Should You Put a Bed in the Middle of a Room? Try These Pro Tips to Make It Work

When deciding on the best place to put your bed, think beyond the four walls of your room. If you've got enough square footage to work with, positioning your bed in the middle of your room may be a smart move that can really enhance the flow of your bedroom.

We've talked to designers to find out the best way to put a bed in the middle of the room and have it look like you've purposefully floated it.

How to Float a Bed in the Middle of the Room

According to Ami McKay, interior designer at PURE Design, determining the best location for a floating bed takes a little trial and error. It will depend on the exact shape of your room plus the specific goal you want to achieve.

For example, if you want to create a better traffic flow in your room, you may need to center or slightly off-center the bed so you can create wide enough walkways to your closet, desk, and exit.

Once you land on a spot that feels right, she suggests using an area rug and other furniture to anchor the space.

"Consider a piece of furniture such as an armoire or cabinet behind the bed to add height and act as a room divider," she says. "The goal with furniture—or a temporary wall—behind the bed is that it should be wider than the bed so you can also have side tables and fixtures."

Now that you know the basics, we'll get into a few other tips and tricks for specific situations.

Use the Space Behind Your Bed For Storage

Putting your bed in the middle of your room is a great way to make the most out of what would otherwise be dead space. It opens up the area behind your headboard for storage possibilities.

While a dresser behind your bed will work, think bigger if your room lacks a built-in closet.

"You can create and utilize storage such as wardrobes or millwork closets on the wall behind the bed," McKay says. For example, you could place the IKEA Pax wardrobe against the wall and use a clever hack to elevate the look.

Consider the Architecture and Extra Space

Large rooms with interesting architecture practically beg for a floating bed.

"There are several reasons to have a floating bed in your room," McKay says. "Maybe your room has several doorways, windows, and architectural features you would prefer not to block, or you want to make the most of a view."

If you love natural light, floating your bed is a great way to avoid putting furniture in front of a window. Depending on where your windows are, that may mean aligning your bed at an angle, which may actually work in your favor.

"In a large loft or studio, a floating bed can fill up an area with creative positioning," McKay says.

Putting your bed at an angle to accommodate the best view may make bedside table placement tricky. If this is the case, you can opt for a platform bed with extra room on the sides to place a glass of water on at night.

Make Your Own "Wall"

Creating a temporary wall is also an option, and it's easier than you might think.

"Building a temporary wall behind the bed with shelving and wiring for sconces is a clever addition," McKay says.

But if you're renting and not able to build a temporary wall, she notes that there are other things you can use to create the illusion of a wall.

"You can cluster plants behind the bed for an easy fix," she says.

A Note on Floating Your Bed and Feng Shui

A floating bed isn't technically the most optimal bedroom layout for good Feng Shui. This is because a wall can provide a sense of security as you sleep.

However, there are some workarounds and other ways to incorporate positive Feng Shui practices into your room. For example, opting for a large headboard may help replicate the feeling of a wall behind you, and so can placing a room divider behind the bed.

Additionally, positioning your bed in a place where you have a commanding view of the doorway will also provide you with a sense of safety and security.

Lastly, sleeping away from your electronics is a good Feng Shui practice, so floating your bed where there are no nearby outlets to charge your phone may also help you lean into that habit.

Read the original article on The Spruce.