Vastu zones are the simplest way to understand how your home shapes your life. The 16-zone method divides every floor plan into 16 directions. Each direction belongs to one of the five elements. In addition, it governs a clear part of life, such as money, health or relationships. So this guide condenses our Basic Vastu Course into one practical read. By the end, you will know how to map your home and spot the most common defects. You will also learn simple remedies that need no demolition at all.
Key takeaways
- Every home divides into 16 Vastu zones of 22.5° each, grouped under five elements.
- Each of the Vastu zones governs one area of life, so a problem tells you where to look.
- Toilets, kitchens, main entrances and the wrong colours cause most defects.
- Most defects respond to coloured tape, a metal strip or a change of paint.
- A few defects, such as a North-East toilet, need an expert remedy.
What Is Vastu Shastra? A Quick Primer
Vastu Shastra is India's traditional science of space and architecture. In particular, it explains how the direction, layout and proportions of a building interact with nature. For background, read this overview of Vastu Shastra on Wikipedia. Or start with our own guide, What is Vastu Shastra?
Classical Vastu gives each element a single corner of the home. However, the modern 16-zone method goes one step further. It gives every element a band of Vastu zones. As a result, a consultant can read the plan in far finer detail. That precision matters in Australia, because modern floor plans rarely follow a traditional Indian layout.
Basic Vastu in 5 Essential Steps
Every Vastu analysis follows the same five steps, whether it covers a small unit or a large office. So learn the steps first. After that, the rest of this guide explains each one in detail.
- Get a scale map. First, start with an accurate floor plan drawn to scale. A builder's plan or a real-estate floor plan works well, as long as the proportions are right.
- Grid it into 16 zones. Next, ask a draftsman to mark the centre of the plan. They then overlay the grid of 16 Vastu zones, aligned to an accurate compass reading from the site.
- Check activities and objects. Then note what sits in each zone. For example, look for the stove, toilets, fridge, washing machine, water tanks, beds and desks.
- Match the symptoms. After that, compare the family's concerns, such as health, money or relationships, with the Vastu zones that govern them.
- Treat with simple remedies. Finally, correct each imbalance with the right coloured tape, metal strip or paint for that zone.
The 16 Vastu Zones and the Five Elements
This compass wheel is the foundation of everything in this guide. It splits the home into 16 Vastu zones of 22.5° each. You measure them clockwise from north while standing at the centre of the plan. Together, the zones fall into five element groups: water, air, fire, earth and space.
Each zone also carries its own life attributes. When a zone is balanced, its attributes flow easily. However, when it is disturbed, the same attributes turn into problem areas. That simple idea is what makes Vastu zones such a useful diagnostic tool.
Water Element Vastu Zones: NNW, North, NNE and North-East
The water element rules the northern band of the home. As a result, its zones govern attraction, money, health and mental clarity.
- NNW (North-North-West): attraction, charm, passion, intimacy and physical pleasure, as well as spirituality.
- North (N): money, growth, promotions, new opportunities, sales and franchises. Traditionally, this is the zone of Kuber, the keeper of wealth.
- NNE (North-North-East): health, immunity, recovery, enthusiasm and healing.
- NE (North-East): the mind, vision, clarity, peace, hope and mental stability. When this zone suffers, illness often follows.
Air Element Vastu Zones: ENE, East and ESE
Air governs the eastern band. Because air moves and connects, these zones shape joy, social life and the way the mind handles worry.
- ENE (East-North-East): fun, happiness, humour and new creations.
- East (E): socialising, networking, connections, marketing and dealings with government.
- ESE (East-South-East): analysis, churning thoughts, anxiety, relations with in-laws and the power of manifestation.
Fire Element Vastu Zones: South-East, SSE and South
Fire drives energy, confidence and cash flow. For that reason, it holds the south-eastern band of the home, where the morning sun is strongest.
- SE (South-East): cash, liquidity, initiation, speed and the spark of life.
- SSE (South-South-East): power, confidence, courage, fighting spirit and dealings with authorities.
- South (S): fame, rising in life and relaxation, plus links with politicians and senior officials.
Earth Element Vastu Zones: SSW and South-West
Earth brings weight and stability. So it anchors the south-western band, which should feel the heaviest and most grounded.
