All of us are quite touchy about our homes and want them to be perfect. Imagine this. You have recently done up your home and are pretty ecstatic about how beautiful it looks. You are showing off to a bunch of visitors, when one of them emphatically points out, “But don’t you know you can’t have a door in the south? I read it in a book on Vastu. You know… blah blah… ”
The rest of the conversation is sure to fall on deaf ears. You never gave Vastu much of a thought, did you? You’ve obviously heard about it, but never went into detail. Now while it is fine to not get too deep into Vastu for your home, especially in metro cities, where space is limited and at a premium, so being too choosy of where the door of your home would open or the direction of the kitchen be, is sort of ‘expecting a bit too much’ :)
But still, there are ways in which you can make the most of the principles of Vastu. Also, if you are someone who would like to adhere to the rules of Vastu, we have just the thing for you.
Before we begin a simple brief on what Vastu is all about:
Vastu is a science of optimising the space available in homes, based on the relationship between the four cardinal directions
North
South
East
West
And the Five Major Elements...
Earth
Air
Water
Fire
Space
Application of Vastu to Interior Design
The principles of Vastu are applied as per the direction which the house faces. A house typically has three main rooms - living room, bedroom and kitchen, along with a bathroom / toilet.
Additionally, it may have extra bedrooms, a puja room, a children’s room, a balcony and storage space. Let us evaluate how the principles should be applied for each room....
Oh an yes, we have got a quick Visual Guide awaiting you at the end, which you can download and keep handy when try to look for Vastu Rules for your house.
So, read on....
Living Room/Drawing Room:
The living room or drawing room is usually the busiest part of the house, meant for social and familial gatherings. It is necessary to ensure that this space is not just attractive, but also warm and relaxed.
The best location for the living room, is the north-east direction, since it creates a serene and positive atmosphere. North is also ideal to build a convivial environment.
The entrance to the living room is normally the entrance to the residence. By building it in the north or east bestows health, wealth, prosperity and fame.
Windows should also ideally lie in the north or the east. A south-west entrance is considered inauspicious.
Lighter colours should be chosen for the walls, since they help to infuse warmth in the environment.
Furniture should ideally be arranged in the southern and western corners.
Electrical appliances should be placed in the south-east, while heavy chandeliers should be hung a little towards the west, but never in the centre.
Additional points
If a choice is available, Never have a beam or girder running along the ceiling of the drawing room, since sitting under one causes stress.
This of course holds relevant where you are getting a home constructed, in an existing one, it is highly impossible and near fatal to mess with the beams and columns of a structure.
Use light curtains on the windows and doors in the north-east.
Keep the north-east corner clean and clutter-free.
Display paintings of nature or sceneries, to keep the mood positive. Avoid pictures of war, sinking ships or deceased members.
Avoid keeping artificial flowers, cacti or bonsai, as they can negatively affect financial prospects of the inhabitants.
Seat guests in the north-west direction, which is governed by air. This way, they do not overstay their welcome.
The head of the family should always sit in the south-west direction, as it gives control over other family members and guests.
Bedroom:
A bedroom in the north is ideal for young couples, and also for storing cash, important documents, valuables, etc.
A bedroom should never be placed in the north-east, which is ideally the space meant for worship, and in the south-east, which is the abode of fire.
The master bedroom, which belongs to the head of the family, should ideally be in the south-west.
Use light colours like rose, yellow and green for the walls.
Cupboards should be placed in the south-west corner, and the bed should never be in the centre.
Additional points
Avoid keeping mirrors in the bedroom, as this leads to frequent misunderstandings and quarrels between couples. If necessary, place them along the north-east wall.
Hang pleasant pictures on the walls.
It is ideal to sleep with the head facing the east direction of the bedroom. Also, avoid windows behind you while sleeping.
Kitchen:
The kitchen is the most important place in the house, since it contributes to the health and well-being of the inhabitants.
The best direction for a kitchen is the south-east, the abode of fire.
The sink, along with the taps and provision for water storage should be placed in the north-east, the abode of water.
Storage space for all the food grains, utensils, the overhead almirah should not be placed along the northern or eastern walls.
The cooking gas should be in the south-east corner, at a considerable distance from the sink, and placed in a manner that a person faces the east while cooking.
There should be no toilets or bathrooms adjoining, above or below the kitchen. The kitchen door should never face the door of the toilet.
Again, this is not so much of an option in a ready-to-move-in flat, as chances are the structural changes may not be advisable to fix this.
Avoid using the colour black in the kitchen. Stick to shades like yellow, rose, and orange.
Additional Points
The kitchen must never face the entrance of the house.
The cooking stove should never be visible from outside.
The puja temple should never be above the sink or the gas stove.
Bathroom and Toilet:
The placement of the bathroom and toilet is crucial, since the wrong location can create negative energy in the house.
Ideally, a bathroom can be placed in the eastern portion of the house. The mirror can be placed on the eastern wall. Windows or ventilation can be in the east or the north.
The washbasin can be placed in the north-east, while the place for bathing can be the western corner.
The geyser should ideally be placed in the south-east corner.
The shower and taps can be attached along the northern wall.
Bright and soothing colours should be used for the bathroom interiors.
In case of an attached WC, it should be in the west or north-west, and few inches above the ground. In case of a separate toilet, it should be constructed to the west or north-west portion of the house.
Now, again as we said before too, if you have a pre-constructed flat, it can be tricky to achieve all these angles. However, in case of an independant house, these changes can be considered.
Other Rooms:
The Children’s Room:
Should be placed in the west.
Furniture is best placed in the south-west.
Avoid television in the room.
The study table should face east, north or north-east, and must be devoid of clutter.
Good lights should be placed in the south-east.
Decorate the walls with hues of green or blue.
Avoid mirrors in the room.
The bed must never face the door, and should be placed in the south-west.
If there is a separate Puja Room...
It should be situated in the north, east or north-east.
One should always face east/north while praying.
Nothing should be stored above the cabinet in which the idols are placed.
The walls of the room should be lemon or white.
It should never be built inside a bedroom or adjacent to the bathroom wall.
Benefits of Vastu for Homes:
By following the principles of Vastu, as much as is possible, one can add to one’s health and vitality.
Financial prosperity is another advantage. By storing one’s valuables in the correct space, one ensures financial security.
Vastu imparts positive energy to the house, thus allowing relationships to blossom and strengthen.
Certain tenets create an environment suited to success and growth, thus allowing a person to prosper academically, and later, financially.
We understand that trying to incorporate these principles into the design of your home can be an overwhelming experience. We suggest hiring an expert to do what’s best for you and with minimal changes to the structure as well.
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Here's the visual guide on Vastu Rules for Indian homes, we promised at the start...
