This is part 6 of the series of 9 articles presented on Vastu Shastra. A home buyer, at times, begins the journey of owning a home with a single point agenda of ‘Vastu compliance’. The journey is not an easy one, and is riddled with many roadblocks and confusions. These articles are meant to ease the confusion, or perhaps, bridge the lack of a balanced perspective around Vastu while: i) planning on buying and/or constructing a home, and ii) to assist the home buyer to zero-in on the most sensible choice of an apartment. 

For a clearer perspective on Vastu Shastra, it is recommended that all the 9 parts of this series on Vastu Shastra be read. 

However, should the reader be in a hurry, it is recommended to at least go through the ‘4 steps to understanding & demystifying Vastu’ and the ‘conclusion’ in part 9 of the series. This will hopefully impart a well-rounded balanced perspective on Vastu Shastra, its implications and its applicability. Above all else, it help us shape (or choose) our overall demeanour and approach in dealing with the dilemmas posed by Vastu Shastra effectively.

Note- An index with links is given at the bottom of this article to help you navigate and jump directly to the desired topic of this 9-part series.

Vastu Guidelines or Tips on ‘rooms’ & ‘spaces’ in our homes:

Let us now explore the various Vastu recommendations or guidelines on the design-related, location-specific elements as well as the factors of ‘interior and exterior spaces’, and the influence they have on the behavioural disposition of the inhabitants (positive or negative). The intent remains to attain harmony with the elements of nature, to optimize on their beneficial effects, and to minimize (or eliminate) the harmful effects.

Described below are the ‘exterior spaces and internal rooms’, and how they scientifically interplay with the elements of nature. The Vastu recommendations are based both on a scientific (logical) as well as a nature-inspired perspective aimed at bringing peace, harmony, prosperity, good-health and wellness to the residents of a house.

Dining Room

• Dining room is where you get together with family to eat; The purpose of dining room goes beyond just eating, since this is where a family get together to share a meal over quality time spent-together and to cherish the warmth each other’s loving presence
• Dining room must have a positive vibe, relaxing and having the right atmosphere which is inviting both for food as well as aesthetically pleasing
• West is a the best location for dining room followed by North or East as the alternative choices
• The simple scientific logic for dining room is to be closer to the kitchen (and on the same floor), so that food is served hot, and also have ample lighting; The bedrooms being away from the kitchen preserves privacy to the inhabitants
• Door to the dining room should be in East, North or West to allow access to all the bedrooms in the house
• A dining table should be rectangular, and big enough to accommodate all the utensils and plates for a comfortable eating experience
• To optimize on comfort, a dining table should be placed in the centre of the room, which allows easy pulling of chairs
• The members should sit facing East, West or North, with the head of the family facing East, and allow sunlight to enter freely
• Avoid sitting facing South direction
  • Scientific Logic: When we sit facing South, our Head points towards the Earth’s North-pole. Our ‘Head’ is the magnetic North-pole of the human body. This means that while sitting facing South, our head is effectively pointing towards North direction, and our legs (or feet) are drawn towards the South, which creates a negative effect
• Fixtures in a Dining room may be as follows:
  • Mirror on the East or North Walls is good, and makes the room seem bigger
  • Wash basin, if required, may be in the North or East side of dining; This was again done in the ancient times to purify the water using Sunlight; In modern times, the applicability is rendered impractical since water source is now driven by modern piping system that runs along the walls
• Avoid Bathrooms near the dining to stay clear of bad stench, and unpleasant sounds emanating from the bathroom
• The artefacts or paintings/portraits in the dining room should be relaxing and tranquil in nature, preferably, to do with positive elements of nature
• Colours to be used in the dining room should be appetite-stimulating, make you feel like eating, and also make the eating area seem spacious; Such preferred colours are thought to be shades of light blue or green, hues of orange, pink or yellow

