SCIENTIFIC VASTU | UPPER FLOORS | An Architect Explains
Multi-level houses have upper floors which are reached through the Staircase. The Upper Floors are less noisy since the inmates spend more time together as a family in the living room, dining room and kitchen in the ground floor. The upper floors are generally used for private spaces like bedrooms, study rooms and family rooms where the inmates unwind, retire after a hard day’s work and sleep. The energy in the upper floors should be restful and comforting.
So, is there a way to make the upper floors a peaceful and soothing area? According to Vastu Shastra, the right placement of the rooms, the furniture, the doors and windows, the lighting and colours in the upper floors will ensure that it becomes a space full of calming energy. To know more about making the upper floor a vastu compliant space, read on…..
Listed here, are some Vastu Guidelines for Upper floors. Since Vastu Shastra is a science, every guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain each of these guidelines rationally and scientifically under the following headings, so that you have a choice and can decide what you want to follow or don’t instead of looking at Vastu as a superstition:
What are the Vastu guidelines for the placement of rooms in the upper floors?
What are the Vastu guidelines regarding master bedrooms in the upper floors?
What is the best Vastu position of a guest bedroom in the upper floors?
What are the Vastu guidelines regarding children’s bedrooms in the upper floors?
What are the Vastu guidelines for furniture and openings in the upper floors?
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE PLACEMENT OF ROOMS IN THE UPPER FLOORS OF A HOUSE?
The Balconies in the Upper floors should be in the North, East or North-East. It should not be in the South-West corner. The Scientific Reason – A balcony or terrace in the North-East corner is preferred over a room , since this will allow the sunlight into the rest of the house. Moreover, it is comfortable sitting out in a balcony that faces the East and the North instead of the hot West or South. Also, one can expose oneself to the useful morning sunlight in this balcony.
The Bedrooms and Study rooms should be in the Upper floors: The Scientific Reason – Bedrooms, Toilets and Study rooms are private spaces which require calm and peace. By keeping them upstairs, away from the bustle of the main house, one can enjoy peaceful rest here.
The main bedrooms should be in the South: The Scientific Reason – The North is meant for the Living room and entertaining guests. Hence a private space like a Bedroom should be located far from the front and ideally, that is the South.
Avoid bedrooms above the Car porch/Garage : The Scientific Reason – The fumes from the kitchen and the car exhaust that rise up, can be a nuisance and not good for the health of the inmates of the Bedroom.
Avoid bedrooms in the North-East: It is meant for deities and prayer.However, in the upper floors it can be used for The Scientific Reason – The North-East corner which is engulfed with early morning sunlight, is ideally suited and hence reserved for a meditation room or Puja room.
Avoid bedrooms in the middle of the house: The Scientific Reason – It is obvious that a room in the centre of the house will be used for movement and accessing all the other rooms, and hence a Bedroom that requires privacy and quiet, cannot be placed here.
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES REGARDING MASTER BEDROOMS IN UPPER FLOORS?
The Master bedroom should ideally be in the South-West in the upper floor of a house: This room should never be used as a bedroom for young children, as they will try to dominate. The Scientific Reason – In ancient times, the main wealth of the inmates was agricultural produce and this was stored in granaries behind the house. The ideal location for these granaries was the South-West corner, because the South-West heat and the hot S-W summer wind kept the produce dry and free from moisture. Hence the Master Bedroom was preferred in the South-West, closer to the granaries to guard them from thieves. So also, this was not preferred for a Children’s Bedroom.
Avoid the Master bedroom in the South-East: The Scientific Reason – In the olden days, when the cooking was done on open ovens, and the combustible building materials were prone to catch fire due to the hot S-W summer wind, the kitchen was not allowed in the South-West corner and the North-East corners. Therefore, the South-East corner or North-West corner were reserved for the Kitchen and any other rooms were to be avoided.
WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION OF A GUEST BEDROOM IN THE UPPER FLOORS?
The Guest Bedroom should be in the North-West: This corner represents Vayu or movement which implies that Guests who sleep in this bedroom will not stay for long and get going on their way. The Scientific Reason – A Bedroom in the North side is preferable for guests as it is closer to the living room and the front of the house. At the same time, it is away from the back of the house and the family members have their privacy. The northern Bedrooms also have the advantage of getting constant sunlight from the North.
