A
Guide To Decorating Your Home According to Vastu
Some rules should be followed while considering the
decoration of the interiors of your house. Some rules and tips
related to the same are as under:
Almirahs: Almirahs should be
placed in the southwest of the room. If almirahs with valuables
are to be kept, the best place for the same is in the southwest
portion of the southwest room in the house. The almirahs with
valuables and jewellery should open towards the north or east
direction.
Shoe Racks: The shoes and
footwear should be placed in the south-west portion of the
verandah or main hall only, and never in the bedroom. Shoes should
never be placed in the north, south-east or east portion of the
house.
Beds: The beds should be placed
more towards the southwest of the room but never in the southwest
corner. One should sleep with head towards the south for sound
sleep and better health.
Sofa Sets/Sitting: Sofa sets or
chairs etc. should be kept in the south and west of the living
room. The chairs should be so kept as for he owner of the house,
or elder person in the house to face towards south or west
direction while sitting.
Dining Table: Dining Table can
be placed in the north west of the kitchen. The owners or elder
person in the house should face towards the north or east while
the guest should face south or west while eating.
Study Table: A study table can
be placed in the southwest of the room and the person should face
towards north or east while studying.
Mirrors: Mirrors should only be
fixed on the north and east walls. No mirrors should be
place/installed in study rooms and opposite to beds in the
bedrooms.
Home Appliances: Heating
appliances must be placed in the southeast of the room. Fridge
should be placed in the northwest portion of the room. Television
sets should never be placed in the northeast of the rooms.
Paint Colours: The kind of
paint colours used in the house greatly effects the mood and
general nature of the inmates. The psychology of the man can be
disturbed is wrong type of colours are used. In entrance of the
house, avoid red, black and gray colours, while using white, light
blue and dark green colours are good.
Plants Within The House:
According to Vastu, cactus or related plants should never be kept
in the house. Plants with red flowers and bonsai of the trees are
not allowed in the house. Avoid plants in the northeast corner of
the house. Avoid pots along the north and east walls of the house.
Fountains and Fish Tanks: Never
keep fountains and fish tanks in bedroom and study.
Paintings and Statues: Vastu
doesn't allow to use northeast corner of the house to hang
paintings or any other thing, so as to keep the northeast clean
and light. Paintings with scary marks and evil things should be
avoided. Paintings depicting scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata
should be avoided; however, Vastu allows the use of other puranic
paintings. Paintings of nude should be avoided. Paintings showing
violence and abstract paintings with clashing colours should be
avoided. Avoid keeping statues of gods in bedrooms. Vastu suggest
paintings of nature scenes, prayer, and temples for good health
and better living. Avoid keeping heavy statues in the northeast
corner of the room. Never keep any stuffed animals in the house.
Great importance is given for the decoration of
the house with the paintings, idols and especially the main door
decoration. The main door was considered very important in ancient
days and even today as the people used to think that all the
prosperity and money comes from the main door.
Main door decoration: Care should be taken to decorate the main
door. The objects of the main door as prescribed in the text are:
- Kula Devata: The image of the family deity. Its dimension should
not be more than one hasta (18") of length.
- Two Prathiharis (Sentinels or guards): Well decorated in
ornaments bearing staff and swords in their hands, well clothed,
glowing with youth and beauty, along with lady Prathiharinis and
placed on both the sides of the door.
- Dhaatri (a dwarfish nurse): her maid companions should follow
it, the happy jesters i.e. Vidhushakas.
- Shanka and Padmanidhi emitting coins.
- The Asthamangala: on the seat of lotus wearing a sacred garland
of eight auspicious symbols.
- Lakshmi: lotus seated and well decorated and being bathed by
elephants.
- Cow with her calf and well ornamented with flower garlands etc.
- Motifs of serpents, giants, owl, wild animals, elephants,
daityas, nudes, fight between God and demons, hunting, house on
fire, trees devoid of flowers should not be placed on the main
door.
- Nowadays people in their over enthusiasm to decorate the house
use figures of Gods like Krishna, Ganesh, Vishnu etc. and also
many other prohibited motifs.
- The following shlok explains the rules relating the above
things:
Meaning - To display the following in a house is not good - War
scenes from Ramayan and Mahabharata, Fight scenes using swords,
Inderjall (magic) scenes, Stone or wooden statues of terrifying
giants or demons, Scenes of weeping and crying people in tears.
Paintings, potraits, statues: Decorative lights, chandeliers,
bookshelf, vases, flower pots and furniture etc. should be
meticulously and tastefully selected and placed in appropriate
settings so that they look attractive and follow vaastu principles
etc.
- The pictures, painting or models of the animals like pigs, snake
and birds like eagle, owl, crow, pigeons, vultures should not be
placed in a house.
- All pictures or wooden or metal figures of wild beasts like
tigers, lions, wolves, bears, jackals, and wild asses, hounds etc.
should be avoided.
- The heavy furniture should be placed in the SouthWest side of
the room and the light furniture can accommodate in any corner.
- Symbols like Swastik, Om, Rangoli decorations stop the entry of
evil spirits and evil influences in the house.
- The photographs of the ancestors should be placed on the
southWestern side of the house.
- The clock should be placed on the Eastern, Western or Northern
wall.
Installation of Idols in homes and other buildings: A pooja or
worship place is a must in a home; it is better to have one in
office, factory, schools, colleges and other buildings too. The
appropriate place is the north-east corner of the building and if
not then the north-east corner of the room in house and central
chowk or garden or lawn of other buildings. The deities like
Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar, Surya, Inder should face east or West
and four-headed Brahma, six-headed kartikeya, five faced Shiv can
be placed facing any direction. Hanuman ji should face southwest.
Whatever is exhibited should be pleasing to the eyes and mind
bringing joy and cheer to those who view them; aesthetic and
cultural aspects also should be borne in mind, while selecting
decorative pieces or paintings and pictures and placing them in
our home.