Vastu for home: the complete guide
1. What is Vastu for home?
By Aalok Trivedi · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
Vastu for home looks at which direction and zone each room sits in, measured from the centre of the home. Traditionally the entrance suits the North, North-East or East, the kitchen the South-East, the master bedroom the South-West, the pooja room the North-East and toilets the North-West or West. Best entrance: North, North-East, East · Avoid: toilet or kitchen in the North-East, heavy loads at the centre. Button: Check my home free
What is Vastu for home?
Vastu Shastra is the traditional Indian system for planning buildings in harmony with direction, light, air and the five elements. For a home, it gives a simple map: the building is divided into zones from its centre, each zone is linked to an element and a use, and rooms are placed where they are said to suit the way we live in them.
Many Vastu rules overlap with practical comfort: a kitchen on the side that gets morning sun, a bedroom in the quieter and heavier part of the plan, an open and bright entrance. Where they go further, they are traditional guidance. This page explains the guidance and tells you how to check your own home.
Add one line here linking to /vastu-shastra for the full theory.
The eight directions and what they govern
A home is read in eight main directions plus the centre. Finer systems divide it into 16 and 32 zones (see the 16 zone Vastu chart).
\[Expert to confirm the element and ruler of each direction; this table must match /vastu-shastra and the 16-direction chart page.\]
| Direction | Element | Ruler | Governs | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | Water | Kubera | Opportunity, finances | Living room, cash and records |
| North-East | Water | Ishana | Clarity, prayer | Pooja room, water source, open space |
| East | Air | Indra | Morning light, social life | Entrance, living room, study |
| South-East | Fire | Agni | Heat and energy | Kitchen, electrical panel |
| South | Fire | Yama | Rest and stability | Bedrooms, storage |
| South-West | Earth | Nairutya | Weight and stability | Master bedroom, heavy storage |
| West | Water | Varuna | Gains and sociability | Dining, study, children's room |
| North-West | Air | Vayu | Movement and change | Guest room, garage, toilets |
| Centre | Space | Brahma | Openness | Keep open and light |
Main entrance: where the door should be
The main door is the first thing Vastu reads. Two things matter: the direction the house faces, and the position of the door along that wall.
Pada-level detail (which of the eight positions on each wall) comes from the expert-confirmed pada table; add it here once confirmed.
| House faces | Favoured part of the wall | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| North | The North-East half of the north wall | The North-West end |
| East | The North-East half of the east wall | The South-East end |
| South | The South-East half of the south wall | The South-West end |
| West | The North-West half of the west wall | The South-West end |
Door guidelines that apply to every home
- The main door should be the largest door in the home and open freely, preferably inward.
- Keep the threshold clear, well lit and uncluttered.
- Avoid a toilet door, a pillar or a staircase directly facing the entrance.
- In a flat, the door that opens onto the corridor is the main door for the reading.
Room by room: the best zone for each
| Room | Best zone | Acceptable | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main entrance | North, North-East, East | North-North-East | South-West |
| Living room | North, East, North-East | North-West | South-West, centre |
| Kitchen | South-East | North-West | North-East, South-West, centre |
| Dining | West | East, North | South-West |
| Master bedroom | South-West | South, West | North-East, centre |
| Children's room | West, North-West | North, East | South-West |
| Guest room | North-West | North, West | South-West |
| Study | West, North, East | North-East | South-East |
| Pooja room | North-East | East, North | South, under stairs, beside toilet |
| Toilet and bathroom | North-West, West | South | North-East, centre, South-West |
| Staircase | South, South-West, West | North-West | North-East, centre |
| Store room | South-West, West | North-West | North-East |
| Garage | North-West, South-East | \- | North-East, South-West |
| Balcony | North, East, North-East | \- | South-West heavy storage |
Kitchen
- The South-East is the fire zone. Place the stove in the South-East of the kitchen and face East while cooking.
- Keep the sink and the stove apart.
- A kitchen in the North-East is the most common serious defect. See the remedies guide.
Master bedroom
- Choose the room closest to the South-West of the home.
- Keep the head of the bed toward South or East.