WHAT IS THE IDEAL LOCATION OF A CHILDREN’S BEDROOM IN THE UPPER FLOORS, ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA?
The children’s bedroom should be in the East or West side: The Scientific Reason – The West bedroom has the advantage of being bright and well lit in the evenings due to the West sun rays. Hence it is a good location for the Children’s Bedroom because they use it a lot in the evening for their studies after school and play. Similarly, the East bedrooms have the advantage of being well lit in the mornings for their morning studies.
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR FURNITURE AND OPENINGS IN THE UPPER FLOORS?
Maximum number of doors and windows should be in the North and East sides of the Upper floors: The Scientific Reason – This is to allow the useful morning sunlight from the East and the constant sunlight from the North into the house.
Avoid storing heavy things in the Upper floors: The Scientific Reason – Structurally it is always better if the weight of a building is on the lower floors, since it lowers the centre of gravity, thus making the building less unstable.
The ceiling height in the Upper floors should be less than in the lower floors: The Scientific Reason – For a building to look graceful and proportionate, the height of the lower floor should always be more than that of the upper floor. Otherwise, the building will look a bit unstable as though it will topple.
This post was about the Vastu guidelines for the design of Upper Floors. The Upper Floors are used for private spaces namely the Bedrooms, Balconies and the Study Room.
If you want to make the rest of the rooms of your house/apartment Vastu compliant, then go to:
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Related Topics:
- Vastu Shastra | Explained By An Architect
- Vastu Shastra | Principles For A House
- Vastu Shastra | Factors That Impact A House
- Vastu Guidelines | Designing A House
- Vastu Guidelines | Interiors Of A House
- Vastu Guidelines | Exteriors Of A House
- Vastu Guidelines | Selecting The Right Site
- Vastu Guidelines | Construction Of A House
- Vastu Guidelines | Rituals For A House
- Vastu Guidelines | Non-Residential Buildings
- Remedies For Vastu Defects
Sir
I have a plot of 2400 sqft. in Shimla which is West facing. As per Town and Country Planning Norms the staircase must be in the middle of the house. So I asked an Architect to design house map. The Architect designed the map of buildup area of 1400 sqft and taken the staircase in middle of the house. In each floor there are two sets of 2BHK each. One set face North where as another faces South. Pl. guide me how I should construct bed rooms, kitchen,toilets etc.
Thanks with regards.
Tilak Thakur
H.P. Shimla
Hi Tilak,
Refer to my posts on Vastu Guidelines For Designing A House and Vastu Guidelines For a Positive Home.
Admin
Sir , I have 1 son ,which floor of flat is suitable to buy.
Hi Atul,
Avoid a ground floor flat. Go for any other floor depending on your instinct.
Admin
Sir, I have a few of queries regarding with vastu to be solved.
1. Is it essential in having knowing shapes( like rectangle or square) for the the house?
2. When considering two story building (upper plan area is half portion out of ground plan aligned to north side ), which point does take as the center point to ascertain directions in order to place components like BR?
3. Are there any possible rectifications to overcome or mitigate negative effects if Master BR is located either East or South-East of the upper floor?
Hi,
rectangular and square shapes are most suitable for designing. But another shape is okay provided a good designer creates a spacious plan. do not take the upper floor separately. look at the whole house in deciding the centre. It is okay to have the bedroom in the SE. You can place the bed in the SW part if it is being used as a master bedroom.
Admin
Sir we want to buy a house facing east but in south facing plot. it has 2 doors one on east side.another middle of the south but facing east .Because they made southwest corner living area.south east kitchen is there.main compound entrance is south of south east. 4 Sides set back is perfect.same in first floor.if we make first floor hall as master bedroom by making internal staircase connecting both floors ok?
Hi,
If it has ample openings on the East side , then it is okay. You can make the first floor hall a bedroom. only make sure that the staircase does not eat too much space.
