Vastu Shastra is one of the ancient teachings from the Indian civilization. It deals with the science of architecture and tells how a building should be planned to channelize the positive energy in our lives. The correct implementation of Vastu in a proper way along with its co-related other important aspects as well as several
techniques has brought peace and prosperity to many households for centuries. Though Vastu started out with the construction rules for Hindu temples, it soon influenced the making of residential houses, office buildings, furniture etc. The science of Vastu is mostly based on directions and the building materials used, along with many other sub factors.

The ancient Vastu principles for house involves several important traits, which depicts unique style in building and furnishing every room of a given home. Decorating a house by closely maintaining the Vastu rules, bring peace, success and opulence to the home owners. Moreover, a good Vastu Shastra ideology implementation drives away negative powers and helps home owners to maintain sanctity.

There are five elements that are really important in Vastu Shastra. These are-
1. Earth 2. Water 3. Fire 4. Air 5. Space

All these elements rule our lives and have a strong influence in our daily existence. It is important to know in detail each function and plan a property interior accordingly.

Vastu plays a key role in the interiors of a home. It is believed that the arrangement of the interiors will have an impact on the people living in the house. Based on the arrangements, positive and negative energies are developed, affecting the inhabitants. In today’s cramped urban scenarios, it is not always possible to decorate the interiors according to Vastu. Therefore, small changes can be made with the accessories, colours and furniture of the house, to make it Vastu compliant.

Vastu and Brahmasthan

Brahmasthan is an important and significant part of a given plot which should be kept vacant and free from any construction / Furniture. It is the main centre of any plot from where Vastu directions are determined. Brahmasthan is the root of energies that are dispersed to every corner and surrounding of plot. So construction in the centre of plot means blocking the main energy that keeps a living place lively.

Brahmasthan is considered as a powerful & holy zone in the house represented which is as scared as the Ishaan zone (North-east) that is why it is immensely important to keep centre non-obstructive and tidy to better inflow of energies. Brahmasthan or middle zone of house should be kept free from things/objects, clean and if possible sky open just like a courtyard or open balcony.

The Clockwise benefit in Vastu

Staircases should always turn clockwise, as we go up. In other words, the person using the stairs to go up should move from north to south or the east to the west. Vastu experts are of the opinion that an anti-clockwise staircase can impact career growth. Similarly, if one has to place the main entrance facing south, place a Vastu pyramid for main door or helix, in order to correct the main door Vastu. Talking about main door opening direction as per Vastu, the main door opening anticlockwise is a Vastu defect. The door should open inwards in the clockwise direction.

Impact of interior arrangement on Vastu

Experts point out those interior décor elements, like the colour of the wall, entrance of the house, positioning of the furniture and placement of the temple, are some of the prime considerations.  The interior arrangement of a house, impacts the Vastu of a property in the following ways:

• The position of the kitchen is related to health and wealth of the family.
• Interiors of a bedroom impact the health, career and personal life of people
• The position of the pooja room, impacts prosperity and peace in the house.
• Placement of mirrors at various places in the house, may impact health and happiness.
• The position of furniture can impact the balance of energy.
• Correct placement of water is very important, to maintain good health and hygiene.
• The choice of various colours for various sections in the house delivers specific impact.

Here are a few other important interior-related Vastu tips, for home occupiers:

• Avoid using black color furniture and tiles in the kitchen
• Let the reading / studying direction be east-facing.
• One can sleep in any direction, except north.
• Avoid dim lights anywhere in the home.
• Keep the north-east corner clean and tidy.
• Avoid facing a mirror while sleeping or sitting.

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.

1. 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.
2. Windows should also ideally lie in the north or the east. A south-west entrance is considered inauspicious.
3. Lighter colours should be chosen for the walls, since they help to infuse warmth in the environment.
4. Furniture should ideally be arranged in the southern and western corners.
5. 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

1. 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.
2. Use light curtains on the windows and doors in the north-east.
3. Keep the north-east corner clean and clutter-free.
4. Display paintings of nature or sceneries, to keep the mood positive. Avoid pictures of war, sinking ships or deceased members.
5. Avoid keeping artificial flowers, cacti or bonsai, as they can negatively affect financial prospects of the inhabitants.
6. Seat guests in the north-west direction, which is governed by air. This way, they do not overstay their welcome.
7. 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.

1. 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.
2. The master bedroom, which belongs to the head of the family, should ideally be in the south-west.
3. Use light colours like rose, yellow and green for the walls.
4. Cupboards should be placed in the south-west corner, and the bed should never be in the centre.

Additional points

1. 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.
2. Hang pleasant pictures on the walls.
3. 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.

1. The best direction for a kitchen is the south-east, the abode of fire.
2. The sink, along with the taps and provision for water storage should be placed in the north-east, the abode of water.
3. Storage space for all the food grains, utensils, the overhead almirah should not be placed along the northern or eastern walls.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Avoid using the colour black in the kitchen. Stick to shades like yellow, rose, and orange.

Additional Points

1. The kitchen must never face the entrance of the house.
2. The cooking stove should never be visible from outside.
3. 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.

1. 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.
2. The washbasin can be placed in the north-east, while the place for bathing can be the western corner.
3. The geyser should ideally be placed in the south-east corner.
4. The shower and taps can be attached along the northern wall.
5. 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 independent house, these changes can be considered.

Other Rooms:

1. 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.
2. 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.

General Vastu tips for overall residential positivity

1. Keep your living space clutter free, that includes wardrobes and study tables too. Get rid of old clothes and broken stationary items.
2. Clear cobwebs as soon as you discover them because they hinder the financial growth of family members.
3. Do not place a cactus inside the house as it is considered as a negative plant which affects the health & relationships of the members living in the house.
4. Remove broken clocks from your house.
5. Keep a Citrus or a Snake Plant at the Entrance. It delivers positive energy.
6. Negative energies of bathrooms and toilets can be also removed by a simple Vastu step. According to Vastushastra, both glass and salt are factors of Rahu. Therefore, a cup of glass filled with salt should be kept in the toilet and bathroom in the house.
7. Lighting of incense sticks can amplify the auspicious energy factors. The incense sticks should be moved around every nook and corner of the house twice daily and this will help us to reduce the negative energy and promote a healthy and energetic life.
8. Colours have always impacted the energies at home and vastu shastra suggests that some colours are very impactful in inviting positive energies at home. Every direction of the premises is influenced with particular colours. However anti-colour aspects give rise to negative energy. Blue in NW, N, NE. Green in East, Orange in SE, Red in South, Red+ Yellow in SW . Dark blue in West are the ideal colours.

Vastu tips for academic growth

1. Many children lack academic concentration and do badly in exams. For better concentration, place the study table on the East or North of the study room.
2. Keep a gap of a few inches between the wall and the study table to ensure the positive flow of energy.
3. The bookshelf should be placed in the East, North or North East.
4. A well-lit lamp on the South-East corner of the study table will energise the luck in education.

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