Vastu Shastra · वास्तु शास्त्र
Mirror Vastu: where to place mirrors at home
In Vastu, mirrors are commonly placed on the north or east wall of a room, and kept from facing the bed or the main door. A mirror is said to double whatever it reflects, so the idea is to let it reflect light and open space rather than rest or the energy coming in through the door.
Mirror placement is one of the easiest Vastu adjustments to make, because a mirror can be moved in a few minutes. The guidance below is what most consultants commonly give; traditions differ on the details, so treat it as a starting point rather than a rule book.
Which walls suit a mirror
The north and east are the light, open zones of a home in Vastu. North is linked with Kubera and new opportunities, and east with the morning sun and growth. A mirror on one of these walls is said to reflect that lightness back into the room.
The south and west are the heavy, stable zones, and many consultants suggest keeping large mirrors off those walls. If a mirror must hang on a south or west wall, a smaller one, or one that can be covered at night, is the usual compromise.
| Room | Where a mirror commonly goes | What is commonly avoided |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | North or east wall | Facing the main door |
| Bedroom | North or east wall, out of view of the bed | Facing the bed or the headboard |
| Bathroom | North or east wall, above the basin | Facing the bathroom door or the toilet seat |
| Dining area | A wall that reflects the dining table | Facing the kitchen stove |
| Entrance hall | A side wall | Directly opposite the main door |
Mirrors in the bedroom and the dressing table
The bedroom is where mirror advice is most often given. A mirror that faces the bed is commonly said to unsettle rest, because it reflects the people sleeping. Many consultants suggest moving it, or covering it with a curtain or a cupboard door at night.
A dressing table is usually kept on the north or east side of the bedroom so that its mirror sits on one of those walls. Wardrobes with mirrored doors can be a problem when they face the bed; some people fit the mirror on the inside of the door instead.
- Check what the mirror sees from the bed: if you can see yourself lying down, it is commonly moved.
- A mirror on the north or east wall of the bedroom, out of the line of the bed, is the usual choice.
- A cloth or a sliding panel over the mirror at night is a simple fix many people use.
Mirrors and the main door
A mirror placed directly opposite the main door is commonly avoided. The traditional explanation is that the energy coming in through the door is reflected straight back out.
A mirror on a side wall of the entrance hall is generally considered fine, and it can make a narrow entrance feel wider. The key is that it should not face the door head on.
Mirrors in the bathroom
In a bathroom, the mirror is commonly placed on the north or east wall, usually above the basin. Many consultants suggest it should not face the bathroom door or the toilet seat.
Bathroom mirrors get steam and splashes, so they cloud and spot faster than others. Keeping them clean is part of the traditional advice, because a dull mirror is said to dull the room.
Broken, cloudy and old mirrors
A cracked, chipped or cloudy mirror is commonly removed rather than kept. Vastu treats a broken reflection as a source of disturbance, and in any case a cracked mirror can be unsafe. Wrap it carefully before it is thrown away.
Mirrors that distort the face, or antique mirrors whose silvering has worn away, are often moved out of everyday rooms for the same reason.
Check your own house. Score your home room by room against the traditional Vastu placements.
House Vastu CalculatorDo
- Hang mirrors on the north or east wall where you can.
- Let a mirror reflect light, a window or an open part of the room.
- Keep the dressing table on the north or east side of the bedroom.
- Cover a bedroom mirror at night if it cannot be moved.
- Keep all mirrors clean and spotless.
- Hang mirrors firmly at a height that shows the whole face.
Avoid
- Do not place a mirror where it faces the bed.
- Do not hang a mirror directly opposite the main door.
- Do not keep cracked, chipped or cloudy mirrors.
- Do not place two mirrors facing each other.
- Do not let a mirror face the toilet seat or the bathroom door.
- Do not cover a whole south or west wall with mirrors.
Adjustments without rebuilding
- A mirror that faces the bed is commonly covered with a cloth or a sliding panel at night.
- A mirror opposite the main door is often moved to a side wall of the entrance hall.
- Many consultants suggest moving a mirror from a south or west wall to a north or east wall in the same room.
- Mirrored wardrobe doors facing the bed are sometimes swapped for plain ones, or the mirror is fitted inside the door.
These are traditional practices that many families follow. They vary between Vastu schools; for your own home, a consultant can say which matter most.
Questions
Which wall is best for a mirror in Vastu?
The north or east wall is commonly suggested, because those are the light, open zones of a home. A mirror there is said to reflect that lightness into the room.
Why should a mirror not face the bed?
Vastu traditionally holds that a mirror reflecting the people sleeping unsettles rest. If it cannot be moved, many people cover it at night.
Can a mirror face the main door?
A mirror directly opposite the main door is commonly avoided, as it is said to send incoming energy back out. A side wall in the entrance hall is the usual alternative.
What should I do with a broken mirror?
Remove it. Vastu treats a cracked reflection as a disturbance, and a broken mirror is a safety risk as well. Wrap it carefully before disposal.
Where should the bathroom mirror go?
On the north or east wall, usually above the basin, and not facing the toilet seat or the bathroom door. This is the placement most consultants commonly give.
Related Vastu guides
- Bedroom Vastu: The right direction for the master, children’s and guest bedrooms, with bed, mirror and wardrobe tips.
- Bathroom and toilet Vastu: The best direction for toilets and bathrooms, the seat facing, drainage and attached bathrooms.
- Main door Vastu: The best directions for the main door, where it sits on the wall, and what to keep out of its way.
- Vastu remedies without demolition: Room use, colours, light, clutter, mirrors, plants, salt and yantras: traditional fixes, and when to rebuild.
- Living room Vastu: The best direction for the living room, where to sit, sofa and TV placement, and colours.
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.
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