Vastu Guide
Vastu Shastra guide: your space in plain words
Everything you need to know before you change a single thing: the 16 zones, the five elements, entrances, rooms, colours and remedies. Free to read, simple to follow.
The basics
What is Vastu?
Vastu Shastra is the ancient Indian science of space. It says that the way a building is laid out (its directions, rooms, colours and objects) affects the health, mood and fortunes of the people inside it.
Each direction of your home holds one part of life. When the activity in a zone suits it, life in that area flows. When it doesn’t, you feel it as a block: money that doesn’t stay, sleep that doesn’t come, effort that brings no result.
Modern Vastu, as we practise it, does not ask you to break walls. It reads your space from a scaled plan, finds the exact zones that link to your concern, and corrects them with colours, placement, symbols and simple remedies.
Vastu supports your effort. It does not replace it, and it does not replace your doctor, lawyer or financial adviser.
Step one
How to find the directions of your home
- Get a scaled floor plan. A hand sketch is not accurate enough for zones.
- Find the centre of the built-up area (leave out open balconies and porches).
- Stand at the centre and hold a compass or phone flat, away from metal, wiring and appliances.
- Note the exact degree of North. A few degrees can move a room into another zone.
- Draw 16 lines from the centre, 22.5° apart. Each slice is one zone.
- Check it twice, from two spots near the centre, and take the average.
Don’t know how? Your Solution Guide walks you through this with pictures.
The heart of Vastu
The 16 zones of your home
Every home has 16 zones, each 22.5° wide. Each one holds a part of life. Here is what each zone supports, what it dislikes, and how you feel it when it is disturbed.
- N — Money & new opportunities — Fresh openings, new clients and new income.
- NNE — Health & immunity — Healing, recovery and everyday energy.
- NE — Clarity of mind — Focus, wisdom and calm decisions.
- ENE — Joy & recreation — Fun, freshness and a chance to recharge.
- E — Social connections — Networks, goodwill and support from people.
- ESE — Churning & analysis — Deep thinking, or overthinking when out of balance.
- SE — Cash flow — Money in hand when you need it.
- SSE — Power & confidence — Courage, strength and self-belief.
- S — Fame & relaxation — Your good name, and restful sleep.
- SSW — Disposal & expenses — Letting go of waste, and of wasteful spending.
- SW — Relationships & skills — Family bonds, stability and mastery.
- WSW — Education & savings — Studies, learning and money saved.
- W — Gains & profits — Getting the results of your effort.
- WNW — Letting go — Releasing sadness and heaviness.
- NW — Support & banking — Help from people, loans and backing.
- NNW — Attraction & closeness — Charm, attraction and intimacy.
N
Money & new opportunities
North · Water
Colours: Blue, white
Supports
- An open, clutter-free space
- A painting of green landscapes
- Finished goods or products for sale
Keep away
- A toilet or heavy storage
- Red or yellow décor
- A cooking stove
When it is disturbed: Few new openings, slow sales, job offers that don’t come.
NNE
Health & immunity
North-north-east · Water
Colours: Light blue, light green
Supports
- A water jug
- Medicines and first aid
- Calm, healing colours
Keep away
- A toilet or heavy storage
- Red or pink
- An inverter or heavy machines
When it is disturbed: Illness that lingers, low immunity, little energy.
NE
Clarity of mind
North-east · Water
Colours: White, light blue
Supports
- Prayer or meditation
- Reading and research
- Light, open space
Keep away
- A toilet, kitchen or storeroom
- A dustbin or heavy appliances
- Red colour
When it is disturbed: Confusion, overthinking, poor focus.
ENE
Joy & recreation
East-north-east · Air
Colours: Green, light blue
Supports
- Family photographs
- A family lounge
- Healthy green plants
Keep away
- A toilet
- Clutter and old things
When it is disturbed: Life feels joyless; no time to recharge.
E
Social connections
East · Air
Colours: Green, brown
Supports
- A dining or meeting area
- A rising-sun picture on the east wall
- Green plants
Keep away
- Storage and clutter
- A toilet
- Grey tones
When it is disturbed: Weak support from people; little recognition from seniors or officials.
ESE
Churning & analysis
East-south-east · Air
Colours: Green
Supports
- A washing machine or dustbin
- A toilet
- Work that needs deep thinking
Keep away
- A bedroom
- The owner’s seat
- Wedding photos
When it is disturbed: Overthinking, anxiety, arguments, poor decisions.
SE
Cash flow
South-east · Fire
Colours: Red, orange, pink
Supports
- The kitchen
- Warm lighting
- Red flowers
Keep away
- Blue or black
- Mirrors and water features
- A toilet
When it is disturbed: Cash crunch, stuck payments, low enthusiasm.
SSE
Power & confidence
South-south-east · Fire
Colours: Red, orange
Supports
- A pantry
- A symbol of strength and courage
- Work that needs boldness
Keep away
- A toilet
- Blue tones
When it is disturbed: Fear, hesitation, low confidence.
