Could the secret to your success, wealth and health be hidden in your home’s floorplan and interior design?
That’s the belief behind proponents of Vastu Shastra – an ancient Indian system of architecture and design that encourages positive energy within your home and prosperity and wellbeing within your family members. Although followed to the letter in traditional homes today, the elements of Vastu Shastra also guide modern Australian home design, similar to the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui. Read the entire blog or skip through to a specific section.
- How does Vastu Shastra work?
- Designing a Vastu Shastra home
- Improve the energy of individual rooms with these simple design tips
- Home designs best suited to Vastu Shastra when the block is South Facing
How does Vastu Shastra work?
Vastu Shastra meshes science, artful design and astrology to create a home environment designed to emit positive energy and flow. It pulls on the five elements of nature – water, earth, air, fire and space – to offer guidelines for home construction and interior design; from colour, materials and room placement, to light and ventilation.
According to Vastu Shastra, balancing the five elements of nature is crucial to a positive living environment. Proponents believe that this perfect home energy results in improved finances, health, relationships and happiness as well as an overall sense of wellbeing.
Whether you believe in the power of Vastu Shastra or not, many of the design guidelines offer practical ways of making your home more liveable, open and bright.
Designing a Vastu Shastra home
While traditional Vastu Shastra homes offer rigid rules that begin at lot selection, many modern families pick and choose elements that work with their own style.
While there are varying views on Vastu Shastra, simple elements of a well-designed home include:
A designated Pooja room
Traditionally used for prayer or worship, contemporary Pooja rooms are a separate space that can also be used for meditation or Yoga to encourage positive vibrations and to energise your environment. Doors and windows in your Pooja room should be placed on the north or east wall, and away from your bedroom. Use copper vessels and candles to decorate an alter within the space, and consider white, lemon and light blue colour palettes with white marble offsets.
Careful floorplan selection
The belief in Vastu Shastra centers strongly on the positioning of each room, so take this into account when selecting your floorplan. For example, the best place for a Pooja room is to the north, east or northeast, while water sources (such as a swimming pool and aquariums) should be to the northeast. If your block is south facing, consider Boutique’s Seville, Havana and Oslo home designs for best results.
Zero clutter
Clutter obstructs energy flow, diminishing productivity and your sense of wellbeing. Ensure your new home design includes plenty of clever storage spaces and that your living areas are kept clean and tidy. Many of our floorplans offer a combination of linen cupboards, walk-in-linens and under-stair storage options. Don’t forget to ask for optional upgrades, such as broom cupboards in the laundry or a butler’s pantry in the kitchen.
Plenty of plants
Plants aid in detoxification and invigorate your home’s natural energy, so pot them inside in abundance. Think bamboo, jasmine, peonies, orchids and money plants.
Adequate airflow and light
The element of air is important to foster positive energy flow, say Vastu Shastra experts. Consider the best position for natural airflow and sunlight within your home – usually by placing windows in the north or east of each room – and ensure you regularly open windows, doors, curtains and blinds once you have your keys.
Light and bright colours
Vastu Shastra dictates particular colours to particular rooms, depending on their purpose and location. Think shades of orange, yellow, brown and white.
Improve the energy of individual rooms with these simple design tips
Entrance
Entrances are where positive energy is transferred into the home and bad energies are transferred out. According to traditional Vastu Shastra teachings, the entrance door should be heavier and stronger than the others and open inwards, with double door entries preferred. Check out Boutique’s Grange, Mayfair, Montauk and Toorak ranges, which allow for double door upgrades. The entrance should also be well-lit and clutter-free to aid energy flow, so consider the addition of feature sidelight windows or downlights and high ceilings.
Master bedroom
Master bedrooms are central to the health of your relationships and should be placed southwest of the house. Use earthy tones such as browns and shades of almond to decorate, and select a wooden bed base, say the experts. Keep electronics away from your bedsides as they are thought to impact sleep and avoid mirrors on the walls directly facing your bed to prevent couple arguments.
Bathroom
Pulling on the element of water, bathroom design is said to play an important role in the flow of your health and finances. Bathrooms should ideally be placed in the east of the house, with taps on the northern wall. Select bright and soothing colours, and make good use of mood lighting and aromatic oils for an idyllic space.
Dining room
Opt for a square or rectangle dining table (rather than round or oval) in the west corner, positioned away from walls. When eating, family and friends should ideally be facing the east or north, and avoid having a toilet or Pooja room open into the space where possible.
Kitchen
Kitchens are central to the wellbeing and health of occupants, and are most commonly positioned to the east or southeast of the house. Consider Boutique’s window splashback options on the eastern wall, as adequate sunlight is thought to kill off bacteria and poor energy that’s in stored and cooked foods.
For more inspiration, we’ve outlined 10 ways to help master your kitchen
Home Designs Best Suited to Vastu Shastra when the block is South Facing
- Seville: The Seville creates a peaceful space in an intuitively designed floorplan and has everything you need: four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a double garage, a gorgeous open-plan kitchen, loads of storage, a home theatre and a covered outdoor entertaining area. But the cleverest thing about the Seville is its feeling of calm.
- Havana: You don’t need a two-storey floorplan to create pockets of calm in a busy home. The Havana features four generously sized bedrooms, with the master suite positioned at the back of the home, away from the main living spaces. There’s also a separate retreat as well as a gourmet kitchen and handy garage access through to the walk-in pantry.
- Oslo: This home design features a generous master bedroom suite, gourmet kitchen and an integrated outdoor living area that cleverly extends the main living space. The Oslo also includes three minor bedrooms, a central bathroom and a versatile home theatre.
Ready to find ‘The One?’ View our collection of home designs.
We’re also excited to introduce 6 new design options into our home collection:
- Havana 25: Formal powder room, guest bedroom, alternative ensuite.
- Havana 29: Formal powder room, alternative ensuite.
- Riviera 32: Alternate kitchen.
On the lookout for more interior design inspiration? Learn how to create a Georgian or Hamptons style home with tips from Boutique’s Senior Interior Designer, Mitra Whittle.
Ready to start your build journey? Learn more about Boutique’s home designs and how we can accommodate your Vastu Shastra home by speaking with one of our friendly sales consultants today.
Have you found ‘The One’?
Share your home journey and connect with the Boutique Instagram community by using #ourboutiquehome