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The Kitchen which is usually adjacent to the DINING ROOM, is an extremely important part of the house, where healthy food for the family is prepared and cooked. In ancient times, cooking was done on open stoves and the washing of utensils, and preparation of food was all done outside. Hence Vastu guidelines were primarily based on the Sun and the main wind directions. However today, the Kitchen has become a compact, efficient, safe and easy place to work in and so the planning is different.
Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Kitchen. Since Vastu is a science, there is logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you don’t.
WHAT ACCORDING TO VASTU, IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR A KITCHEN?
South-East or North-West: The Scientific Reason - In earlier times, when the cooking was done on open stoves outside the house and combustible building materials were prone to catch fire, the cooking fire was preferred in the S-E corner or the N-W corner, where the hot summer wind, blowing from the S-W to the N-E direction could not cause damage by carrying sparks.
Avoid the Kitchen in the North-East : The Scientific Reason - Since the constant, morning sunlight enters from the North and East sides, these areas are reserved for a Meditation room and a Living hall from which all other spaces open. Hence it is a waste to have a Kitchen here.
ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR THE DOOR AND WINDOWS TO THE KITCHEN?
The door to the Kitchen should be in the North, East or North-East: The Logic - In a South-East kitchen, it makes sense to have an L-Shaped counter on the South and East walls for efficient use of space. Therefore, the entrance can be only from the North or West walls. Since the Living and Dining areas are in the Northern part of the house, it is natural that the door to the Kitchen should be from the North side.
The door should open clockwise: The Logic – Most of the population being right handed, it is easier to open the door in a clockwise direction when entering into the Kitchen.
The larger windows should be in the East: The Scientific Reason – The early morning sunrays are very beneficial to health and the UV rays of the sunlight kill germs. Hence the morning sunlight should be allowed into the house, especially in the Kitchen where germs thrive and multiply. Moreover, the sunlight is good for the health of the person who is busy in the kitchen in the mornings and doesn’t have the time to go out and get exposed.
Additional smaller windows can be in the South, for cross-ventilation: The Scientific Reason – In a Kitchen, where there is a lot of cooking fumes and odours, cross ventilation will ensure that the hot air and fumes exit out of the house and are replaced with fresh cool air from outside.
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE POSITION OF THE COOKING STOVE?
The cooking stove should be in the South-East corner of the Kitchen: The Logic - In a South-East kitchen, it makes sense to have counters running on the South and East walls, for proper and efficient use of the space. Naturally the S-E corner becomes suitable for the main kitchen appliance, namely the Stove, as the rest of the counter space can be used for preparing and cleaning food to be cooked.
One should cook facing East: The Scientific Reason - Since the women get tied down with kitchen chores from early morning, they don’t get a chance to get exposed to the useful morning sunrays. So the best solution, was to force the women to cook facing East so that they would benefit from the sunlight falling on them.
The cooking stove should not be visible from the outside: The Logic – One feels uncomfortable to cook if people can see form outside. Hence a little privacy helps.
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE POSITION OF THE KITCHEN SINK?
The Kitchen sink should be in the North-East: The Scientific Reason – In earlier days, when there was no running water and water for washing purposes was stored in open vessels, it was preferred in the N-E corner where the morning UV rays would kill the germs and keep the water and the whole area purified.
The Kitchen sink and cooking stove should not be close to each other: The Logic being fire and water do not go together.
Avoid water taps in the corners of 2 counters: There should be no leaking taps in the kitchen. The Logic - It is quite difficult to wash if the sink is in the corner of two counters, as you tend to lean uncomfortably forward. Leaking taps just waste water.
ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHAT IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE DRINKING WATER FILTER?
Drinking water should be stored in the North-East of the Kitchen: The Scientific Reason – When water is to be stored, it is better to have it in the N-E corner where the morning UV rays can kill the germs and keep the water purified and clean for consumption.
ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHERE SHOULD THE DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BE PLACED?
The refrigerator should be in the North-West or South-West corner of the Kitchen: The Logic - Since the counters are fixed on the South and East walls of a S-E kitchen, the corners available for appliances like a refrigerator, are the N-W or the S-W corners.
The microwave should be in the South-East corner of the Kitchen: The Logic - A microwave just like a cooking stove is used for cooking food and so can be placed next to the stove in the South-East corner.
The exhaust fans should be in the East walls: The Logic – Since the cooking is done in the S-E corner, while facing East, it is obvious that the exhaust fan or chimney should be placed here.
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES REGARDING STORAGE IN A KITCHEN?
