Is Your Bedroom Ripe for Romance?

Did you know that your bedroom décor can impact your sex life? I’m not talking about mirrors hanging from the ceiling or a sex swing in the corner (although they can be great fun!) Simple decorating choices can spice up your love life or turn it into a dud. Follow these tips to spice up your love life by changing your surroundings.

Clear the clutter. The Chinese art of Feng Shui deals with the flow of chi (energy) through a space. If your bedroom doesn’t feel like a sanctuary, it could be related to stagnant chi. Clear the clutter from the space to permit chi to flow freely and make sure there is room on both sides of the bed to walk. Do not store anything under the bed.

Get rid of negative energy. Negative energy may be related to past lovers or arguments with your present mate. Open windows, wash the linens and “air out” the room. Light a sweet-scented candle; strawberry is known to be an aphrodisiac. Some people recommend burning sage to “cleanse” a space.

A second-hand bed – or one you slept in with another lover — may contain “ghosts” of the past in the form of negative energy. Buy a new bed if possible, one that belongs exclusively to you and your lover.

Reduce family influence in the bedroom. Who wants to have sex with a picture of Grandma staring down at you? If you put any pictures in the bedroom, make sure they are happy photos of you and your lover. No parents, no children, no friends. In an extreme case of this mistake, a friend of mine kept an urn with her mother’s ashes in the bedroom. She said it didn’t bother her until my husband pointed it out… but still…

Shut work out (and no workouts, either). Books, paperwork and a desk in the bedroom make it hard to rest, relax – or do much of anything else a bedroom is designed for. Keep anything work-related out of the bedroom to promote an atmosphere of rest and romance. And that exercise bike or weight bench? Unless you’re using it as a prop for sex, put it in another room.

Not too feminine… or masculine. Pink frills and lace are cute for a little girl’s room, but they might make a male lover feel self-conscious. Likewise, a room that is too masculine in its design doesn’t inspire romance. Find a balance with colors like red, coral or deep pink. Blue is a restful color for a good night’s sleep, but balance blue hues with bright red sheets or accessories for passion.

If you’re single and looking for love…

Make space. Does your bedroom have “space” for a lover? Is your bed large enough for two and do you keep the half you don’t sleep in clear? Stocking your bed with stuffed animals, pillows or – worse – dolls from your childhood sends the message there’s no space in your life for a significant other. Some people even go so far as to keep half their closet and dresser drawers empty.

Get a set. A set – meaning a pair – of anything works well in the bedroom. Couple accessories such as lamps, knick-knacks, even nightstands to send the message that the bedroom is a space built for two.

Don’t forget your toys! Single or attached, make sure you have a special space in your room – away from prying eyes – to store your sex toys, lubes and accessories. Whether you put them in a cedar chest or a hat box in the closet, exploring the contents of your toy box should be a ritual wrought with excitement.

And if you decide to hang that sex swing, make sure it’s well-supported by a beam to avoid an embarrassing trip to the emergency room.