Are you planing to buy a house in USA - Read this Article

1) Orientation: True North, Not Just Magnetic

• Use true north: Calibrate your phone’s compass and enable location so it shows true north. Many NA cities have a noticeable magnetic declination; plotting from the home’s center is essential.
• Street grids: Suburban streets often run off-cardinal. Align your internal Vastu grid to true north even if the façade is skewed. This is key for diagonal lots.
• Center (Brahmasthān): Keep this central area open for clear circulation; avoid heavy storage, structural beams, or large pendant lights dominating the exact center.

2) Entrances & Foyers (Curb Appeal meets Vastu)

Foyer rules: Door opens fully without hitting furniture; doormat is clean and in good condition; no broken hardware; soft, warm lighting; pleasant scent.

3) Room-by-Room Placements (US/Canada layouts)

Living / Family Room

• Prefer North/East for daily use spaces; arrange seating so most people face East/North.
• Keep North-East corner light—ideal for a low altar or reading nook, not the heavy media center.

Kitchen & Dining (overview—details in Section 4)

• South-East (Agni) is classic for the stovetop; North-West works as a secondary option. (Read more about Kitchen Vastu here).
• Dining near East/North lets morning light set the tone; avoid placing dining in a dark South-West corner.

Primary Bedroom

• Prefer South-West for stability and rest. Bed headboard on South/West wall; sleeper’s head towards East/South.
• Avoid mirrors facing the bed; if built-in closets have mirrors, keep them behind doors or cover them at night.

Children’s / Guest Bedrooms

• West/North are good; study desks should face East/North for concentration. Keep the North-East corner of the room clear for play/reading.

Home Office / Study

• Choose North (for finance/data) or East (for communication/marketing). Desk should face East/North, with a solid wall behind your chair for support.
• Avoid placing the main desk in the South-West corner if it becomes heavy and closed-in—use SW for cabinets and storage instead.

Puja / Prayer Niche

• North-East is ideal; otherwise East. Keep it elevated, clean, and free from adjacent bathroom or laundry walls if possible. (See our guide on Vastu for Puja Rooms).

Bathrooms

• Prefer North-West or South-East. Keep exhaust fans working, sealants fresh, and leaks fixed quickly. The toilet lid should always be kept down.

Staircases

• A clockwise rise is preferred from the entry level; place them toward the South/West quadrants where feasible. Keep under-stair storage neat.

4) Modern Utilities: Kitchen, HVAC, Laundry, Fireplaces

Kitchen (North American appliances)

• Stove/Oven: South-East (ideal) or North-West; cook facing East.
• Sink/Dishwasher: North-East/North. Separate fire (stove) and water (sink) with counter space.
• Fridge/Pantry: South/West walls work; avoid blocking North-East corners.

HVAC / Furnace / Water Heater

• Heating elements (furnace, boiler, tank water heater) align with the fire element, favoring South-East or South; ensure proper service clearances.
• Air conditioning condensing units outside should not clutter the North-East; screen them with plants if needed (while allowing airflow).

Laundry (Washer/Dryer)

• North-West or South-East are suitable. Maintain dry floors; fix vibrations; keep detergents closed and off North-East floors.

Fireplaces

• Preferably on a South or South-East wall of the living room. Balance its fire energy with water/greenery toward the North/East of the room.

5) Basements, Garages & Attics

• Basements: Keep them bright and dry. Use for storage, a gym, media room, or hobby areas. Avoid placing primary bedrooms in the deep South-West of a basement; if unavoidable, add a solid headboard on the West/South wall and extra lighting in the North-East.
• Garages: West/North-West are fine placements. Maintain cleanliness; avoid storing broken equipment, especially in the North-East corner of the garage.
• Attics: Keep them clutter-free. Heavy, long-term storage directly over a bedroom’s North-East area is discouraged.

6) Condos, Townhomes & Rentals (Non-structural fixes)

• Use area rugs with earthy tones to “weight” the South/West; keep North-East visually light with blues and whites.
• Place mirrors on North/East walls to expand the sense of space; avoid mirrors that directly face the main door or reflect the bed.
• Arrange your desk so you face East/North with a solid wall behind you.
• For kitchens not in SE/NW, rely on color zoning (warm tones for the stove zone) and a clean separation between the stove (fire) and sink (water).
• Place beneficial plants (money plant, bamboo, peace lily) in East/North; avoid cacti/thorny species indoors.
• Use movable screens to define a prayer nook in the North-East; keep it elevated, clean, and respectful.

7) Climate & Daylight (North American latitudes)

• Daylight strategy: In the Northern Hemisphere, South-facing windows admit strong light—great for living areas in cold regions; use shades or overhangs in hot summers. East-facing windows bring in beneficial morning light.
• Snow & rain: Keep North-East gutters and downspouts clean to prevent water stagnation. Ensure good drainage away from the foundation.
• Ventilation: Winter dryness and summer humidity require balanced humidification/dehumidification—clean HVAC filters regularly to improve indoor air quality (“prāṇa”).

8) Colors, Materials, Plants & Mirrors

• North-East: Whites, light blues, pastels. Keep airy and uncluttered.
• East/North: Fresh whites, light greens. Good for family photos, certificates.
• South-East: Warm whites, silver, earthy ochres. Avoid excessive red.
• South/South-West: Earth tones (beige, light brown). Supports heavy furniture and storage.
• West: Blues, whites, grays. Good for bookshelves, study aids.
• North-West: Light grays, whites. Supports a guest room or laundry area.
• Mirrors: On North/East walls to expand energy; not facing bed/door directly.
• Aquarium: In the North/East (only if maintained diligently; stagnant water is negative).

9) Quick Zone Map

10) Outdoor Spaces: Decks, Gardens & Landscaping

• Decks & Patios: Ideally located in the East or North of the house to take advantage of gentle morning and ambient light. Avoid overly heavy constructions that block light to the main house.
• Landscaping Slope: The land should ideally slope down from South/West towards North/East, allowing positive energy and water to flow correctly. If your yard slopes the other way, you can use terracing or raised garden beds in the SW to create a similar effect.
• Trees & Heavy Plants: Plant large, heavy trees in the South and West to provide shade and act as a stabilizing barrier. Avoid planting them too close to the house foundation.
• Lighter Plants & Lawns: Keep the North and East areas more open, with lawns, flower beds, and smaller shrubs. A Tulsi (holy basil) plant is excellent for the North-East.
• Water Features: A small fountain or birdbath is best placed in the North-East, but ensure the water is constantly moving and clean.

Printable Checklist

• ✔ Calibrate compass to true north from home’s center.
• ✔ Keep North-East light, clean and uncluttered, both inside and out.
• ✔ Stove in SE/NW; sink in N/NE; maintain fire-water separation.
• ✔ Primary bedroom in SW; solid headboard; mirrors not facing bed.
• ✔ Desk faces East/North; solid wall behind; cables organized.
• ✔ Bathrooms only in NW/SE; exhaust fans working; no leaks.
• ✔ Garage West/NW; basement bright, dry; avoid heavy SW bedrooms there.
• ✔ Yard slopes toward NE; heavy trees in SW; lighter plants in NE.
• ✔ Entry is well-lit, clutter-free; no broken hardware.
• ✔ All changes respect local building, fire, and HOA codes.