Avoid overhead storage above the cooking stove: But it is useful to have overhead storage in the rest of the areas. The Logic - The space above the stove should be left open or fitted with an exhaust system (like a chimney) for the fumes to dissipate. Otherwise there is the likelihood of the overhead cupboard catching fire. Also cleaning the cupboard, shelf etc will be quite difficult as it will be covered with oil and grease.
WHY IS IT RECOMMENDED IN VASTU, THAT ONE SHOULD EAT IN THE KITCHEN?
The Kitchen is the best place for the daily meals: The Logic – In earlier days, the lady of the house first served the meal to the rest of the family before eating herself and so it was convenient for her to make hot food and serve it right there instead of making it before hand and then transferring it all to the Dining room. Moreover, there is a charm in watching the lady cook the food right in front of you. The anticipation of the food makes it taste better and worth the wait.
The dining table should be in the North-West and not in the centre of the Kitchen: The Logic – If the Dining table is placed in the kitchen, it is best to keep it in a free corner, where there is less activity and the ideal place for that in a S-E kitchen, is the North-West corner. If it is placed in the centre of the room, it will be an obstruction in movement and the efficient use of the kitchen.
WHAT COLOURS DOES VASTU RECOMMEND IN THE KITCHEN?
The colour of the Kitchen walls: It is good to have a lot of green colour in the kitchen. For example green granite for flooring or green pictures, as this helps improve the appetite of the family members, Other suitable colours are soft pink and orange. The Logic – Studies have found that the color of a food can greatly affect how its taste is perceived. Some colours are thought to be stimulating, like the bright yellows and oranges at fast-food outlets that are intended to make you eat more, while others are thought to be soothing, like the greens of a rainforest.
Related Topics:
- VASTU SHASTRA
- VASTU SHASTRA FACTORS
- VASTU SHASTRA PRINCIPLES
- VASTU GUIDELINES | SELECTION OF SITE
- VASTU GUIDELINES | DESIGN OF A HOUSE
- VASTU GUIDELINES | STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION
- LOGIC BEHIND SUPERSTITIONS
August 6th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Sir,
While googling for “Vastu Shashtra” , i came across ur site…Your explaination, the sciencific reason behind each tradition , all answers are really great, simple….Its awesome….
I have some doubt…actuall not exactly doubt but still want to ask u , as a rechecking….can i get ur mail id…or otherwise i ll post my question here…I want to know whether u r regualrly visiting /seeing posts or not???
Hoping for ur quick reply….
Thanks a lot…….
Dipali
September 16th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Dear sir,
On googling , i have read your explanations , i would like to know that if my kitchen is in the south west corner of the house and my sink is in the south west corner of the kitchen , as per vastu what remedies are available for me as i am unable to change the position of the sink . The platform is on the south east wall of the kithcen are available for me as pe
Dear Ms Chanda,
It is impossible to have everything perfectly according to vastu. Vastu guidelines have been handed down to us just so that we can understand the basic essence. Using your common sense and with what is possible, you should make the best of a space so that it is efficient, well lit and a nice place to use and work in. So in a kitchn if you can place the stove, fridge and sink in such a way that all three are easily accessible and equidistant, then your kitchen becomes an efficient space. Moreover, if the stove and sink get adequate light then nothing like that.
Admin
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Dear sir,
scientific explanations for some beliefs are too good. thanks a lot .
we r abt to shift our rented place, so i cannot see vasthu wherever i go. we r satisfied with the directions at the new house, the kitchen at SE. but cooking shud be facing SE as well . so i was a bit confused. after reading ur explanations, it sounds practical and understandable . for every vaasthu ,there is something scientific reason behind it.
thanks a lot.
subha
January 17th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Dear sir,i have read your explanation, i just want to know, we are about to sift to a new rented house, but the kitchen is in mrd north n cooking platform is in north.
One bedroom is in south west , n another is in south direction. There is two enters one is east n another is south. Is this house is suitable. Please help
Thanks & Regards, Harleen
Dear Ms Harleen,
From a practical point of view you should not worry too much about the vastu of a rented house, since your stay is temporary. I keep saying in my blog, that as long as all the rooms have adequate light and ventilation the vastu of the house should be okay. And most important, when you stand in that space listen to your instinct. If you feel good then it is good for you, otherwise better to avoid it. You have the choice of many others.
Admin
February 20th, 2010 at 12:21 am
sir,
i am an architect too and your explanation to vastu are quite true.but recently a few of my projects are held up, would like to discuss in detail about my office vastu, only if u can suggest some changes
March 1st, 2010 at 6:32 am
Sir,
I have read your scientific explanation and it is so very correct.
