Which direction should a kitchen face? Vastu places the kitchen in the south-east corner of the home, the corner of Agni, with north-west as the usual second choice. The stove goes in the south-east of the kitchen, so the cook faces east.
Where everything goes
| Item | Best place |
|---|---|
| Stove | South-east corner of the kitchen, so the cook faces east |
| Sink | North or north-east side, away from the stove |
| Fridge | North-west or south-west |
| Heavy storage | South or west walls |
| Window or exhaust | East wall |
| Dining | West side of the home, near the kitchen |
Do and avoid
Please do
- Keep fire and water apart
- Keep the stove clean and the kitchen airy
- Boil milk here first when you move in
Best avoided
- Avoid a kitchen right above or below a toilet
- Avoid the stove directly opposite the sink
- Avoid a kitchen in the north-east
Before you change anything
Follow your engineer on structure and safety first. Vastu is a tradition of placement, not a building code.
Sources
- Mayamata and Manasara, the classical Indian works on building.
- Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira, which has a chapter on Vastu.
- Many room-by-room tips are modern practice built on these works, so your own family’s custom counts too.
When the layout can’t change
Tradition doesn’t ask you to break walls. When a home can’t be rearranged, families hold a Vastu Shanti, usually before moving in.
Questions devotees ask us
Which direction should I face while cooking?
East is the traditional choice, which puts the stove in the south-east corner of the kitchen.
What if my kitchen is in the north-east?
Many flats have this and it can’t be moved. Keep the area clean, and families often do a Vastu Shanti when they move in rather than rebuild.