6 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Ready for Love

Lovelies:

When a friend of mine mentioned that she'd hired a Feng Shui consultant to help her re-decorate her apartment, I rolled my eyes. Feng Shui, in case you don't know, is an ancient Chinese art by which adherents rely on a set of of aesthetic principles to arrange their living spaces in such a way that positive energy is increased. If that sounds like a lot of mumbo-jumbo to you, you're not alone. But last weekend, I was at my friend's apartment for a little dinner party, and I was impressed by how much more inviting her apartment seemed, compared to the last time I'd been there. So I decided to get in touch with her Feng Shui consultant, Alessandra (whose company is called A Little Feng Shui), and get her tips on making any bedroom more appealing.

She began by telling me: "In simple terms, part of Feng Shui is the art of mindfulness. When we consciously create our space using Feng Shui, our environment acts like a magnet to attract our highest intention. So, if it's love that you are seeking, your space must exude love."

Then she went on to give me these very specific bits of decorating advice:

DON'T PLAY HARD-TO-GET WITH YOUR BED.

Make sure your bed isn't pushed into a corner so that it's hemmed in by walls on two sides. If it is, your nighttime partner will always have to climb across the mattress to get to his (or her) side, and that can become a drag. So be sure to make your bed easy-access; have "walkways" on both sides.

ALWAYS HAVE TWO NIGHTSTANDS.

Having two nightstands not only ensures that your bed is accessible, but also visually signals your readiness to have another person in your bedroom--and in your life. If there is only one side table, any person you're dating won't feel very at home; when he (or she) spends the night, he won't have any place to put a phone, a pair of glasses or whatever else he might want to keep handy. Thinking you don't have enough room? Make room, says Alessandra. "The second nightstand does not have to be as large as the other one," she says. "I often suggest buying a small wooden stool--they are inexpensive and do the trick. Just throw a tiny lamp on it and you're done!"

REMOVE ALL PHOTOS FROM THE BEDROOM.

Don't crowd your sexy-time space with reminders of your relationships with other people. Instead, keep your framed pictures in the kitchen or living room. That way, the only two faces in the room where the making of the love happens will be those of you and your partner.

REMOVE ANY MOTEL-ROOM ELEMENTS.

That means getting rid of the television, if you have one in there. It distracts from the more important business at hand, whether it's getting hot and heavy, or sleeping.

GO FOR THE KIND OF LINENS YOU'D FIND IN A FANCY HOTEL.

Splurge on sheets with a high thread count (they do feel so much more luxurious) as well as a bright, attractive comforter or duvet cover. "Make your bedroom the most comfy and inviting place in your world," says Alessandra.

NO TEDDY BEARS.

You're trying to attract a grown-up, not a toddler.

Folks: Thoughts on all this? Do you still think Feng Shui is mumbo-jumbo ... or do these seem like reasonable tips to you?

xxx