that side, this look works best with twin or full size beds.