Kitchen

• Well-being of all the inmates of a house have to do with a healthy, nutritious diet; Kitchen is the area which needs to be clean and hygienic for the raw materials to be transformed into delicious, appetite-stimulating and healthy foods & beverages; Food produced in the kitchen is a source of energy for sustaining human life, hence needs to be an extremely positive space
• In ancient times, the family would actually sit in the kitchen itself to relish the meal, and be served hot food straight from the hearth
• The preferred location for kitchen: South-East corner (S-E), followed by North-West (N-W) and, third option being North-East (N-E) corner
• Logic of South-East corner being most preferred: the winds from North-West (N-W) and North-East (N-E) did not cause burns or damage owing to sparks flying due to the winds blowing from N-E and N-W
• Besides, North-East is the side that gets constant sunlight, which is preferable for pooja room or living room, hence, North-East is not recommended for kitchen; It may be noted that recommendations of Vastu are based on scientific reasons to optimize on all the rooms, and create a balance or harmony with nature
• Door of the kitchen to be placed in North, East or North-East; This is because that while making an optimally designed L-shaped kitchen using South and East walls, one can enter the kitchen only from entrances in the East or North; Again, the recommendations were made to correlate and intertwine to create harmony in the entire home
• Door to open clockwise considering that all the right-handed people entering kitchen can open the doors with ease
• Large windows in the East to allow uninterrupted sunlight that kill the germs and bacteria inside the kitchen; To facilitate cross-ventilation, to have smaller windows towards the South; This allows the smoke and spice-rich odour to escape out of the kitchen
• Cooking stove to be placed in the South-East corner, which allows the remaining space to be utilized for food preparation activities
• To stand facing East while cooking, since this allows one to absorb the healthy morning sun rays
• The stove should not be visible from outside; This gives the person cooking a sense of privacy
• The kitchen sink to be placed in the North-East, although this is only suggestive since in ancient times, people did not have kitchen platforms, and the washing of utensils was done in the North-East corner of the kitchen to allow water to flow away smoothly post washing of raw materials and utensils
• Not to have the tap in the corner, since it becomes difficult to reach out to such a tap, resulting in both discomfort, and possibility of water wastage; Logical intent is to make sure that the taps don’t leak and cause wastage of precious water
• Guidelines for fixtures in the kitchen summarized:
  • Kitchen counters to be set against East and South-East walls to allow maximum sunlight and render the area free of microbes; Plus, person cooking absorbs the healthy sunlight
  • Have L-Shaped counter along South and East and South walls to optimize on efficiency
  • Refrigerator to be in South, South-West or North, since other directions are utilized for kitchen counter
  • Microwave (which is akin to a stove) to be in South East corner, adjacent to the cooking stove
  • Chimney and/or Exhaust fans in the East walls to allow smoke to exit with ease since cooking is happening right under these
  • Drinking water (RO units), or water purifiers or containers to be kept in North-East to allow sunlight falling, and the UV rays killing the germs
  • Food storage to be done in South or West part of the kitchen, since these spots are usually dry and hot due to the sunlight, and keeps the items stored dry and long lasting
  • Must avoid overhead storage above the cooking stove, since this may cause fire in the storage spaces above, and also get smudged with greasy oils with constant cooking
  • Easting in kitchen in recommended since it allows hot food to be served, and to watch the cooking happening, and waiting in anticipation for it to be served; it also allows a sense of gratitude for the person cooking (usually the home-makers or ladies in Hindu families)
  • The dining table in the kitchen may be placed in the North-West or West part of the kitchen, which is the free area in the kitchen; This also allows for obstruction-free movement in the kitchen, since the counter-top is located in the South-East in a best case scenario
• Colours recommended in the kitchen are green, and this may include green granite or flooring; Other colours could be hues of pink, orange and yellow; These are considered appetite-stimulating colours