- SSW (South-South-West): expenditure, disposal and wastage. On the positive side, it also governs artistic talent and gut instinct.
- SW (South-West): ancestors, bonding, love, skills and stability. This is the steady momentum that comes from being grounded.
Space Element Vastu Zones: WSW, West, WNW and North-West
Space, or akash, covers the western band. In turn, these zones rule learning, gains, emotional release and support.
- WSW (West-South-West): education, knowledge, know-how, protection and commissions. It is also the zone of Saraswati, the goddess of learning.
- West (W): profits, gains, accomplishment, self-awareness, enlightenment and willpower.
- WNW (West-North-West): detoxification and self-reflection. When disturbed, however, it brings depression, dryness and low motivation.
- NW (North-West): support, banks and administration. When disturbed, it shows up as mood swings and legal issues.
Main Entrance Vastu: What the 32 Entrance Positions Mean
Your main entrance is the mouth of the home. Therefore, it decides the quality of energy and opportunity that walks in every day. For this reason, Vastu divides the boundary into 32 entrance positions, called padas. That gives two padas to each of the 16 Vastu zones.
Each side of the home has eight padas, and each pada covers 11.25°. On the north side, they run from N1 to N8. Similarly, the east runs E1 to E8, the south S1 to S8 and the west W1 to W8. The count starts at N1, at the north-west point (315°), and then moves clockwise.
Traditionally, eight positions are the most favourable: N3, N4, E3, E4, S3, S4, W3 and W4. Because they are so strong, these need no treatment at all. Many others also respond well to a simple strip at the threshold. However, basic remedies cannot correct a few positions in the south and south-west.
Garages count too. In many Australian homes, the family walks in through the garage far more often than through the front door. So check both. Also, measure the degrees clockwise from north, from the centre of the home.
These effects are traditional tendencies, not certainties. So always read the entrance together with the rest of the plan.
North-Side Entrances: N1 to N8
The north side holds two of the best positions, N3 and N4. By contrast, N1 and N2 bring conflict and envy, so they need a remedy.
| Pada | Zone | Traditional effect | Basic remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| N1315°–326¼° | NW | Can stir up situations that harm others | White tape / iron strip |
| N2326¼°–337½° | NNW | Envy and jealousy | Blue tape / aluminium strip |
| N3337½°–348¾° | NNW | Ancestral gains and plenty of earned money | Best — leave as is |
| N4348¾°–360° | N | Abundant wealth and strong family continuity | Best — leave as is |
| N5360°–11¼° | N | A mind always occupied with religious thoughts | Blue tape / aluminium strip |
| N611¼°–22½° | NNE | Not taking matters seriously, or swinging to extremes | Blue tape / aluminium strip |
| N722½°–33¾° | NNE | Younger members drifting from family traditions | Blue tape / aluminium strip |
| N833¾°–45° | NE | Bank balance kept up by hook or by crook | Blue tape / aluminium strip |
East-Side Entrances: E1 to E8
On the east, E3 and E4 bring success and influential contacts. However, E1 and E8 sit next to the fire corners, so they carry a risk of accidents and losses.
| Pada | Zone | Traditional effect | Basic remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| E145°–56¼° | NE | Risk of fire and accidents, followed by losses | Blue tape / aluminium strip |
| E256¼°–67½° | ENE | Unnecessary expenditure | Green tape / stainless-steel strip |
| E367½°–78¾° | ENE | Success, high profits and money | Best — leave as is |
| E478¾°–90° | E | Links with influential people, and monetary gains | Best — leave as is |
| E590°–101¼° | E | Restless behaviour and a short temper | Green tape / stainless-steel strip |
| E6101¼°–112½° | ESE | Insensitive behaviour in every aspect of life | Green tape / stainless-steel strip |
| E7112½°–123¾° | ESE | False commitments and an unreliable nature | Green tape / stainless-steel strip |
| E8123¾°–135° | SE | Financial losses and accidents of any kind, including burglary | Red tape / copper strip |
South-Side Entrances: S1 to S8
The south side is the trickiest. While S3 and S4 are excellent, basic remedies cannot correct S5 to S8. That is why a south-facing home always deserves a proper check.
