Study room Vastu: direction, desk position and facing

Few homes have a separate study, so most of this advice applies to a desk in a bedroom or a corner of the living room. This guide covers the direction, which way to face, where the desk and bookshelves go, colours, and how to set up a study corner for children, all of which you can do in a rented flat.

Which direction suits the study

East is the direction of the rising Sun and is linked with growth. North is linked with Mercury, the planet of learning and communication in Vedic astrology, and the north-east with clarity. That is why these three zones are preferred for study.

Which way to face and where the desk goes

Sit facing east or north while studying. In practice, place the desk so that you look towards the east or north wall, or towards a window on that side. A solid wall behind you is commonly preferred to a door or window at your back.

Avoid sitting directly under a beam, and avoid a desk against a wall shared with a toilet. Leave a little space between the desk and the wall in front of you rather than pushing it tight. A square or rectangular desk is commonly preferred, and it should be large enough to keep books and a lamp without crowding.

Bookshelves, computer and lighting

Heavy bookshelves go on the south or west walls of the room, in line with heavy storage everywhere in Vastu. Keep shelves off the wall directly above your head as you sit. A computer or printer suits the south-east corner of the desk, the electrical zone, and the lamp is placed on the side opposite your writing hand so your hand does not cast a shadow.

Colours for the study

Light, calm colours suit study: light green, cream, white and light yellow. East and north walls take white, light green and light blue well. Very dark or very bright walls are commonly avoided, and the desk itself is best kept clear of clutter so the mind is not pulled in many directions.

A study corner for children

Children’s bedrooms are traditionally placed in the west, north-west or east of the home. Inside the room, put the study table in the east or north part so the child faces east or north while studying. Keep toys, games and screens away from the desk, and use a pinboard on the east or north wall for timetables and goals.

• Desk in the east or north part of the room, child facing east or north
• A solid wall behind the chair rather than the door
• Bookshelf on the south or west wall
• Good daylight and a steady lamp for the evenings
• A tidy desk at the end of each day

Adjustments without rebuilding

• If the study room is in the south or south-west, turning the desk so you face east or north is the change most commonly suggested
• A solid high-backed chair is commonly suggested when the desk cannot have a wall behind it
• Light green or cream on the wall in front of the desk is often suggested for a study in an avoided zone
• Where a beam runs over the desk, moving the desk a little to one side is commonly suggested

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 Vastu guides

• Bedroom Vastu: The right direction for the master, children’s and guest bedrooms, with bed, mirror and wardrobe tips.
• Vastu colours: The shades traditionally linked with each direction and room, with easy ways to use them in a rented home.
• Vastu directions: Deity, planet, element and the right rooms for each of the eight directions, and how to find them at home.
• Office Vastu: Where the owner, reception, accounts, staff, pantry and electrical panel traditionally go in an office.
• Sleeping direction as per Vastu: Which way your head should point in bed, why north is avoided, and where to place the bed.

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.