South Facing House Vastu: Is It Good and How to Plan It

South facing homes have a reputation problem. Many buyers avoid them because of a belief that a south facing house is unlucky. In Bangalore, south facing plots and flats are often priced a little lower for this reason alone.

Vastu does not say that south facing homes are bad. It says that the main door and the rooms should be placed carefully. A well-planned south facing home is considered as good as any other, and many prosperous homes face south.

This guide explains what Vastu traditionally recommends for a south facing house, how to place the main door and rooms, and practical design tips.

Is a south facing house good?

According to Vastu, a south facing house can be just as good as an east or north facing one, as long as the main door is in the right position and the rooms are planned well.

From a practical view, south facing homes get strong sun on the front for much of the day, especially in winter. With good shading, this keeps the home warm and dry, which helps during Bangalore's monsoon.

Main door placement

For a south facing house, Vastu traditionally places the main door in the south-east half of the south wall, in the padas towards the east, while avoiding the extreme south-east corner.

The south-west part of the south wall is strongly avoided for the main door.

In practice, keep the door in the middle to east part of the south face.

Room placement

Living room: north or north-east, if the plan allows, or the south-east part of the front.

Pooja room: north-east.

Kitchen: south-east, which works naturally in a south facing home.

Master bedroom: south-west.

Children's bedroom: west or north-west.

Guest bedroom: north-west.

Dining room: west or east, near the kitchen.

Bathrooms and toilets: north-west or west.

Staircase: south or south-west, which suits a south facing plan.

Open spaces and heights

Keep the north and east sides of the plot more open than the south and west. In a south facing plot, this often means a smaller front setback and a larger open space at the back, on the north.

Place the overhead water tank and the staircase on the south-west.

A higher compound wall on the south and west, and a lower one on the north and east, follows Vastu guidance.

Windows, shading and heat

South facing fronts get strong sun. Use deep sunshades, a covered verandah or a pergola at the entrance, and good-quality windows with shading on the south.

Plan larger windows on the north and east sides of the house to bring in softer light.

Colours

Warm and earthy colours suit south facing homes: red, orange, pink, peach, terracotta and warm beige, often combined with off-white. Use stronger colours on accents rather than the whole facade.

South facing flats

Keep the main door area well lit and clutter free.

Place the pooja unit in the north-east corner of the living room.

Use the south-west bedroom as the master bedroom.

Keep heavy furniture and wardrobes on the south and west walls.

Common issues and remedies

If the main door is in the south-west part of the south wall, families traditionally use a raised threshold, metal strips at the base of the door, bright lighting and symbols at the entrance.

If the kitchen is not in the south-east, place the stove in the south-east part of the kitchen.

Keep the north-east part of the home light and open.

Myths about south facing homes

A common myth is that a south facing house brings bad luck by its direction alone. Vastu texts do not say this. They focus on the position of the main door within the south wall and on the placement of rooms.

Another myth is that south facing homes are always hot. Bangalore's climate is mild, and with sunshades, a verandah and good windows, a south facing home can be as comfortable as any other. The front gets winter sun, which keeps it dry during the monsoon and pleasant in December and January.

A third is that south facing homes have poor resale value. They are sometimes priced lower, but well-designed homes sell on their light, layout and location.

The main door itself

Vastu prefers a strong, solid main door for a south facing home, larger than the other doors, opening inward and clockwise. A raised threshold and good lighting at the entrance are traditional.

Keep the area in front of the door uncluttered and well lit, and avoid a staircase directly facing the door.

Furniture and interior details

In the living room, place heavy sofas and cabinets on the south and west walls.

In the master bedroom, place the bed with its head to the south. Keep wardrobes on the south and west walls.

In the kitchen, place the stove so the cook faces east, which suits a south-east kitchen.

A south facing house on a 30x40 site

On a south facing 30x40 site, a common Vastu-friendly plan puts the entrance in the south-east part of the front, the kitchen in the south-east, the master bedroom in the south-west and the staircase along the south or west. The living room and pooja room sit towards the north and north-east at the back of the plot, where the open space and garden also go.

Practical design tips

Use the south front for a shaded entrance or verandah.

Plan the staircase and the water tank on the south-west.

Plan a garden or open area on the north or east, even if it is at the back.