| Pada | Zone | Traditional effect | Basic remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1135°–146¼° | SE | Unhealthy influences on the younger generation | Red tape / copper strip |
| S2146¼°–157½° | SSE | Excelling in one's job | Red tape / copper strip |
| S3157½°–168¾° | SSE | All-round money and prosperity | Best — leave as is |
| S4168¾°–180° | S | Productive output from any work | Best — leave as is |
| S5180°–191¼° | S | Piling debts, and a mind that begins to block | Needs expert remedy |
| S6191¼°–202½° | SSW | Severe scarcity of money | Needs expert remedy |
| S7202½°–213¾° | SSW | Zero results, even after hard work | Needs expert remedy |
| S8213¾°–225° | SW | Isolates the whole family from the rest of the world | Needs expert remedy |
West-Side Entrances: W1 to W8
On the west, W3 and W4 are the positions to look for. Meanwhile, W1 needs expert help, and most of the others respond to a white tape or iron strip.
| Pada | Zone | Traditional effect | Basic remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| W1225°–236¼° | SW | Health, longevity and finances stay low | Needs expert remedy |
| W2236¼°–247½° | WSW | Insecurity in relationships and an unstable career | White tape / iron strip |
| W3247½°–258¾° | WSW | Money, growth and prosperity | Best — leave as is |
| W4258¾°–270° | W | A happy-go-lucky life | Best — leave as is |
| W5270°–281¼° | W | A constant need to be perfect | White tape / iron strip |
| W6281¼°–292½° | WNW | Not achieving things as expected | White tape / iron strip |
| W7292½°–303¾° | WNW | Sadness that can lead to addiction | White tape / iron strip |
| W8303¾°–315° | NW | Unethical ways to achieve personal gain | White tape / iron strip |
The Top 4 Vastu Defects to Check First
In our consultations, four defects appear again and again. So check these before anything else.
- Toilets. This is because a toilet drains the energy of the zone it sits in. For example, a toilet in the North can drain money, while one in the North-East clouds the mind. So toilets sit best in ESE, SSW and WNW, the Vastu zones of disposal.
- The kitchen. The kitchen holds the fire element. Fire in a water zone, such as the North or North-East, creates constant friction. Instead, the strongest kitchen zones are SE, SSE, South and West. For the stove itself, read our guide to gas stove direction in Vastu.
- The main entrance. As the tables above show, the entrance position can open doors in life, or quietly close them.
- Anti-colours. Every zone has colours that support it and colours that fight it. For instance, a red wall in a northern water zone works against money and clarity.
Simple Vastu Remedies: No Demolition Needed
Here is the good news: most defects need no renovation at all. This works because basic Vastu follows the logic of the five elements. So each of the Vastu zones draws strength from its own element's colour and metal:
- Water zones: blue tape or an aluminium strip
- Air zones: green tape or a stainless-steel strip
- Fire zones: red tape or a copper strip
- Earth zones: yellow tape or a brass strip
- Space zones: white tape or an iron strip
For a toilet, run the tape or strip on the floor around its base to form a closed rectangle. At an entrance, fix a single strip along the threshold. In a kitchen, the benchtop or wall colour does the work instead.
Kitchens follow a slightly different rule. In water and air zones, a green benchtop or green paint bridges water and fire. Similarly, in earth and space zones, yellow plays that bridging role. Meanwhile, a kitchen in a fire zone needs no treatment. By contrast, basic remedies cannot fix a kitchen in the North-East.
Remedy Chart: Toilets and Kitchens Across the Vastu Zones
Use this chart once you know which zone your toilet or kitchen sits in. For entrance remedies, see the four pada tables above instead.