I have a question regarding the position of stove. Our flat is in rectangle shape and has a kitchen in the north-west quadrant. If I place the stove in south east corner facing east, it touches the north axis in the north west quadrant. If I place the stove on the west platform, it falls in the north-west quadrant. Please advise if it is ok to face west while cooking. or please give us better options as per vastu.
Dear Ms Aparna,
I haven’t understood your doubt clearly. But I suggest that you should choose the position such that the stove is more or less central and equidistant from the other areas of the kitchen. Also, it is better if there is adequate light preferrably sunlight falling on your stove to enable you to see better and since it has germicidal benefits.
Admin
March 17th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
– You article and information about VAstushastra is really good one.
– Only questions are published. If you publish answers also, then
readers like me will also get some benefit.
– thanks a lot.
March 29th, 2010 at 6:01 am
I really like your explanations. We’re in the process of building a house, our stove can be placed so cook faces west or North only. Which direction do you recommend? The main entrance is North facing and entry to kitchen is east and west facing. Windows in the kitchen are on the south wall.
I would greatly appreciate your help.
thanks a lot
Dear Mr ds,
Between the two options for position of a stove, I would suggest that you go for the side that is equidistant to all areas in the kitchen. Also make sure that when you stand at the stove your shadow does not fall on the cooking. Of course this can be solved by having a hood with light above.
Admin
April 19th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Dear sir,
Could you please teel me if we cud hve a open kitchen with dining n living rom
thank you
Dear Ms Swati,
There are no restrictions in vastu as long as there is enough light and air to each and every room. so an open kitchen is fine as long as it gets enough light and ventilation. However, it is not preferred to have an open kitchen right in front of the main door to the living, because the person in the kitchen may feel self conscious every time guests come in and if it is too close to the living room area, the exhaust fumes may be annoying to guests.
Admin
July 18th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Hi,
I was interested in knowing the effects of a chimney/fire-place in the North side of an apartment. Are there any ill[-effects for this?
Thanks in advance.
Deepak
Hi Mr Deepak,
Normally there is constant natural light from the North direction, in countries in the Northern hemisphere. Hence it is advisable to have more windows on this side- a chimney tends to block up this side wall. However, if you feel you are getting enough light and ventilation into the room, inspite of the chimney, then there is no harm in having one in the North.
Admin
August 1st, 2010 at 4:41 am
Dear Sir,
I have to place the stove on the south side platfarm and will face south while cooking, is it ok.
also there is no water connection from the water storage tank which i have in my bathroom, I want to place water tank in the kitchen on the loft of east wall. Is it ok. Os there any problem having water storage tank in the kitchen ?
Thanks in advance.
Dinesh
August 13th, 2010 at 12:07 am
Dear Sir,
I want to know that Can kitchen can be a step or two step below than the normal flooring with other parts of the house i.e. i want kitchen to be kept little down than the ground level, so we can getdown to kitchen from one or two steps
Would this be preferred in Vastu
Dear Asha,
Common sense and vastu go together and it is obvious that it is best to have all rooms with the same floor level – Because it is very easy to trip if there is a change in level, especially for older people. Moreover, it is not comfortable to carry food and other things to and from the kitchen that is at another level. So avoid it.
Admin
September 27th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Your site is very much interesting. We have kitchen at SE. But is is exactly opposite to the
main door and when we are cooking the stove and whole kitches in visible to outsiders.
We have kept a curtain to the door of kitchen while entering into the kitchen from main door is it ok. Please suggest.
Regds,
Madhavi
Dear Madhavi,
Without even being aware of Vastu, you have put up a curtain in the kitchen door as you must have started feeling self-conscious when outsiders enter the house. This is why Vastu is relevant even today. It is completely based on science and logic. To prevent the situation you are in, Vastu recommends that the kitchen should not be visible from the main door. But, like i said, it is only a recommendation, not a taboo. So if you find yourself in this situation, you should think of a practical solution for the problem (the fact that you feel conscious and exposed to outsiders). I think you, Madhavi, have solved it in the best way!
Admin
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Dear Sir/Madam
Our house has a open kitchen layout otherwise it meets most of the vaasthu requirement except the sink placement which is at the south. Any person entering the house can clearly see the kitchen since there are no separation walls or doors . I came to know from an unknown source that open kitchen affects the health of the main female person of the house(mother/wife). Please help me in this regards. I need your feedback on this at the earliest.
regards
Arpitha
December 2nd, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Dear Sir,
Its very nice to read scientific reasons than just believing things without explanation.
We have kitchen sink in North direction but you said it should be in north-east…..now we can not change direction….is it OK to have in north or there is remedy for the same…
Manish
December 2nd, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Dear Sir,
Itsgood to read scientific reasons than just believing things without explanation.
