Vastu for house plans
Every Vastu rule about a kitchen, a bedroom or a staircase comes from one underlying map: the plot divided into nine parts, eight directional zones around an open centre. Learn the map once and you can place any room without looking up a rule for it.
The eight zones and the Brahmasthan
| Zone | Element / lord | Put here | Keep out of here |
|---|---|---|---|
| North-East (Ishanya) | Water · Ishana | Pooja room, sump, entrance, living | Toilet, kitchen, staircase, storeroom |
| East | Sun · Indra | Main entrance, living, bathroom (not WC) | Heavy storage, tall compound wall |
| South-East (Agni) | Fire · Agni | Kitchen, boiler, electrical panel | Pooja room, master bedroom, water tank |
| South | Yama | Bedroom, store, staircase | Main entrance in the south-south-west part |
| South-West (Nairutya) | Earth · Nairuti | Master bedroom, heavy storage, overhead tank | Toilet, underground water, entrance, open space |
| West | Varuna | Dining, kids room, staircase, study | Nothing prohibited — keep it moderately loaded |
| North-West (Vayavya) | Air · Vayu | Guest room, toilet, utility, store | Master bedroom, kitchen, pooja |
| North (Kubera) | Wealth · Kubera | Living, entrance, cash locker facing north | Toilet, heavy walls, clutter |
| Centre (Brahmasthan) | Brahma | Courtyard, dining, open double height | Toilet, staircase, pillar, heavy beam |
Read the full guide to the Vastu zones and the Brahmasthan →
By facing
Facing is decided by the direction you look when you step out of the main door. Each facing changes where the entrance sits — the rest of the zones stay put.
By room
How the checker works
Draw your layout in the editor and set the facing. The Vastu checker reads each room against the zone it falls in and marks the sheet — green where it matches the convention, amber where it is borderline, red where it is wrong — with the reason written out beside it. Drag a wall and the check updates as you move.
Vastu Shastra is a traditional system of directional planning, not a building code. Some of its rules line up neatly with good tropical design; others are purely traditional. The checker tells you what the convention says so you can decide what to follow — it will never stop you drawing the plan you want.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vastu Shastra in house planning?
Vastu Shastra is a traditional Indian system that assigns a function to each direction of a building. In a house plan it decides where the entrance, kitchen, bedrooms, pooja room, toilets and staircase should sit, based on a nine-square grid laid over the plot.
Which direction is best for a house?
North and east facing are considered the most auspicious, but every facing works if the main door sits in the right part of its wall. The position of the entrance within the wall matters as much as the direction the house faces.
Can I check Vastu for my own plan online?
Yes. Draw your layout in the editor on this site, set the facing, and the Vastu checker marks each zone on the sheet and lists the problems it finds. It is free and needs no sign-up to try.
Do I have to follow Vastu to build a house?
No. Vastu is a traditional convention, not a building regulation. Many of its rules happen to match sound tropical design, which is why they have survived. Use the checker to see what the convention says, then decide what to follow.