The VastuCalc app’s simplified Vastu table lists the south-east first for a kitchen, with the north-west as the usual alternative, and asks you to review a kitchen in the north-east, south-west or centre. Here is what that means, how Feng Shui differs, and what to do when the kitchen is already built.
Simplified direction tables in the VastuCalc app| Tradition | Suggested zones | Review placement |
|---|
| Vastu Shastra | South-East, North-West | North-East, South-West, Centre |
|---|
| Feng Shui | East, South-East | North, Centre |
|---|
Zones not listed carry no specific preference in the app’s table. The two traditions differ by design; neither is a prediction, and “review placement” is a prompt to look again, not a verdict.
If the kitchen is already fixed
- Place the hob so that you face east while cooking; where that is impossible, facing north is the usual second choice.
- Keep the hob and the sink apart, on different counters or with a clear gap, so fire and water are not side by side.
- Make the exhaust work: a clean chimney or a window fan clears heat and smoke whatever the direction.
- Keep the north-east corner of the kitchen light and uncluttered, and use the south and west walls for heavy storage and the fridge.
- Store grains and daily essentials where they are easy to reach; a tidy counter matters more than a perfect zone.
Measure north before you decide
Stand at the centre of the home with a compass app held away from the fridge, grilles and steel door frames, and compare the reading with the north arrow on your plan. The VastuCalc app’s compass warns when nearby metal distorts a reading.
Check this room in the appTraditional guidance, presented as such: these are placement preferences, not predictions.
Why the south-east
In the traditional scheme the south-east is the Agni corner, associated with fire, and the house-building chapter of the Brihat Samhita places the kitchen there. The north-west is a later and widely taught alternative, preferred by many modern practitioners for its ventilation and its distance from the north-east. Both appear in the app’s suggested list.
The zones to review are the north-east, traditionally kept open, light and reserved for water and worship; the south-west, usually given to the heaviest and most private rooms; and the centre, the Brahmasthan, which is kept clear. A kitchen in one of those zones is common in flats and is a reason to look at the practical options above, not a cause for alarm.
Feng Shui sees it differently
Feng Shui’s bagua reads the east as Family and the south-east as Wealth, and the app’s Feng Shui table suggests both for a kitchen while asking you to review the north and the centre. The traditions overlap on the south-east and disagree elsewhere, which is a useful reminder that these are cultural frameworks rather than physical laws.
Making the most of the kitchen you have
Most traditional preferences about a kitchen are really about the cook, the hob and the sink rather than the walls. The adjustments listed above change how the room is used, not where it is, and they cost little. Moving gas lines or plumbing for a direction alone is rarely worth it; if you are renovating anyway, that is the moment to raise it with your architect.
Traditional reference: Brihat Samhita on house building (Iyer translation, wisdomlib.org)
Frequently asked questions
Is a kitchen in the north-east bad?
The simplified table asks you to review it, because the north-east is traditionally kept open and light. Review means look at the practical options, such as facing east to cook, keeping the corner clear and fitting a good exhaust, not that anything will go wrong. Many homes have kitchens there and are perfectly comfortable.
Which direction should I face while cooking?
East is the traditional preference, so the hob goes against a wall that lets the cook face east. Where the layout makes that impossible, facing north is the common alternative. The direction of the room itself does not change.
Can the kitchen be in the north-west?
Yes. The north-west is in the app’s suggested list alongside the south-east. It is a widely taught modern alternative and is often the better-ventilated corner of a flat.
Where should the sink and the water filter go?
Keep water on the north or east side of the kitchen when the plumbing allows, and in any case away from the hob. Plumbing that already exists is not worth moving for this; a gap between hob and sink is enough.
Does Feng Shui agree with Vastu on the kitchen?
Partly. Both list the south-east. Feng Shui also suggests the east and asks you to review the north and the centre, while Vastu reviews the north-east, south-west and centre. Pick one framework and apply it consistently.
Reviewed on 6 October 2026. Vastu Shastra, Feng Shui and numerology are traditional guidance, presented as such. VastuCalc promises no health, wealth, relationship or other outcome, gives no scores or percentages, and does not replace a qualified architect, engineer or practitioner.