We have kitchen sink in North direction but you said it should be in north-east…..now we can not change direction….is it OK to have in north or there is remedy for the same…
Manish
December 4th, 2010 at 5:02 am
Dear Sir,
We’re in the process of building a house, kitchen is in northwest direction and our stove can be placed so cook faces west or North only. Which direction do you recommend? The main entrance is North facing and entry to kitchen is east facing. Windows in the kitchen are on the west wall.
I would greatly appreciate your help.
December 4th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Dear Sir,
I’m glad to find such a site to know the right functional solutions inside a house.
Actually I’m designing a villa in the middle east.
The location of the kitchen is in South-West with one window in the south plus a door which leads me to a balcony in the north.
My questions are:
1-What are the problems that may cause with respect to the wind passage and the sunlight ?
2-What are the solutions that must be done?
Looking forward to hear from you
Best regards.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:10 am
Dear Sir,
Are vaastu principles applicable to Austalia in the same way as India? The reason is that south east direction is the designated place for placing the Kitchen as per vaastu b’cos of the sun light.. But in Australia the sunlight remains in the North through the whole day and south gets only the morning sun for a short period. if we take into account the benefits of sun rays then the kitchen should be placed in north east corner (in Australia). It will be very kind of you to eplain this.. Kind Regards Samir
Dear Samir,
I am glad you used the information that I have provided in this site in a logical manner. Since Australia is in the northern hemisphere, the sun is mostly in the North and so as you say, the vastu principles that apply to India do not hold true there. So it is best that you try to benefit from the north sun rays in all the rooms by orienting your building and the rooms that you use during the daytime, towards the North and East. Also have big windows and a lot of open space towards the North.
Admin
January 24th, 2011 at 7:22 am
Sir,
We are building new house from basement.And tried to make according to Vastu .i believe every one has their own ways of explanation. Now my house is constructed 40% , other half is left .How do i go about the consultation as 1 of the vastu consultant has spoken lot of negetives about it and now we are in a fix
Kindly guide
February 22nd, 2011 at 10:23 am
Hi,
It is a wonderful explanation to vaastu science. Although we are not really too much into this until we decided to buy a house of our own.
It is small house which is West facing while all other parameters “look” to be okay, our kitchen has a common wall shared with master bed room bathroom and it is actually the place where the provision for Gas stove is provided.
If it should ideally not be the case, can we have some work around that will nullify the ill effects of sharing common wall with toilet/bathroom?
Thanks for your help !
Ranjan – Deepika, Bsngalore
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:01 am
hi,
i want renovate my kitchen, so i want to ur good advice.my kitchen is not big but i want perfect for us.my kitchen east side is corner like ‘L’ shape.northwest is stright wall.if i make ‘L’ shape it so small for me & if i make northwest its bigger for me.& one more thing northwest side one big window & i see everything in outside.if i make my kitchen northwest side & i put my stove in the N-W WINDOW side its ok or the sink is ok in northeast side corner.pls give my answer as soon as.bcoz i want to make my kitchen early.so plz sir reply me i m waiting for ur good advise.
thanx
April 13th, 2011 at 4:40 am
Dear Sir,
Your sight is very informative. I write to findout a remedy for construction of Kitchen against vastu principle.
Our house is facing the south and Kitchen is in the North-east Corner, the platform of the kitchen is on the eastern and northern wall and Gas Burner is placed on the eastern platform towards south and the sink is on the northern platform towards east and the doors are on the south & north walls – face to face. The door on the north wall (to go out) opens inside clockwise and the door on the south wall opens to the kitchen from the Living / dining room anti clockwise. Please advice Vastu Rememdy, without spending much money.
We stay in Cochin and in our Tharavadu and other houses in our native place have kitchen in the north-east direction.
May 6th, 2011 at 12:27 am
Sir,
I found your vastu tips and the clear scientific explanations given very interesting.One of the best sites on vastu if i may say so. Please keep up the good work.Thanks
HI Mr Srinivas,
Thank you for your appreciation and for taking the time to say so. However, I am a lady architect. Most people assume that if the subject is about Vastu, it must be a man.
Regards.
Minu CP
June 24th, 2011 at 3:35 am
all your suggestions are very useful. i have one small doubt.
can we build a kitchen in mid north of our home. presently we have the kitchen
in north east. plz let us know
June 27th, 2011 at 12:38 am
Our kitchen is at the center of our house. The cooking system is so that the cook looks toward south while cooking. But, due to some space constraints we were thinking of turning the gas oven towards north. The cook will look toward north while cooking. Is there any problem as per vastu shastra?