Kitchen Vaastu — Stove, Sink and Storage Directions

The fire corner

The kitchen belongs to Agni, the fire god, so Vaastu places it in the south-east (Agneya) of the house. The north-west is the traditional second choice. A kitchen in the north-east — the water and sacred corner — is the arrangement Vaastu tries hardest to avoid.

Stove and cooking direction

Place the stove in the south-east part of the kitchen so that the cook faces east while cooking. This gives morning light on the work surface and is said to bring good health. If east is not possible, facing north is the next choice. Keep the stove a little away from the walls.

Water and fire apart

Fire and water are opposite elements, so the sink and water purifier are placed in the north-east of the kitchen, and not directly next to or opposite the stove. If they must be close, a small partition or worktop between them is a common solution.

Storage and appliances

• Heavy storage — grains, utensils, cylinders — in the south and west.
• Refrigerator in the south-west, south or west; avoid the north-east corner.
• Microwave, oven and mixer in the south-east, near the stove.
• Windows and an exhaust fan in the east or north.

Colours and habits

Warm, light colours — cream, yellow, orange, light pink — suit the fire element; very dark kitchens are avoided. Many families offer the first roti to a cow or bird, keep the kitchen clean before cooking, and do not eat in the kitchen in front of the stove. These customs are about cleanliness and gratitude as much as Vaastu.

Open kitchens

In open-plan flats, keep the cooking zone in the south-east of the open area if you can, and separate it lightly from the puja space.