In our years of designing homes across Delhi NCR, we have found that almost every Indian family has some connection to Vastu Shastra — whether deeply held as a guiding philosophy or gently observed as a cultural practice they do not wish to ignore.
We take Vastu seriously at Intero — not as a rigid rulebook that overrides design common sense, but as a framework of spatial philosophy that, when applied thoughtfully, often produces results that are both aesthetically excellent and deeply harmonious. The secret is in the word "thoughtfully."
"Vastu is not a constraint on good design — when understood properly, it is a guide towards it."
What Vastu Actually Is — And What It Is Not
Vastu Shastra is an ancient Indian system of architecture and spatial arrangement that aligns buildings and interiors with the five elements (Pancha Bhutas) and the directions of the compass. Its core premise — that the orientation, proportion, and arrangement of space affects the wellbeing of its inhabitants — is actually not very different from modern evidence-based design principles about natural light, airflow, and human psychology.
What Vastu is not is a rigid system of superstitions that requires impractical structural changes or makes beautiful design impossible. In our experience, the vast majority of meaningful Vastu considerations can be addressed through intelligent interior design — furniture placement, colour choices, material selection, and the positioning of key functional elements.
Key Vastu Principles We Apply in Every Home
While every home is unique, there are several Vastu principles that translate naturally into good design practice and that we consider in every project:
1. The Entrance — Welcoming Positive Energy
The main entrance of the home should be well-lit, clean, and unobstructed. In design terms, this means a well-designed foyer or entry zone: adequate lighting, a clear pathway, and the first visual impression should be welcoming rather than cluttered.
Practically, we design entry areas with:
- Good overhead and accent lighting
- A console or entry table for organisation (keys, bags) without clutter
- A welcoming element — artwork, a plant, or a beautiful object that creates a positive first impression
- No storage or heavy furniture that blocks or crowds the entry
2. The Living Room — Northeast and Light
Vastu recommends that the living room ideally face the north or east — the direction of morning light and positive energy. In modern apartments and villas, we cannot always control the room's orientation, but we can ensure that the living room receives maximum natural light from whatever direction it faces.
Key living room Vastu practices we apply: keep the northeast corner of the room lighter and less cluttered (avoid heavy furniture there), ensure the room has good cross-ventilation, and use light, warm colours that promote positivity and wellbeing.
3. The Master Bedroom — Southwest for Stability
The master bedroom in the southwest of the home is the most commonly requested Vastu accommodation we encounter. The southwest direction is associated with stability, and the master bedroom represents the stability of the family.
In terms of design, this translates to: heavier furniture in the southwest corner of the bedroom (the wardrobe or a solid bed frame), lighter, airier elements in the northeast, and the bed positioned so the head of the sleeper is toward the south — which aligns both with Vastu and with certain evidence-based sleep quality research about magnetic north.
"The best Vastu solutions feel like excellent design — because most of the time, they are exactly that."
4. The Kitchen — Southeast Fire Energy
The kitchen ideally occupies the southeast of the home — the direction of the fire element in Vastu — and the cook should face east while cooking. In modern kitchens, we apply this where possible, and where the layout cannot accommodate it exactly, we address the spirit of the principle through material and colour choices that evoke warmth and vitality.
5. Colours, Materials, and the Five Elements
One of the most elegant ways to honour Vastu principles is through colour and material choices that represent the five elements in balance:
- Earth (Prithvi): Earthy tones — terracotta, ochre, brown — in grounding materials like stone and wood
- Water (Jal): Blues and whites, used in bathrooms and the north zone of rooms
- Fire (Agni): Reds, oranges, and warm yellows in the southeast — or used as accent colours
- Air (Vayu): Greens and light colours in the northwest; good ventilation throughout
- Space (Akasha): White or light grey as the dominant ceiling colour, creating a sense of openness and possibility
These colour principles, viewed purely as design choices, actually produce very balanced, harmonious interiors — which is perhaps the most elegant proof that good Vastu and good design are more aligned than they are opposed.