Bedroom Vastu: sleeping direction, bed and mirrors
For any bedroom, the common Vastu advice is to sleep with your head to the south or east and to keep a mirror from facing the bed. Which corner suits which bedroom depends on who sleeps there. Traditions differ, so these are common practice and not fixed rules.
2 min read ·
Which corner is best for a bedroom?
The traditional corner depends on who sleeps in the room. The south-west is traditionally the corner for the main couple's bedroom, and the north-west is accepted as a second choice. The master bedroom page covers this in more detail.
Children's bedrooms are traditionally placed in the north-west or the west. A guest room is also placed in the north-west. Most texts advise against a bedroom in the north-east.
| Bedroom | Direction | Traditional verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Master bedroom | South-west (Nairutya) | Traditionally preferred |
| Master bedroom | North-west (Vayavya) | Acceptable |
| Master bedroom | North-east or south-east | Traditionally avoided |
| Children's bedroom | North-west or west | Traditionally preferred |
| Guest bedroom | North-west | Traditionally preferred |
Which way should my head point when I sleep?
Sleep with your head to the south or east. If the room layout makes that hard, the bed position matters less to many people than a comfortable room, but this is the common advice.
Place the bed so you can see the door from it without lying directly in line with it. Keep the space under the bed free of stored clutter, which is also easier to clean.
Can I keep a mirror in the bedroom?
A mirror is acceptable in a bedroom as long as it does not face the bed, so you do not see your reflection when lying down. A wardrobe door with a mirror can be kept closed at night or covered with a curtain.
VastuLive's rule data sets no fixed colour. Soft, restful shades and curtains that block street light are a practical choice. Keep screens and work papers out of the bedroom if you can.
If a room does not match
These need no building work.
- If the bed cannot have its head to the south or east, move it to the wall where it can, even if this means turning the whole bed around.
- Cover or turn away any mirror that faces the bed, and keep wardrobe mirror doors closed at night.
- Clear boxes and clutter from under and around the bed, and keep the room well lit in the day and well ventilated.
- In a north-east or south-east bedroom, keep the room light and tidy and keep heavy furniture on the south and west sides.
- For anything that involves moving walls or doors, ask a qualified architect or engineer.
In VastuLive
Upload, photograph or sketch your floor plan and VastuLive reads the rooms, the entrance and the North marking, asking you to confirm North if it is unsure. The report gives a finding for each bedroom, with the rule and evidence behind it, and you can export it as a PDF.
See how the app worksQuestions
Which direction should I sleep in?
Most practitioners advise sleeping with the head to the south or east. Traditions differ, so this is common practice and not a fixed rule. If the room layout makes it hard, many people give more weight to a comfortable room. The simplest change is to move the bed to a wall where that head position works.
Can I keep a mirror in the bedroom?
Yes, but traditionally a mirror should not face the bed, so you do not see your reflection when lying down. A mirror on a wall that does not face the bed is generally accepted. Traditions differ. A wardrobe mirror door can be kept closed at night or covered with a curtain.
Which bedroom suits children?
The north-west or west is the traditional choice for children's bedrooms, and a guest room is also placed in the north-west. Traditions differ in detail, so treat this as common guidance. If a child's room sits elsewhere, keeping it light, tidy, well lit in the day and well ventilated is the usual practical advice.
Is a north-east bedroom bad?
Most texts list the north-east as a direction to avoid for bedrooms, though how much it matters is a matter of belief. Traditions differ. In a north-east bedroom, the usual practical advice is to keep the room light and tidy and to keep heavy furniture on the south and west sides.
Keep reading
Based on traditional Vastu texts and practice. Traditions differ, and nothing here promises a result. For structural, legal or safety questions, ask a qualified architect or engineer.