S
Fame & relaxation
South · Fire
Colours: Red, pink, orange
Supports
- A bedroom for sound sleep
- A sitting area
- Symbols of recognition
Keep away
- Blue or black
- Mirrors
- A toilet
When it is disturbed: Poor sleep; your good work goes unnoticed.
SSW
Disposal & expenses
South-south-west · Earth
Colours: Yellow, cream
Supports
- A toilet
- A dustbin
- A yellow vase to hold savings
Keep away
- A bedroom
- The cash locker
- A prayer place
- Green paint
When it is disturbed: Money leaks away; effort feels wasted.
SW
Relationships & skills
South-west · Earth
Colours: Yellow, earth tones
Supports
- The master bedroom
- A couple or ancestors’ photo in a golden frame
- The wedding album
Keep away
- A toilet or washing machine
- The kitchen
- Red lights, plants or a dustbin
When it is disturbed: Distance in relationships, instability, weak skills.
WSW
Education & savings
West-south-west · Earth / Space
Colours: White, yellow
Supports
- The study table
- Books and the computer
- A symbol of focus
Keep away
- Red, green or black
- Games and toys
- A toilet
When it is disturbed: Poor study focus; savings never build up.
W
Gains & profits
West · Space
Colours: White, cream, gold
Supports
- The owner’s cabin
- The locker and valuables
- Legal documents
- Symbols of steady progress
Keep away
- Red or green
- Heavy plants
When it is disturbed: Lots of effort, but few results.
WNW
Letting go
West-north-west · Space
Colours: White, grey
Supports
- A toilet
- A store or utility space
- Short-use rooms
Keep away
- A bedroom
- Long sitting
- Family photos
When it is disturbed: Low mood, holding on to the past, putting things off.
NW
Support & banking
North-west · Space
Colours: White, cream
Supports
- A pantry or washing machine
- Team and staff areas
- A symbol of support, like a pair of white horses
Keep away
- A toilet
- Medicines
When it is disturbed: No support, delayed loans, friction in the team.
NNW
Attraction & closeness
North-north-west · Water
Colours: Blue, white
Supports
- A couple’s bedroom
- A product display area
Keep away
- A toilet
- Red or pink
- Stored water
When it is disturbed: Little attraction or closeness; weak returns on effort.
Pancha Mahabhuta
The five elements in your space
Everything is made of five elements. Each rules a group of zones, with its own colours and shapes. Balance comes when every element is strong in its own place.
Earth
Prithvi
Stability and patience.
Water
Jal
Fresh ideas and new chances.
Fire
Agni
Energy and confidence.
Air
Vayu
Movement and growth.
Space
Akash
Openness and a clear mind.
| Element | Zones | Colours | Shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water (Jal) | North, North-north-east, North-north-west | Blue, black | Wavy |
| Air (Vayu) | East, East-north-east, East-south-east | Green, brown | Long and rectangular |
| Fire (Agni) | South, South-east, South-south-east | Red, orange, pink | Triangle |
| Earth (Prithvi) | South-west, South-south-west, the centre | Yellow, earth tones | Square |
| Space (Akash) | West, West-north-west, North-west, West-south-west | White, cream, grey, gold | Circle |
How elements help each other
Water nourishes Air (plants and growth). Air feeds Fire. Fire leaves Earth behind as ash. Earth holds Space (metals and minerals). Space gathers Water. When this circle flows, the home feels light and things move forward.
How elements clash
Water puts out Fire. Fire melts metal (Space). Metal cuts through Air (wood). So blue in a fire zone, red in a water zone, or green in a space zone creates an imbalance. Many problems come from one wrong colour or object in the wrong place.
The mouth of the home
Your main entrance
Energy enters your home through the main door. Seen from the centre, the boundary of a home is divided into 32 parts of 11.25° each, eight in every direction. The part where your door falls says a lot about what flows into your life.
- The 3rd and 4th parts just to the right of the exact North, East, South and West lines (N3, N4, E3, E4, S3, S4, W3, W4) are traditionally the most favourable.
- A South entrance is not bad by itself. Only its exact position matters.
- Most other entrances can be balanced without moving the door.
How an entrance is balanced
A thin strip of colour or metal is fixed across the threshold, in the element of that direction:
- East door: green / stainless steel
- South door: red / copper
- West door: white / iron
- North door: blue / aluminium
Never paint a South door blue. And take advice first. The wrong strip in the wrong place can create a new problem.
