Vastu Shastra is a traditional Indian system of architecture that links the layout of a home to the directions and the natural elements. Many families in India like their home to follow it, and builders and architects are used to working with it. Practices vary between regions and experts, so treat this as a starting point and talk to a Vastu consultant if exact compliance matters to you.
Room-by-room summary
| Space | Commonly recommended direction | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Main entrance | North, east or north-east | A well-lit entrance that is easy to find is good design in any tradition. |
| Kitchen | South-east (north-west as an alternative) | Morning light in the kitchen; keep it next to the dining area and close to the water line. |
| Main bedroom | South-west | Often the quietest corner, away from the street. |
| Puja / prayer room | North-east | A calm, clean corner; can double as a study nook. |
| Bathrooms / toilets | West or north-west; avoid north-east | Group them with the kitchen plumbing to save cost. |
| Staircase | South, west or south-west | Placing it along a side wall keeps the centre of the house open. |
| Centre of the house | Kept open and uncluttered | An open centre helps light and air move through the house. |
| Water storage | Underground in the north-east; overhead tank in the south-west | Check with your engineer that the roof can carry a full tank. |
Start with your plot's facing
The direction your plot faces (where the road is) decides most of the layout. East- and north-facing plots are often preferred, but south- and west-facing homes can be planned well too — the rooms are simply arranged differently.
Most floor plans can be mirrored (flipped left to right) or rotated to suit your plot. Our free house designs are drawn with the road at the top of the plan; a designer can flip or rotate them so the kitchen, bedrooms and entrance land in the directions you prefer.
Tips for small plots
- Prioritise. On a 15×30 or 20×45 plot you may not be able to place every room ideally. Many families prioritise the entrance, kitchen and main bedroom.
- Keep the centre open — a living or dining space in the middle works better than a bathroom or staircase.
- Use the stair well. A staircase along the south or west wall can also hold a store room or two-wheeler space underneath.
- Good design and Vastu often agree: cross-ventilation, morning light in the kitchen and a bright entrance are good ideas either way.
Safety first. Never change columns, beams or wall positions for Vastu reasons without asking your structural engineer.
Free house plans for your plot
Floor plans for 15×30, 20×40, 20×45, 30×40 and 30×50 ft plots — free to download as PDF.