Is there any scientific study about where should the bed be facing?

This is something I always wondered because some people have a bunch of theories about whether your head should face north or south or whatever, because of the earth magnetic field. Is there any science in this or just “superstition”?

Also, would it be better to have the head towards a window or away from a window, even if closed (e.g. in winter)?

I’m basically asking whether there exist “recommendations” on how to structure a bedroom backed by science.

leftzero ,

I don’t know about scientific studies, but in my experience I sleep best when the mattress side of the bed is positioned towards the ceiling. Also, putting the bed in front of the door can be somewhat inconvenient, specially if the door opens inward. Other than that, everything else seems to mostly be fair game.

Sims ,

Doubt it, and www.semanticscholar.org says no, but I might not have the right search words. Try it out.

This one checks whether open windows influence sleep, so at least there’s some vague recommendations in there: semanticscholar.org/…/474319b817b0c581a72113c194f…

Kit ,

It’s safest to keep your bed against an interior wall instead of a window, in case of earthquakes or other natural disasters. Or even someone crashing their car into your house, bombs dropping, etc.

linucs OP ,

Source? :)

Anyolduser ,

Source is that cars usually crash into houses from the outside and not out from the inside.

A secondary source is that broken glass comes from windows and not walls that don’t have windows.

It’s a bed. You’re overthinking this.

WhyAUsername_1 ,

Hahaha I laughed so hard at this one.

Kit ,

Broken glass hurts.

Treczoks ,

The important facing questions are “where is my window facing” and “where is my bed facing in relation to the window and door”. Magnetism is irrelevant, as we are no migratory birds who can actually sense that field.

FooBarrington ,

Although you’re practically right, we can technically actually sense magnetic fields. It’s incredibly weak and you have to drown out all other senses, but it’s possible.

Treczoks ,

Source?

FooBarrington ,

www.biorxiv.org/content/…/448449.full.pdf

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg3pza4y2ws

linucs OP ,

Why important? Where should it be facing in relation to window and door?

Treczoks ,

Facing away from the door (I.e. having the door in the back) makes some people anxious, like people usually turn and face the door in an elevator. That’s why a hotel bed often faces the door.

The position relative to the window is a question of light.

Num10ck ,

situational awareness. humans instinctually need to feel safe. sleeping with your head right by the door gives you the least amount of reaction time/space to stave off invasion. inagine a rabbit sleeping with its nose out of a rabbit hole. in modern times with modern locks and security, its not a big consideration to be faie. but the instinct is there. people like headboards on beds for the same cavelike feelibg of protection. so yea head away from the door, bed not by the door. windows used to be avoided for being drafty or leaking light.

Witchfire ,
@Witchfire@lemmy.world avatar

North-facing bed in a south-facing room, so the morning light comes in behind you. Reverse this in the southern hemisphere.

Apytele ,

I can tell you as a nurse your body should move and shift in your sleep anyway to avoid wearing holes in your butt, and needing to face a specific direction feels to me like it would interfere with that natural defense mechanism against pressure ulcers.

starman2112 ,
@starman2112@sh.itjust.works avatar

I don’t have any data to bring to the table, but just think about our evolution. It makes sense to me that we evolved to be able to get our sleep when we can where we can, rather than needing to face a certain direction or have the window to a particular side.

Psychologically, it makes sense to me that you’d be most comfortable in a position where you can see the door, but I have to assume our ancestors 10,000 years ago didn’t have the luxury of pointing northward or something. Maybe it’s best to have a window facing east so you can get natural sunlight in the morning.

Curious_Canid ,
@Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca avatar

I find beds to be most comfortable in the “legs downward” orientation.

kometes ,
@kometes@lemmy.world avatar

This doesn’t work in Australia.

Curious_Canid ,
@Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca avatar

Fair point. Strapping yourself into the bed is less comfortable.

WarmSoda ,

No

linucs OP ,

Thanks, have a good day

BlueLineBae ,
@BlueLineBae@midwest.social avatar

The only real effects that I know of are light related. If you’re trying to sleep, making it as dark as possible is best. So using an eye cover or blackout curtains can help. But when you want to wake up, sunlight helps us wake up easier. This can be tricky in the winter when the sun rises later and doesn’t peek into your window until after you’ve already had to wake up. I think there are some phone alarms that will slowly add a warm light to the room to help with this, but I couldn’t say if they actually work or not. Hope this helps.

MrJameGumb ,
@MrJameGumb@lemmy.world avatar

I got some Cync adjustable light bulbs and I set them up in the app on my phone to turn on low and slowly get brighter when I need to wake up

MrJameGumb ,
@MrJameGumb@lemmy.world avatar

I don’t think it really makes a difference unless you’re really into feng shui. The best position for your bed is whichever one allows you to sleep most comfortably

fine_sandy_bottom ,

My mrs claims to be into “feng shui”.

Honestly most of it is just sensible layout advice wrapped in bullshit woo woo.

DirigibleProtein ,

I’d drop a link to the Penn and Teller: Bullshit episode about Feng Shui, but I can’t find one.

BaalInvoker ,

This kind of thinking is just superstition. The earth magnetic field does NOT influence in any way your sleep.

This is just magical thinking distortion.

The bed must be only in a cozy and dark environment, not too warm nor too cold. Also, your bed room must be used only to sleep or sex. Don’t do any exciting or stressful activity on your bedroom.

dustyData ,

only to sleep or sex

Don’t do anything exciting

Do you mean to say that sex isn’t exciting. Or are we only supposed to have boring sex in our bedrooms. Or are you implying that the only exciting sex happens outside the bedroom?

BaalInvoker ,

Oh, man… Don’t be like that…

You got what I said.

SatansMaggotyCumFart ,

I use my bed for pooping.

moody ,

Sex is for procreation only. No fun or excitement allowed. It must be silent, and exclusively in the missionary position. Deviation from these rules is unacceptable.

lemming ,

That’s a strong claim you’ve got there. It seems humans do possess some amount of magnetoreception, there’s even a suggested mechanism. It might be jammed by certain radiofrequencies, although I don’t know if they are still in use. Some other mammals have been shown to sense magnetism too. Personally, when I’m in a bed, especially a new one, I feel my rotation relative to my normal bed. It isn’t very precise and it’s difficult to test, so I can’t be entirely sure, but that’s how it feels. I don’t know about any studies relating magnetism and sleep. I know there historically were people who claimed it matters to them, but I think that unless you already know that it matter to you, it probably doesn’t. I’d say that much more important is darkness. Also, I heard people feel better with feet towards the door, but I don’t know if it’s proven in any way.

lemming ,

I wonder why I’m being downvoted. I very much welcome discussion. If you want to tell me why I’m wrong, like that cryptochromes cannot be used in sensing magnetic field upon closer look etc., I’d be excited. Disagreement without pointing out any mistakes I did brings me nothing.

If it’s just disbelief, I would’ve preferred being asked for sources. Even wikipedia mentions some of what I wrote (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetoreception) and while I admit my source isn’t primary literature, it is a monography about senses and I would’ve made an effort to track down at least some of the original papers.

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