Vastu Shastra · वास्तु शास्त्र
Vastu colours: shades by direction and by room
In Vastu, each direction has colours traditionally linked with its element: greens and light blues for the north, white and cream for the north-east, orange and pink for the south-east, and earthy tones for the south-west. Rooms take their colours from the direction they sit in and from what they are used for.
This guide gives the colours for all nine zones and for the main rooms, and shows how to use them without repainting the whole home.
Why colour matters in Vastu
Colour is one of the easiest Vastu changes to make. Each zone is linked with an element, and colour is a way of supporting that element: earthy tones for the earth zone, warm shades for the fire zone, light and airy shades for water and air.
Colour is also practical. Light walls reflect daylight and keep rooms brighter and cooler, which matters in a hot city such as Nagpur, while darker shades absorb light and feel heavier.
Colours by direction
These are the shades used across this site for each zone. Use the lighter end of each range on large walls.
| Direction | Element | Colours traditionally used |
|---|---|---|
| North | Water | green and light blue |
| North-east | Water | white, cream and light yellow |
| East | Air | white, light green and light blue |
| South-east | Fire | orange, pink and silver |
| South | Fire | red, coral and orange |
| South-west | Earth | peach, brown and earthy tones |
| West | Space | blue and white |
| North-west | Air | white, cream and grey |
| Centre (Brahmasthan) | Space | light, open and uncluttered |
Colours by room
A room’s colour is usually chosen from its direction first and its use second. The shades below are the ones commonly given for each room in its traditional position.
| Room | Usual position | Colours commonly suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Master bedroom | South-west | peach, light brown, beige and soft earthy tones |
| Children’s bedroom | West, North-west, East | white, light blue, light green and cream |
| Living or drawing room | North, East, North-east | white, light green, light blue and cream |
| Kitchen | South-east | orange, peach, warm pink and light yellow |
| Pooja room | North-east | white, cream and light yellow |
| Study room or desk | East, North, North-east | light green, light blue and white |
| Guest room | North-west | white, cream and light grey |
| Toilets and bathrooms | North-west, West | white, light grey and light blue |
Choosing shades that work
Most consultants prefer soft, light shades for walls and keep strong colours for small surfaces. A pale peach in the south-west bedroom follows the same idea as a deep terracotta, but it keeps the room bright and restful.
- Use light shades on ceilings everywhere; white is the usual choice.
- Keep the north-east the lightest part of the home.
- Use matte or eggshell finishes in bedrooms and glossy finishes only where you need to wipe walls.
- Avoid very dark shades, such as black or deep grey, on large walls in the north and east.
- Repeat the room’s colour in curtains or cushions rather than painting every wall.
Colour in a rented home
If you cannot repaint, bring the colour in through things you can take with you: bedsheets, curtains, rugs, cushion covers and framed art. An earthy bedspread in a south-west bedroom, light green cushions in a north living room or a cream cloth on the pooja shelf all follow the same rules as paint.
Do
- Pick each wall colour from the direction of the room first.
- Keep the north-east in white, cream or light yellow.
- Use earthy and peach tones in the south-west bedroom.
- Use warm shades such as orange or peach in a south-east kitchen.
- Keep ceilings white or very light.
- Test a sample patch in daylight and at night before painting a room.
Avoid
- Do not paint the north-east in dark or heavy colours.
- Do not use very dark shades on large walls in small rooms.
- Do not use strong red across a whole bedroom.
- Do not paint ceilings in dark colours.
- Do not repaint the whole home when curtains or linen can carry the colour.
Adjustments without rebuilding
- Many consultants suggest an earthy rug or bedspread in a south-west bedroom that cannot be repainted.
- Cream or white cloth on the pooja shelf is a commonly suggested way to bring the north-east colours into any room.
- Many consultants suggest warm-toned lighting in the south-east when the kitchen walls are a cool colour.
- Green potted plants in the north are commonly suggested as an easy way to add its colour.
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 colour is best for the bedroom as per Vastu?
For a master bedroom in the south-west, earthy shades such as peach, beige and light brown are commonly suggested. Children’s rooms in the west or north-west usually take lighter shades such as white, light blue or cream.
What colour suits the north-east?
White, cream and light yellow are the colours traditionally linked with the north-east. It is kept the lightest part of the home.
Which colour is good for a south-east kitchen?
Warm shades such as orange, peach and soft pink are commonly suggested, as the south-east is the fire zone. Light versions of these keep the kitchen bright.
Can I follow Vastu colours without painting?
Yes. Curtains, bedsheets, rugs, cushions and art can all carry the colour of a zone, which suits rented homes well.
Is black bad in Vastu?
Black is not banned, but most consultants avoid it on large walls, especially in the north and east, because it darkens rooms that are meant to stay light. Small accents are usually fine.
Related Vastu guides
- Vastu directions: Deity, planet, element and the right rooms for each of the eight directions, and how to find them at home.
- Bedroom Vastu: The right direction for the master, children’s and guest bedrooms, with bed, mirror and wardrobe tips.
- Kitchen Vastu: The best direction for the kitchen, where the stove and sink go, and which way to face while cooking.
- Living room Vastu: The best direction for the living room, where to sit, sofa and TV placement, and colours.
- Pooja room Vastu: The best direction for the pooja room or mandir, idol placement, and a pooja corner for small flats.
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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