- Avoid a mirror facing the bed and a toilet door opening straight onto it.
Pooja room
- The North-East is traditional; East and North are alternatives.
- The devotee should face East or North, so idols face West or South.
- Do not place it under a staircase, in a bedroom or against a toilet wall.
Toilets and bathrooms
- The North-West and West are preferred.
- Avoid the North-East, the centre and the South-West.
- Keep doors closed and the room well ventilated.
The centre of the home (Brahmasthan)
The centre is traditionally the heart of the plan and is kept open, light and free of heavy loads. A toilet, a staircase, a heavy pillar or a kitchen at the exact centre weakens an otherwise good plan. If your plan has a load at the centre, keep the surrounding area clear and bright, and see the Brahmasthan guide.
Common Vastu defects and simple fixes
For a full list, see Vastu remedies without demolition.
| Defect | Why it is a concern | First fix | If that is not enough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toilet in the North-East | The water and prayer corner should stay clean and light | Keep the door closed, ventilate, use light colours | Move the pooja space, then consult an expert |
| Kitchen in the North-East | Fire in the water corner | Move the stove to the South-East of the kitchen | Re-plan the kitchen at the next renovation |
| Main door in the South-West | Heavy zone used as the opening | Use a secondary door in a better zone | Balance with colours and lighting; consult |
| Staircase at the centre | A heavy load at the open centre | Keep the area bright and clear | Re-plan the stair if renovating |
| Bed head toward North | Traditionally avoided | Turn the bed so the head points South or East | Move the bed to the South-West of the room |
| Heavy items in the North-East | Corner should stay light | Shift storage to the South-West or West | Re-use the corner as open space |
Vastu for a flat, a house and a plot
Flat or apartment
Read more: Vastu check for flat.
- Read the walls of your own unit, not the whole tower.
- The door onto the corridor is your entrance.
- You usually cannot move walls, so use room allocation and furniture placement.
Independent house
Read more: Vastu check for independent house.
- Check the plot first: shape, road side, slope and gate.
- Then check each floor on its own plan.
- Keep more open space on the North and East, and build heavier on the South and West.
Plot or land
Read more: Vastu check for plot.
- Prefer square or rectangular plots.
- Check the road side, slope and any cut or extended corner.
- Test the proportions with the free Ayadi calculator.
Vastu checklist before you buy or build
1. Find North correctly with a compass and a satellite map.
2. Mark the centre of the plan.
3. Note the entrance zone.
4. Check the kitchen zone and stove side.
5. Check the master bedroom zone.
6. Check every toilet's zone.
7. Look at the centre: is it open?
8. Check the staircase and its direction of climb.
9. Check where water is stored (tank, borewell).
10. Decide which defects are fixable, and which should change your decision.
**Button:** Download the one-page checklist (PDF)
Check your home on its floor plan
Facing selector: North · East · South · West. Property type: Flat · House · Plot. Button: **Check my home free**. The flow starts with your choices preselected.
Myths and facts
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| A south-facing house is always bad. | Facing is not the whole story. The entrance position and the layout inside decide the reading. |
| Vastu needs demolition. | Many issues can be reduced by changing room use, furniture, colours and lighting. |
| Vastu guarantees wealth or health. | Vastu is traditional guidance for layout. It does not promise outcomes. |
Check this on your own floor plan. Free for one plan.
Upload floor planFrequently asked questions
What is Vastu for home?
A traditional system for placing rooms and openings by direction and zone, measured from the centre of the home.
Which direction is best for the main door?
North, North-East or East, in the favoured part of the wall for your facing.
Which direction is best for the kitchen?
South-East, with the North-West as the alternative.
Where should the master bedroom be?
In the South-West, with the head of the bed toward South or East.
Is Vastu applicable to a flat?
Yes. Read the zones from the centre of your own unit.
How can I check Vastu of my home online?
Upload your floor plan, set North and read every room on a 16-zone map.
Can Vastu defects be fixed without demolition?
Many can be reduced. See Vastu remedies without demolition.
Does Vastu work?
Vastu is a traditional framework. Parts of it overlap with comfort and good planning. Use it as guidance and judge results for yourself.