| Zone (padas) | Toilet in this zone | Kitchen in this zone |
|---|---|---|
| NNWN2 · N3 | Blue tape / aluminium strip | Green benchtop or paint |
| NorthN4 · N5 | Blue tape / aluminium strip | Green benchtop or paint |
| NNEN6 · N7 | Blue tape / aluminium strip | Green benchtop or paint |
| NE (North-East)N8 · E1 | Needs expert remedy | Needs expert remedy |
| ENEE2 · E3 | Green tape / stainless-steel strip | Green benchtop or paint |
| EastE4 · E5 | Green tape / stainless-steel strip | Green benchtop or paint |
| ESEE6 · E7 | No treatment needed | Green benchtop or paint |
| SE (South-East)E8 · S1 | Red tape / copper strip | No treatment needed |
| SSES2 · S3 | Red tape / copper strip | No treatment needed |
| SouthS4 · S5 | Red tape / copper strip | No treatment needed |
| SSWS6 · S7 | No treatment needed | Yellow benchtop or paint |
| SW (South-West)S8 · W1 | Yellow tape / brass strip | Yellow benchtop or paint |
| WSWW2 · W3 | White tape / iron strip | Yellow benchtop or paint |
| WestW4 · W5 | White tape / iron strip | Yellow benchtop or paint |
| WNWW6 · W7 | No treatment needed | Yellow benchtop or paint |
| NW (North-West)W8 · N1 | White tape / iron strip | Yellow benchtop or paint |
Toilets in ESE, SSW and WNW already sit in the right place, so they need nothing.
Vastu Colours: Zonal Colours and Anti-Colours
Colour is the easiest remedy of all. It is also the most common hidden defect. That is because each element has zonal colours that support it and anti-colours that weaken it.
| Element | Use (zonal colours) | Avoid (anti-colours) |
|---|---|---|
| WaterNNW, N, NNE, NE | Blue Navy Sky blue Teal Black | Red Orange Yellow |
| AirENE, E, ESE | Green Dark green Olive Lime Wood brown | Yellow White Grey |
| FireSE, SSE, S | Red Orange Pink Maroon | Blue Black Grey |
| EarthSSW, SW | Yellow Golden Light yellow Mustard | Green Brown Blue Black |
| SpaceWSW, W, WNW, NW | White Off-white Cream Grey Silver | Pink Red Brown Green |
The pattern follows the element cycle. In other words, a zone's anti-colours come from the elements that clash with it. For example, red (fire) and yellow (earth) both work against the water Vastu zones of the North. So before you paint a feature wall, check which zone it sits in.
What Goes Where: Room Placement Across the 16 Vastu Zones
This chart shows where each room or object belongs across the Vastu zones. Ideal zones earn a double tick, suitable zones a single tick, and the worst zones a double cross. Any zone not listed in a row is best avoided.
| Room or object | ✓✓ Ideal | ✓ Suitable | ✗✗ Never |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pooja / mandir room | — | NNE, NE, ENE, W | — |
| Kitchen | — | SE, SSE, S, W | NE |
| Master bedroom | — | NNW, N, ENE, E, SE, SSE, S, SW, WSW, W, NW | SSW, WNW |
| Kids' bedroom / wall clock | — | NNW, N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, SE, SSE, S, SW, WSW, W, NW | SSW, WNW |
| Home / inverter battery | SE, SSE, S, W | ENE, E, NW | NE |
| Locker / safe | SW, WSW | N, S, W | — |
| Water pump / bore | — | NNW, N, NNE, NE, ENE, E | — |
| Toilets | — | ESE, SSW, WNW | NE |
| Washing machine / dishwasher | — | ESE, SSW, WNW, NW | NE |
| Study table | NE, WSW | N, NNE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SW, W, NW | SSW, WNW |
| Dining table | — | NNW, N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW | SSW |
| Office desk | W | NNW, N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SW, WSW, NW | SSW |
| Trophies and medals | S, W | NNW, N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, SE, SSE, SW, WSW, NW | SSW, WNW |
| Family photos | SW, NW | NNW, N, NNE, NE, ENE, ESE, SE, SSE, S, WSW, W | SSW, WNW |
| Overhead / rainwater tank | — | SSE, S, SSW, WSW, W, WNW, NW | NE |
| Underground tank / swimming pool | — | NNW, N, NNE, NE, ENE, E | — |
Placement Rules Worth Remembering
A few patterns stand out. First, SSW, the zone of disposal, is the worst place for a bed, desk, dining table or family photo. Likewise, WNW is a poor zone for beds and study. On the other hand, disposal belongs in SSW, WNW and ESE. That is why they are the best zones for toilets and washing machines.
Water placement matters too. Underground water, such as a bore, tank or swimming pool, belongs only in the zones from NNW to East. Meanwhile, rainwater tanks, a common sight in Australian backyards, sit best in the south and west. Never place one in the North-East.
Extended and Cut Vastu Zones
Few homes are perfect squares. Instead, real floor plans have extensions, cut corners and long, narrow shapes. As a result, some zones get far more area than others.