Admin
Sir,
we are planning to construct home. in ground floor SE -Kitchen, SW-mbed, middle of west portion -STAIR CASE, NW- aged Mom, NE-living, Centre portion courtyard..In first floor above kitchen SE-Guest Room, NE-Kids room(BOYS),EAST middle portion balcony SW and NW are open terrace .SO can you advise me as per Kerala vasthu shastra this plan is ok or required any changes?
Hi,
It seems okay.
Admin
Hi Sir,
My house is south facing i am planning to build my bedroom at second floor on south west corner with attached toilet and toilet at the front side i mean above to the my House main boundary gate as my house boundary main gate also in south west.
is it okay ?
Hi,
It is okay provided it is structurally designed and does not cut off the light to the lower floors.
Admin
Sir
I my Family we decided to divide house of four floors, how can we divided the 4 store building. who should take share on top middle and bottom floors .3 in my family members are Father Mother and me
Hi,
It all depends on your requirement. preferably keep the lower floor for elderly people.
Admin
Sir, we have our ancestral house and is old but well maintained. House is 2 storied and we have entrances on south east d north west. I have to build a bedroom as I am newly married the only space I have is the north side of the house so the bed room will be on north east (on the first floor). Please advice.
Hi,
A NE master bedroom is not ideal.
Admin
Hi. I have 30×40 house and wanted to construct 1 room and small hall in first floor as a master bedroom. I planning to extend SW room 2 feet towards south and west and hall in NW side. Is it fine as per vaastu that extended room and position considering future plan of constructing 1 bhk in remaining place. Please help me. Thanks in advance
Hi,
If the structural aspects are all taken into consideration, then you can go ahead. but make sure that the light to the lower rooms does not get affected by the extended portion.
Admin
Dear Sir
We have made first floor in my factory. Ground floor area is around 3000 fts. & on first floor we have made tin shade of around 2100 fts. I want to know how do we calculate south west area in upper floor. Whether we should consider whole building of ground floor or we have to consider only upper floor for calculation of south west area.
Thanks
Hi Sir,
My house is south facing and main gate in south east and stairs in SW , first flight of stair is from south to north and then north to south.
my first floor entry door which is open in living room in SW.
however boundary wall main gate of building is in SE after 2 feet of SE corner.
is all above is OK for problematic.
Hi,
It is all okay according to me.
Admin
Hai sir,
My duplex house has 8 wooden doors and 2 slide doors is it as per vastu
Hi,
It is okay.
Admin
Hi,
I have a bathroom in the north east(More east than north east) of my room which can’t be broken. There is also a balcony on the north. I also have 2 doors in the south(Room door and connecting door), 1 east (Connecting door), 1 north east(Bathroom door) and 1 north (Balcony door) in my room. Can you please suggest some solutions? Cheers
Hi,
so effectively you have 4 doors to your room which is a bit too much as your furniture layout can get affected. if the connecting door is not used much, then close it off. but if it is necessary, then make sure the furniture arrangement is such that you have space to move about without bumping into anything.
Admin
We are three brothers living with mother. We have two bedroom in ground floor and three bedroom in first floor. Kindly let us know the allocation of bedrooms for my mother and three sons
Hi,
ideally your mother should use the lower floor bedroom. the rest you brothers should decide amonst yourselves.
Admin
The house is a duplex model . through your guidance I came to know that nothing heavy should be kept in the North East corner . does this apply to the ground and first floor or only for ground floor only ? Please advice .
Hi,
as per vastu, the NE should be lighter and lower in height (meaning with lot of windows and a lower roof so as to allow the light to the rest of the house. so it applies to both floors.
Admin
Sir can we construct staircase over the roof of a temple in ground floor
Hi,
It is not ideal. But if the staircase is not visible from the pooja and you have no other place for it, you can go ahead.
Admin
I would like to first appreciate your effort to help and advice through this site.
I am having a 1st floor house at present in my own land. Top entrance is from west to east. Entrance to staircase is from east to west in ground floor.I have been advised to use the below entrance as my main entrance. Please advise if this is correct. If, yes, please inform criteria to convert it to main entrance.
Hi,
Than you for the appreciation. you have been advised right. This is because the lower entrance is an east facing one. Close the staircase and have a big main door in the ground level.
