Almirah and locker Vastu: direction and placement

Almirahs are the heaviest furniture in most homes, and Vastu has one clear rule for heavy things: they go in the south and west, and the north and east stay light. This guide covers the direction, which way the doors open, where the locker sits and the common mistakes in a bedroom.

Which direction suits an almirah

The south-west is the earth zone, linked with stability, so it carries weight. The south and west walls are equally used. The north-west and south-east are acceptable for a smaller almirah, and the north, east and north-east are kept light. The same rule applies to a steel almirah, a built-in wardrobe and a tall bookshelf.

Which way the doors open

An almirah against the south wall opens towards the north, and one against the west wall opens towards the east. This is why the south-west placement and the north or east opening go together: you face north or east as you open it.

An almirah against the north or east wall would open towards the south or west, which is the opening most consultants avoid, especially for the almirah that holds money or jewellery.

Where the locker goes

The locker or cash box is commonly kept in the south-west of the room, with its door opening to the north, the direction of Kubera. When the locker is inside an almirah, the almirah itself stands on the south or west wall and the locker sits on one of its shelves, opening north. Where the south-west or south is not possible, many consultants allow the north, with the door still opening to the north or east.

Documents, jewellery and savings books are commonly kept in this locker. Clutter, old bills and broken items are kept out of it. For more on the north zone and money at home, see the guide on Vastu for wealth.

Common mistakes in a bedroom

• A heavy almirah in the north-east corner of the bedroom.
• An almirah door with a full mirror that faces the bed.
• An almirah placed directly under a beam where you sit or sleep.
• Clothes and boxes piled on top of the almirah, touching the ceiling.
• A locker that opens towards the south.

Adjustments without rebuilding

• Many consultants suggest moving the heaviest almirah to the south-west wall of the master bedroom.
• Turning a locker so that it opens to the north is a commonly suggested change.
• A mirror on an almirah door that faces the bed is commonly covered at night.
• Clearing the top of the almirah and the space under it is a commonly suggested first step.

These are traditional practices that many families follow. They vary between Vastu schools; for your own home, a consultant can say which matter most.

Related tools

• Office Vastu calculator: score the layout of your office, room by room.
• Shop Vastu calculator: score the layout of your shop or showroom.
• Property Vastu calculator: check a flat or house before you buy or rent it.

Related Vastu guides

• Vastu for wealth: The north zone of Kubera, where a locker is commonly kept, water in the north-east and fixing leaks.
• Bedroom Vastu: The right direction for the master, children’s and guest bedrooms, with bed, mirror and wardrobe tips.
• Mirror Vastu: Which walls suit a mirror, why it should not face the bed or the main door, and what to do with broken ones.
• Vastu tips for home: Where each room traditionally goes, how to treat the centre and the corners, and what to change in a flat.
• Vastu for flat: Facing, the main door and the rooms of a flat, and what you can still change when the walls are fixed.

Your personal best directions come from your Kua number. Check your whole home with the house Vastu calculator, see whether your house number suits you, and find your lucky number. More tools: all free calculators.