The bedroom layout mistake that's keeping you up at night

A feng shui expert has shared a bedroom mirror mistake that could be wreaking havoc with your sleep. Whether you often apply the rules of the Chinese philosophy to your home decor decisions - or just want to make your bedroom feel more zen - it is well worth noting this tip.

When it comes to how to Feng Shui a bedroom, expert Vicky Sweetlove says you should always avoid placing a mirror at the end of your bed.

There are loads of things to bear in mind when thinking about how to design a bedroom and it can sometimes get a tad overwhelming. But from our own experience, a mirror (or a TV - sorry!) facing you in bed is never a good idea.

Firstly, it always makes us feel as though someone's watching us. Also, as mirrors double the energy in the room, it doesn't exactly help to create a restful atmosphere. Try turning your mirror around and see if it feels different. 

Sleep experts at MattressNextDay spoke to feng shui consultant Vicky Sweetlove, who agrees with us on this one. 'When a mirror is placed in front of the bed, it is mirroring everyone in the bed,' she comments.

'It is symbolic of a third party being in the relationship,' says Vicky. So if you're looking for advice on how to sleep well, it could be that you just need to move your mirror away from the bed.

If it's a leaning mirror, quickly try it out in the hallway. It'll work so much better there for checking your outfit before heading out - or perhaps opposite a window in your living room if there's adequate space to double the natural light.

Many feng shui professionals say placing a mirror opposite your bed could encourage insomnia. According to the philosophy, when we sleep at night, our soul leaves the body.

When the soul sees its own reflection, it's shocked - and it's said that this could cause bad dreams. Along with this, when your soul leaves the body, it can mistake the image in the mirror as the ‘real body’.

Adding a mirror is the oldest trick in the book for creating light and a sense of space, but when it comes to your bedroom, think carefully about where it should go...