Admin
hi mam.
i am planning to make two story house.
i am from north.weather is hot ,so i cant stay in ground floor and upper floor for rent,but you have mentioned that lower floor should give in rent,what should i do if i want to stay in ground floor,and my plot is south facing,
Hi,
Nothing wrong in staying in the ground floor if that suits you better.
Admin
I have started construction of my house. In ground floor two bedrooms one drawing and galary. Bedrooms are in SW and NW with attach toilets. Drawing room in North. Pooja room in NW. Kitchen in SE. Stairs in west. First floor having three rooms. One in NW exactly above to GF room one is above drawing room in gf. One in sw. One common toilet bath in South as joint to the room and above to room at gf. Is it ok.
Hi,
It is okay.
Admin
Sir I want to a balcony in first floor at east and north site can I do this.my house is completed but I want a balcony.but a man said if I extend this site the problem create pls help me.
Hi,
It will be ideal to have a balcony in the NE but it is preferable that you do not extend one as it will block the light to the lower floor.
Admin
My plot Size is 40 by 60 being in North East . I already have on the first floor two bedrooms with common bathroom in the rear. Now I want to construct one kitchen and one room on the front on the first floor on the side of gate . please guide what is ideal as per Vastu.
Hi,
place the kitchen in the NW or SE corner.
Admin
Sir we have three floor building we stay in first floor, we use ground floor for office purpose, we are elder in family we stay with our younger brother family, we want to divide now, in which floor we should stay
Hi,
It all depends on your convenience. But usuall the elder stays on the upper floor.
Admin
We are planning for G+2 floors. Ground floor is for parking and in 1 first floor, planning to have Kitchen in SE, pooja in NE, Living in NW and one bedroom in SW
On 2nd floor, balcony in NW, Master bedroom in SW, and Kids bedroom in NE. For kids bedroom on 1st floor has toilet in SE corner. Is it OK? especially the toilet in SE corner on 2nd floor is OK?
I have constructed a house entrance towards east direction.Now I want to construct a room with attached bath towards the south east direction.Is it will be according to vastusashtra.
Can a brother live in ground floor and younger sister live in First floor?
My mother in law stays in the first floor and my brother in law stays in ground floor of a two story house. Is this ok? Do their bed rooms be in south west corner only?
My wife and myself stay in the south west corner bed room in the ground floor and my son stays in the south west corner bed room in the first floor. Is this ok?
Hi sir.
I wanted to buy new flat at 10 thfloor or 13th floor of 17 the floor building which main door faces west facing and kitchen on North West area and master bedroom at North East facing guest bedroom at south east facing.
Please let me know if this ideal for my family.
Thanks.
I have a duplex house in which 1st floor SE is kitchen,2nd floor SE Bathroom (with toilet seat in extreme SE).Is It okay.
Sir I want to alter my first floor. I have kitchen in SE master bedroom in South west, children room in North West. North East is empty with sump. Outside stairr case in North west. Can I construct internal stircase 7 feet away from kitchen SE towards North side to reach Master bed rom in the second floor to be constructed. Playback advise.
Hello,
We planned to build a house with GF and FF. Below are the floor plan.
GF – SE – Kitchen. In FF – SW – Master bedroom
SE – Bedroom for parents
NE- CHILD ROOM.
Please let me know if the plan looks ok. I have doubt that whether parents bedroom should be in SE or NE
Thank you,
Venkat
Sir
We have duplex in which staircase isfrom ground floor to first floor is in North East and one bed room in North East with attached toilet in North east is it against vastu norms if yes please suggest remedy and bless.
I have started construction of my house. It is 300 square feet north facing plot. Main gate in NE, Master bedroom in SW, children room in north west. Toilet in west, guest room in East, kitchen in South East. Stairs in north west corner. First floor is less constructed having balcony in north. One room in north west same above the ground room. Kitchen is in north facing.SW and East area open, middle area built having hall and another small room. Upper floor is built for rent purpose only. Is it ok to live pls suggest sir
Hello Sir,
I am planning to buy duplex type of flat. Some of the details of the flat are as below –
1. Main door – South west
2. On ground floor – Kitchen – North West, One room North East, Toilet on North side & Hall
3. Upper floor – One room – North West, Second room – North East, Third room – South East and hall. Toilet on north side
Please suggest the positions for bedroom, study room, office room, guest room.
