A kitchen is one of the most important spaces in a house. According to Vastu Shastra, the kitchen's direction plays a vital role in bringing positivity, health, and prosperity to the home. If your kitchen is located in the North-West (Vayavya) direction, it is essential to follow the right Vastu principles to ensure harmony and balance in your home. The North-West direction is ruled by the Vayu (Air) element, which helps in maintaining balance and ensuring a smooth flow of energy. A Vastu compliant kitchen here can really boost your savings and multiply your investments. Proper placement of elements and appliances in this direction can foster a positive atmosphere. A northwest kitchen is significant in Vastu as it's associated with balance, support, and better financial prospects. Following Vastu principles in this direction can enhance family relationships and create a wholesome environment for the household. According to Vastu, a kitchen in the northwest direction can bring balance, financial stability, family harmony, support, social bonding, better communication, and reduced stress. It is believed to create a positive atmosphere for cooking and dining.
Benefits of a North-West Kitchen
Adhering to Vastu Shastra for a kitchen located in the North-West direction can yield several specific benefits for the household. The energy of the Vayu element, when harmonized, supports various aspects of life.
- Promotes better health and digestion: Proper alignment of kitchen elements in this direction is believed to contribute to the physical well-being of family members.
- Reduces financial instability and supports economic growth: A Vastu-compliant North-West kitchen is said to help in stabilizing finances and encouraging economic growth.
- Enhances relationships among family members: The balance of energies can foster better communication and harmony within the family.
- Helps in better control over expenses and decision-making: The positive flow of energy is associated with improved clarity and financial management.
However, it is important to follow the right Vastu guidelines to avoid any negative effects.
Ideal Placement of Kitchen Elements
To get the maximum benefits of a North-West kitchen Vastu, following essential guidelines for the placement of various elements is crucial. The arrangement of fire, water, and other components dictates the energy flow.
Cooking Stove and Fire Element
The stove represents the fire element, which is central to the kitchen's energy.
- Placement: Place the stove in the south-east corner of the North-West kitchen. Some guidelines suggest placing the main burner in the North West corner of the kitchen if there’s a window in the North direction, but the south-east is generally recommended for the fire element. The stove or burner must be placed towards the South or South East corner of the kitchen.
- Cooking Direction: The person cooking should face east or north while cooking. Vastu recommends using white, gold, and yellow colours in a northwest kitchen. White symbolises purity, gold represents prosperity, and yellow signifies happiness, creating a fresh and positive ambience. In a northwest kitchen as per Vastu, the cooking direction should be in the southeast, facing east. This placement is considered auspicious and is believed to attract prosperity.
Water Element (Sink)
The sink represents the water element, which must be balanced with fire.
- Placement: Keep the water sink in the north-east corner of the kitchen. It is best to make the kitchen sink and water filter towards the East or North East corner of the kitchen.
- Separation: Fire (stove) and Water (sink) should not be placed next to each other. To maintain balance in a northwest kitchen, it's recommended to avoid placing the sink in the northwest or northeast corners. Instead, position it in the north or east to facilitate the flow of water and positive energy.
Electrical Appliances
Modern appliances also carry elemental energies that need proper placement.
- Microwave and Oven: Place microwaves, ovens, and mixers in the south-east direction. The microwave and oven are best in the South East.
- Mixer and Grinder: The mixer and grinder can be placed in the East direction.
- Refrigerator: The best position for the refrigerator is the south-west corner. The refrigerator can be kept towards the West direction.
Storage and Cabinets
Proper storage ensures that the kitchen remains organized and clutter-free, which is essential for positive energy.
- Placement: Store grains, spices, and utensils in the south or west side of the kitchen. Cabinets for storage should mostly be on the Southern or Western walls.
- Gas Cylinder: The gas cylinder should be placed in the south-east corner of the kitchen. Make sure it is not placed under any shelf or slab.
Colors for a North-West Kitchen as per Vastu
Choosing the right color for the kitchen walls, cabinets, and tiles is essential for a positive atmosphere. Vastu advises against using dark colours like purple, brown, and black in a northwest kitchen. These colours may introduce negativity and disrupt the harmonious kitchen environment.
Recommended Colors
- Walls: Use very light shades of yellow or off white color to paint the walls. Light shades like white, cream, peach, or yellow are recommended for walls and cabinets.
- Slabs: Cream, ivory or yellow are the best colors for the kitchen slab for a North West kitchen.
- Cabinets: White, golden or light grey colors are ideally suited for kitchen cabinets or cupboards.
Colors to Avoid
- Avoid colours like black, grey, or brown on walls or cabinets.
- Avoid shades of green, brown or black as they are anti colors for the North West direction.
Windows and Ventilation
A well-ventilated kitchen ensures positive energy flow and keeps negativity away. Maintaining good ventilation and natural light to allow energy flow and remove negativity is a key do.
- Placement: Place windows in the east or north direction.
- Exhaust: An exhaust fan in the east is recommended.
- General: Maintain good ventilation and natural light to allow energy flow and remove negativity.
General Dos and Don'ts
Here is a summary of general practices to follow and avoid in a North-West kitchen.
Dos
- Place the gas stove in the northwest corner of the kitchen.
- Ensure you’re standing in the eastern corner while cooking to promote positivity and health.
- Keep the sink and water outlet in the east or northeast direction of the kitchen.
- Maintain good ventilation and natural light.
- Keep the kitchen clutter-free and regularly clean to attract abundance.
- Use light colours.
- Keep the kitchen organised.
- Use more of metallic utensils rather than plastic is recommended in the North West kitchen since metals strengthen the North West direction.
Don'ts
- Avoid placing the cooking stove in the north-west corner.
- The cooking stove should not be directly opposite the sink, as fire and water energies clash.
- Avoid colours like black, grey, or brown on walls or cabinets.
- Avoid placing gas cylinders or microwaves in the northeast corner.
- Do not construct a toilet or bathroom adjacent to the northwest kitchen.
- Avoid the northwest placement of the stove.
- Allow clutter.
- Keep the kitchen near toilets or bedrooms.
Common Vastu Doshas and Remedies
North West kitchen Vastu remedies are needed when a Vastu dosh arises if you do not follow any of the above mentioned Vastu rules. Common Vastu doshas in northwest facing kitchens include improper stove placement, inadequate ventilation, unfavourable entrance location, proximity to toilets, plumbing issues, clutter, dark colours, heavy storage in the northwest corner, blocked windows, and sharp kitchen designs.
Remedial Measures
Remedies for Vastu doshas in northwest facing kitchens include moving the stove, improving ventilation, changing entrance placement, adding buffers from toilets, repairing plumbing, maintaining cleanliness, using light colours, repositioning heavy items, unblocking windows, and altering sharp kitchen designs to enhance positive energy flow.
Specific remedies mentioned include: * Placing a yellow stone or tile under the gas burner is an effective Vastu remedy if you have any anti color kitchen slab in North West. * If you are among those who place an image of goddess Annapurna in your kitchen, ensure it is placed in a clean, positive zone.
Conclusion
The North-West kitchen, governed by the Vayu element, holds significant potential for fostering balance, financial stability, and family harmony when aligned with Vastu principles. By carefully considering the placement of the stove, sink, and appliances, selecting appropriate colors, and ensuring proper ventilation, one can create a space that supports health and prosperity. While the provided guidelines offer a comprehensive framework for optimizing this specific kitchen orientation, adherence to these principles is key to mitigating potential Vastu doshas and enhancing the positive energy flow within the home. Regular maintenance, cleanliness, and the implementation of suggested remedies can further strengthen the harmonious environment of a North-West kitchen.