Bedroom

• Bedroom is the place where everyone spends the most amount of time out of the 24 hours we get; we sleep for almost 6-8 hours daily, and hence, we must derive the most amount of positive energy in this room
• The tone of our day, how we feel, and the energy we exude to carry us through the day comes post we have recharged our body and senses in the bedroom after a good night relaxing and rejuvenating sleep
• Clearly, we must feel warm, relaxed and happy in our bedroom
• The right placement of your bedroom, of the doors inside the room, the fixtures, the lighting, the paintings and the colours need to work in tandem to create this positivity
• Shape of bedroom: A bedroom should ideally be square of rectangular; This makes the spaces efficient to keep the furniture, especially the beds
• The ratio of the length and breadth of the room should not be lesser that 1:2; For example: if the length of the room is 14 feet, then the width of the room should not be less than 7 feet; Hence, a rectangle should actually be closer to being like a square, and not be an elongated room; A narrow and lengthy feeling tube like structure makes you uncomfortable and suffocated 
• The master bedroom should be larger than the other rooms of the house; This accords a higher status to the parents compared to their children; If the parent lives in a room smaller to ones’ children, then it indicates a compromise which is psychologically detrimental both for the parents and the children
• Location wise, main bedroom should be placed in the South corner, since North corner of the house is more appropriate for living room
• Avoid the following placements of bedrooms:
  • Avoid North-East bedroom; This room captures morning sunlight that is ideal for pooja room
  • Avoid bedroom in the middle of the house, since the central room is more like a passage and gateway to other rooms, hence, privacy is compromised
  • Avoid rooms above kitchen or garage since the unhealthy fumes along with the nuisance of sound can be unnerving for the inmate of such a room
• Ideal location for a master bedroom is South-West; This room should be used for the elders, which is good for them to dominate; When children are given such a room, they may be instigated to dominate owing to psychological as well as scientific reasons
• In fact during ancient times, the granaries (storage place for thrashed grains) were located in the South-West corner, since these rooms were always the hottest, and could keep the materials dry and hot; This was because of the sun and the South-West winds, and the elders could stand guard to their produce; Hence, South-West bedroom was not preferred for children
• For multi-storey or duplex units, the Master bedroom located in the South-West corner must be located in upper floors
• This is why, kitchen was a strict no for North-East and South-West corners of the home, and was instead reserved for the South-East or North-West corner
• Guest bedroom: The best is North-West corner, since this represents ‘vayu’, which denotes that the guests don’t stay in the house for long, and get going just like the winds-blowing (akin to vayu i.e. air); Besides, the guest rooms are away from the family members bedrooms, which secures privacy for family members
• Children’s bedroom: Best location is East or West corner; Logically, these are well-lit up due to adequate sunshine, since after coming back from their school or colleges, children need adequate light to sit and study; Likewise, East rooms are well lit-up due to adequate sunshine in the morning, which is excellent for studying early in the morning
• Sleeping direction: Sleeping with our heads pointed towards NORTH must be avoided; The cause is scientific, since the North pole of Earth exerts strong attraction to the human body compared to South pole; Human body also is magnetic in nature due to the iron content in the blood; Hence, when we lie down straight on the ground (horizontal position), blood gushes more towards the Head, since it is pointing towards the magnetic North pole; This results in increased blood flow in the ‘cerebral’ (head/brain) region which may be dangerous; Hence, for purely scientific reasons, one may sleep with head pointing towards West, East or South
  • Head pointed towards East while asleep begets knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment of spiritual nature; Children are thus, advised to sleep with their heads pointing towards the East
  • Head pointed towards West while asleep is considered alright for those who are living in the house on a temporary basis, like daughters who are married or guests
  • Head pointed towards South while asleep is considered to be the most beneficial or rejuvenating, and begets happiness since one get a very sound sleep
• Position of a bed: 
  • Avoid keeping the bed under beams or slanted ceilings; This gives a feeling of some heavy weight hanging over your head as you look above; One of the remedies is to create a false ceiling 
  • Must avoid sleeping close to sharp corners or edges which can potentially cause grievous injuries accidentally
  • Keep a safe 2 or 3 inch distance from the walls to allow adequate ventilation, and to be away from any crawling insects or reptiles (lizards) etc. landing on the bed
  • Do not keep the bed in the path of the entrance door, else it causes obstruction to free movement, and also appears to be like an obstacle
• Attached bathroom:
  • East or North-East corner of the house is best for attached bathroom as it allows the wet areas to dry-up and the bacteria to die courtesy the UV rays of the sunlight
• Door and windows in bedroom:
  • Door: It is good to have a 90 degree opening door, and should not make creaking sound while opening or closing; The smooth opening door allows for easy flawless access and gets the positively energies navigate easily through the room
  • Door positioning: Door may be located in the East, West or North of the bedroom; Avoid having South-West doors as this area is usually preferred for heavier objects, like furniture, safe/vault or wardrobes, and it is not a good idea to have a door instead
  • Windows: The larger windows should be placed in the East or North to allow ample sunlight throughout the day, and the smaller ones in the West that allows for cross-ventilation
• Furniture in the bedroom: 
  • Dressing table: in the East or North to allow ample sunlight to fall on the front (face)
  • Study table: East, North or North-East facing to facilitate easy reading or studying experience without any strain on the eyes
  • TV in the bedroom: Television must not be kept right in front of the bed, since it forms a mirror and emanates negative energy. It may be kept to the left or right whichever is a comfortable viewing angle; Besides, excessive exposure to television leads to reduced intimacy between the inmates of the room
  • Vault/Safe: May be placed in the South-West and opening towards North allowing a clear view of the safe with lights entering from the North
  • Keeping North-East corner clutter free to allow ample sunlight to engulf the room
  • Keep things and artefacts the bedroom to evoke joy and feeling of happiness; A photograph or scenery or wall-hangings that evokes pleasant, peaceful or positive thoughts that give you contentment, bring a smile, and makes you feel nice are welcome; One could even keep fresh flowers kept in the bedroom; Do not keep anything in the bedroom that push you or remind you of things that are pending, else the purpose of entering the bedroom (i.e. complete relaxation) is defeated
  • Make sure that you beds are sturdy, and do not make noise while being used; Similarly, the mattress should be comforting 
  • Laptops or electronic gadgets should be kept in the South-East corner of the bedroom since electrical appliances are considered to be akin to ‘fire’ while making this recommendation; However, you may exercise discretion here based on logic and rationality
  • Wardrobes to be kept in the North-West or South-West corner of the room, as they tend to neutralize (or absorb) the hot rays of the sun emanating from the West side
  • Do not keep a mirror opposite to the bed, since watching your own self as you get up from the bed tends to be an unnerving experience that disturbs the tranquil nerves
  • Avoid keeping religious pictures or idols of deities in the bedroom as it is considered disrespectful to be lying on a bed with religious Gods and texts around us; Clearly, there is a place for everything, and sacred elements are not be parked inside the bedroom
  • An unorganised, cluttered bedroom causes irritation. Avoiding clutter helps you steer clear of anything that is stagnated; Clutter signifies disorder, helplessness, and a state of affairs that gets you psychologically disturbed; De-cluttering the rooms makes for an efficient area that optimizes your performance on every front
  • Do not put or store things under the bed; This is a hidden form of creating disorder and clutter; Besides, storing things under the bed creates an obstruction to cleaning; The area beneath the bed gathers dust as cleaning becomes difficult; This can further lead to health issues due to microbes or bacteria accumulating over a period of time
• Colours in the bedroom: 
  • Prefer to have pastel colours to enhance relaxation with pastel hues of rose, chocolate, green that are subtle, earthy and not strikingly bright; Bright colours make a space look smaller

~ End of part 6 ~