Room by room
Where things belong
A quick reference for the most common rooms and objects. Your own plan may need different answers, so use this to spot the obvious problems.
| Room or object | Best zones | Avoid | If it cannot move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | South-east, South, South-south-east | North-east, South-west, North | Balance with the zone’s colours and a fire-balancing treatment around the stove. |
| Toilet | East-south-east, South-south-west, West-north-west | North-east, South-west, North, North-north-east | A colour tape or metal strip of the zone’s element around the seat. A North-east toilet is best moved. |
| Master bedroom | South-west, South, North-north-west | North-east, East-south-east, South-south-west, West-north-west | Change the bed position and colours within the room. |
| Study table | West-south-west (North-east for research) | South-south-west, West-north-west, East-south-east | Place the desk in the West-south-west part of the room. |
| Prayer & meditation | North-east | South-south-west, South | Keep it clean, light and uncluttered. |
| Locker & valuables | West, West-south-west, South-south-east | South-south-west, North-east | Keep legal and property papers in the West. |
| Dustbin | East-south-east, South-south-west | North-east, South-west, North | Empty it daily. |
| Washing machine | East-south-east, West-north-west, North-west | North-east, South-west | Keep the area dry and clean. |
| Plants | East-north-east, East, North | South-west, West | Remove dry or thorny plants. |
| Mirror | North or East walls | South, South-east, South-west | Cover mirrors in fire zones at night. |
| Family photos | East-north-east (family), South-west (couple, ancestors) | West-north-west | Use happy, recent photos. |
| Owner’s cabin | West, South-west | East-south-east | Sit so that you face North or East. |
| Product display | North-north-west, North | South-south-west | Keep it bright and well stocked. |
Colour therapy
The right colour for each zone
Colour is the easiest Vastu remedy. Use the colour of a zone’s element to strengthen it, and keep away the colour that fights it.
| Zones | Helpful colours | Colours to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| North side (N, NNE, NNW) | Blue, white, light green | Red, yellow |
| East side (E, ENE, ESE) | Green, light blue, brown | Grey, white |
| South side (SE, SSE, S) | Red, orange, pink | Blue, black |
| South-west (SSW, SW) | Yellow, cream, earth tones | Green, red |
| West side (WSW, W, WNW, NW) | White, cream, gold | Red, green, black |
Tip: when unsure, light cream or off-white across the home is a safe, calming base.
Solutions without demolition
How Vastu remedies work
Most homes have a few strong zones and a few weak ones. These are the tools used to bring them back into balance.
Re-placing activities
Moving a bed, desk, locker or dustbin into the zone that suits it is often the most powerful change.
Colour therapy
Paint, fabrics and décor in the colour of the zone’s element strengthen it.
Colour tapes & metal strips
Thin strips around a toilet seat or across a door neutralise a wrong placement without breaking anything.
Space programming
Meaningful symbols placed in the right zone keep your goal in front of your mind, every day.
Space purification
Decluttering, sea salt in corners and a clean, airy centre lift heaviness from a space.
Astro-Vastu
Remedies matched to your birth chart, so the zones that matter most to you are supported.
A remedy in the wrong zone can create a new imbalance. Always take advice before you place one.
Space programming
Symbols and the zones they suit
In Vastu, the zone decides the result. The same object brings different effects in different places. These are common pairings.
| Symbol | Zone | Intention |
|---|---|---|
| Kuber idol | North | New customers and fresh income |
| Green landscape painting | North | New opportunities and openings |
| Rising-sun picture | East wall | Respect and helpful connections |
| Lakshmi ji | South-east | Steady, regular income |
| Red flowers or warm light | South-east | Cash flow and enthusiasm |
| Hanuman ji | South-south-east | Courage and confidence |
| Red elephant | South | Fame and recognition |
| Yellow vase | South-south-west | Stopping money leaks |
| Couple photo in a golden frame | South-west | Bonding and trust |
| Symbol of focus (a swan or a focus dot) | West-south-west | Concentration in studies |
| Tortoise or camel | West | Steady progress; more output with less effort |
| Leaping deer | West-north-west | Moving on from low phases |
| Pair of white horses | North-west | Support, funds and loans |
| Trishul or Om | North-east | A calm, clear mind |
Place symbols only after your zones are mapped. Keep them clean, and replace anything broken.
The energy grid
The Vastu Purush Mandal
Every building rests on an energy grid called the Vastu Purush Mandal. It holds 45 energy fields: 33 Devtas, which support what you do, and 12 Asuras, linked with doubt, fear and loss.
Thirty-two of these fields sit around the boundary. They are the 32 entrance positions. At the centre is the Brahmasthan, the field all the others draw from. Keep it open, light and free of heavy furniture, pillars and clutter.
An experienced Acharya reads the strength of these fields and strengthens the weak ones, so the space supports the people living in it.
What to expect
How long do remedies take?
Once every step in your Solution Guide is in place, most people notice a change within 3 to 6 weeks. Some see it sooner. Long-standing or serious problems take longer and may need a second round of advice.
Vastu works best alongside your own effort. It is never a substitute for medical, legal or financial help.
Want these zones read for your home?
Acharya Vastav will map your plan, find what is out of balance and give you simple steps to fix it.