The color of a child's bedroom should be warm and nurturing. Colors such as terracottas, peaches, yellows that are earthy not bright, and warm, cheery beiges are all supportive and will help a child feel secure. Recently, it has become popular to decorate children's rooms in bright, primary colors such as bold yellow, fire engine red, and royal blue combinations. The thinking here is that they are stimulating colors, but they are too stimulating for a bedroom. Remember that this is the room you want them to sleep in and do their homework; if it is too stimulating, it will be hard for the child, especially young ones, to relax.

When choosing colors, think of your child's personality. Is he quiet and needs a little bringing out? Then choose a warm terracotta or a light green. Is she bookish to an extreme? Then avoid white walls... white walls over-stimulate the mental focus and could cause your child to become too analytical and withdrawn. White walls can also make it difficult for a child to get a good night's sleep.

Another key point is the location of the bed. Try to tuck it into a cozy corner having the head of the bed exposed to a hallway or close to the doorway. Best placement is kitty corner to the door or on a wall not in direct line with hall traffic. Even if the door is shut tightly, bed location matters because the child's subconscious perceives the entrance. Many parents, who shift the location of the bed, find that their children not only sleep better, but that their study habits improve too.

The direction in which your child sleeps is also important. With the head of the bed at the East or South, the child is more likely to rise early, which could be good for the child who has a hard time waking up in the morning. On the other hand, North and West are more settling and can promote deep sleep. Southwest, even if kitty corner in a room can be the most comfy and supportive. Northwest can be too mentally active and cause tossing and turning before sleep. Too often, children's rooms are connected to other rooms, such as a bathroom or another bedroom. Worse, is the child's room which people use to access another space. This can be very unsettling. On a subconscious level the child may not relax well at night, and during the day, the child may feel their needs are secondary to other's needs. Privacy and personal space are important concepts for a child to innately feel. Thankfully, there are solutions for such rooms.

Children also need images on the walls of things that are important to them. Boys often like sports posters; girls tend to like whatever is popular. But do try to have one thing on the wall that is grounding and inspiring, such as an enlarged print of a fun family outing, or something else that is special. Natural lighting is important; draw back the curtains to let light in.

For study purposes, it is best to have a child sit so that his or her back is to a wall with the desk facing into the room. Generally, people do the opposite: they set the desk against a wall and sit with their backs to the middle of the room. This sets the child up to be distracted by the activities going on behind them. As recommended, a wall supports the back and the body is able to concentrate and quickly process activity in front of them. Many parents tell me the shift helps their children feel more empowered and on top of their work and that they are less affected by distractions.

These are a few suggestions to help your child feel supported in his or her room. Each child is an individual.

Sally Fretwell is a Feng Shui consultant residing in Charlottesville, VA. She works extensively throughout the USA, teaching classes, writing and consulting with individuals and businesses. She has a Psychology degree and an extensive background in Chinese philosophy, the I-Ching and the Five-Element Theory. She authors the book, "Feng Shui: Back to Balance." Website: Feng Shui