Which direction should the main door face? North, east and north-east are the most favoured. A south-facing door isn’t bad in itself, because Vastu also looks at where along the wall the door sits.
Best direction
North, east and north-east doors are the most favoured. West is generally fine. A south-facing door is not bad in itself: Vastu divides each wall into sections, and the south-east part of a south wall is usually preferred. Most flats can’t choose, so go by the position, then by the fixes below.
Do and avoid
Please do
- Make it the largest door in the home
- Have it open inward, and clockwise
- Keep the entrance bright and clean
- Put up a nameplate and a toran
- Keep a threshold at the doorway
Best avoided
- Don’t leave shoes in a heap at the door
- Avoid a door directly facing a lift, pillar or T-junction
- Avoid broken handles and squeaking hinges
- Avoid a toilet door facing the main door
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
Is a south-facing main door bad?
Not by itself. Tradition looks at where along the south wall the door sits, and many south-facing homes are well placed. If it worries you, ask a pandit to look at the plan before making changes.
What should I keep at the main door?
A clean threshold, a nameplate, good light, and a toran of mango leaves on auspicious days are the usual choices.