Thanks in advance…
Regards,
Santosh
Hello sir,
I am going to buy house which has two toilets one in NE corner which I am going to totally remove and second one in first floor SE corner but it doesn’t cover all of ground floor SE corner.
Need your help
Thank you
Sir, maine duplex ghar banaya hai , ground floor me SE me kitchen ,SW me mastar br NE me hall NW me lat /bath room hai ,1st floor me SE ,SW,NE,SW me bed room hai mai ye janana chahata hu ki mere 2 marred baccho ko kaounsa bed room de
Sir,
We have a plan of constructing a duplex on a east facing plot. Entrance in the east, water sumo and car park NE, kitchen SE, bedroom SW, internal staircase – two steps starting from east to west then turning towards north then to south. Lobby in the center with a bedroom in SW again. We have a plan approval for the third room in the NE as a study with attached rest room in the NW..with the staircase at the back. The east and SE portion is the large open balcony area as sitout. If we want to skip the construction of the NE room. Can we have it open with few small plants in NE corner for a swing or so with that portion covered with roof. East and SE balcony will be in open. PL suggest.
Sir,
My house is east facing three floor. Entrance on the ground floor is from middle east. NE and SE are used for shop for rent. Middle portion is almost empty. NW is Master bedroom. Ground floor is given on rent. Stairs are in SW corner on south wall. In first floor my family is living. SE-kitchen, Middle East-small living room for guest or store, NE-Old aged mother, NW- Couple, middle West- toilet (towards north) and bathroom (towards south). Is this ok as per vastu.
I also want to construct a 3rd floor for 1 room flat for my brother who will soon get marry. Please help
Sir we have west face house, can we take bathroom on the first floor right upward the main door of the house please suggest
Sir, I am going to construct second floor of my west facing house. What should be height of ceiling of second floor. First ceiling is 10′. I have balcony at west side due to road. I am planning to extend roof in four side by beam. Please advice as per bastu. Urgent and quick. Work is going on.
My plot size is 45 /60 east facing . We want to construct clinic in ground floor and residence at first floor . What shoul be direction of main gate and stairs and what about entrance at first floor house. Please give your valuable advise.
Can we construct bathroom on first floor over kitchen on ground ??
Hello Sir,
What should be placed in the south east corner of upper floor of a duplex house ? Is bed room suitable?
Sir we have 40*50 site with east and south roads, we are planning to build 3-4 shops in ground floor and house in first floor, is that ok sir?
Namaste, sir.Ours is east facing plot. we have constructed
Duplex house with two bedrooms, in the ground floor and two bedrooms in upstairs since we have 2 daughters. Please guide us about the bedroom in which we should sleep. I will thank you so much in this regard..
can kitchen be made in 1st floor of a duplex house, or ground floor is preferred
Sir/Madam,
We are planning to construct first floor on a ground floor house. The hall on the first floor will require a beam to be made on the ground floor ceiling to support first floor hall structure. Is it okay to have this beam and partition wall to help us create two bedrooms on first floor.
Also can we have kitchen service area facing east?
Those landlords who live on the ground floor and have rented out the upper floor to a tenant, can have a staircase right at the main entrance.? please let me know
I am building a new house.My plot is west facing plot(with 18 ft front).
i managed to construct a home such that my entrance door is in north 4th and 5th padas(of first floor) ground floor is open) and entrance of plot is in 3-4-5-6 padas of west side.
As per plan my living room comes in SW corner of house (you can consider it in west as it covers 90% of south(from 3rd pada to 9th pada).
i am planning to build double story height living room. Master bedroom will be on SW corner of 3rd floor)
my question is can i build double story height living room in sw corner ? i read somewhere in past that its a corner of rahu so donot build double story
My plot is south facing and north greenbelt ground floor constructed now I want to build a mastered room on first floor which directions should be construct.
Hi Umesh,
As per vastu guidelines, the best position is SW. But you could decide based on your convenience, anywhere in the South, West, NW, North or East. But avoid the NE corner.
Admin