- An extended zone is much larger than average. The life area it governs demands too much effort for too little result.
- An exhausted, or cut, zone is much smaller than average, or missing. Here, almost no effort flows into that area of life.
For example, the chart above comes from a real home that is long and narrow, running north to south. Its North and South zones came out several times larger than most others. Meanwhile, the eastern and western zones shrank to a sliver. To spot this, a consultant measures the area of all 16 Vastu zones and compares each one with the average. Then, the basic remedy treats the affected zone with the colour of the zone just before or after it.
Matching Life Problems to Vastu Zones: Three Real Cases
Step four, matching the symptoms, turns the attributes of the Vastu zones into a diagnostic tool. Here are three anonymised cases from our practice.
Case 1: Depression, Anxiety and Money Worries
The family came to us with depression, anxiety, ongoing health worries and a weak financial position. Their plan revealed two serious defects. First, a toilet sat in the North-East, the zone of the mind and mental stability. Second, the main entrance opened at S8 and W1 in the south-west. Traditionally, these positions bring isolation and a low financial position. Basic tape remedies cannot correct either defect, so this home needed a full consultation.
Case 2: Family Conflict and Legal Trouble
Here, the complaints were strained family relationships and ongoing legal issues. The plan showed a toilet in the South-West, the zone of bonding and love. It also showed a second toilet in the North-West, which governs support and legal matters. The basic remedy was a yellow tape or brass strip around the South-West toilet. Similarly, the North-West toilet needed a white tape or iron strip.
Case 3: No Promotions and a Stalled Startup
This client was stuck without a promotion. Their startup would not take off, and they struggled to take the first step on new ideas. The plan showed the kitchen in the North, the zone of money, opportunities and promotions. In other words, fire was burning up the home's water element. The missing drive also pointed us to the South-East, the zone of initiation and speed. For the North kitchen, the basic remedy was a green benchtop or green paint.
Vastu Checks Before You Buy a House or Land
The easiest defect to fix is the one you never buy. So before you sign a contract, check these four things.
- Slopes. Traditionally, Vastu prefers land that falls towards the north, east or north-east. By contrast, a slope towards the south-west is one of the hardest defects to correct after purchase.
- Corner plots. A corner block draws energy from two roads. Its value depends on which corner it occupies, so read it against the Vastu zones it touches.
- T-point plots. A road that ends at your block can help or harm, depending on the zone it strikes. Our article on T-junction houses in Vastu explains how.
- Surroundings. Look at what sits around the block, such as water bodies, parks, power lines and busy roads. For example, water is welcome in the north-east but troublesome in the south.
Have you shortlisted two or three blocks? In that case, our land and plot selection service rates each one side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the 16 Vastu zones in my home?
Take an accurate compass reading at the centre of your home and mark north on a scaled floor plan. Then divide the plan into 16 slices of 22.5° each around the centre. A draftsman can also draw this grid for you. Alternatively, we can map it for you during an online Vastu consultation.
What are the most common Vastu defects?
Toilets, kitchens and main entrances in the wrong zones, plus anti-colours on the walls. Together, these four cause most of the problems we see in consultations.
Can I apply Vastu to a rented home or apartment?
Yes. Tape, metal strips and colour changes are all easy to remove, which makes them ideal for rentals. You can also change how you use each room.
Do Vastu zones work the same way in Australia?
Yes. The Vastu zones follow compass direction, and north is north in Adelaide just as it is in Delhi. That is why we apply the same 16-zone method to homes right across Australia.
Do I need to demolish anything to fix Vastu defects?
Rarely. Most defects respond to colour, tape, metal strips or a change in how you use a room. However, a few, such as a North-East toilet or a south-west entrance, need expert remedies beyond the basics.
Get Your Home's Vastu Zones Mapped by an Expert
This guide covers the basics. However, every home is different, and some defects need more than tape and paint. If you want certainty, Rohit can map your floor plan across all 16 Vastu zones. He works on-site in Adelaide and also online, anywhere in Australia and the world.
Book a home Vastu consultation, or send us your questions. For quick daily tips, follow the RohitAvaastu channel on YouTube.
Vastu is a traditional, complementary practice. Therefore, it does not replace professional medical, financial or legal advice.