Vaastu Without Demolition — Simple Corrections for an Existing Home

Start with what you can change

Most families cannot rebuild a home to fix its Vaastu, and traditional consultants rarely ask them to. The usual approach is to change how rooms are used, where things are placed and how the space is kept — in that order.

Change the use of rooms

If the north-east room is a bedroom, use it for the puja space, study or children; give the south-west room to the parents. If the kitchen is in the north-east, consider moving the cooking area to its south-east corner. Store heavy things in the south-west and keep the north-east light.

Move furniture

• Beds with the head to the south or east.
• Sofas and cupboards against south and west walls.
• Desks so that you face east or north.
• Stove so that the cook faces east.

Light, colour and air

Brighten dark corners with light colours and good lighting, open windows on the north and east, and keep the centre of the home empty. Fresh air and daylight correct more than most remedies.

Cleanliness and clutter

Repair leaking taps, broken fittings and stuck doors; clear clutter, especially in the north-east and under beds; and keep toilets clean with lids and doors closed. In Vaastu, a neglected corner is a bigger problem than an imperfect direction.

Traditional practices

Families also turn to devotional practices: a regular diya and aarti, a toran at the door, a Vastu Shanti or Griha Shanti puja when moving in or after renovation, and rangoli on festival days. These are part of making a house a home.

When to ask an expert

For a structural concern — a cut north-east corner, a toilet in the north-east, a staircase in the centre — a Vaastu consultant can look at your actual plan. Be wary of anyone who insists on expensive objects or frightens you about your home.