Bed direction as per Vastu
As per Vastu, sleep with your head to the south or east. West is acceptable. Avoid sleeping with your head to the north. Your head direction is the wall the headboard rests against.
These rules are a draft rule set, pending review by our consultants. Treat them as a guide, not a verdict.
Head direction, one by one
| Head points to | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| South | Recommended | The most widely recommended direction. Traditionally linked to deep, settled sleep. |
| East | Recommended | Also recommended. Often advised for students and children. |
| West | Acceptable | Acceptable. Most guidance neither recommends nor forbids it. |
| North | Avoid | Traditionally avoided. The one direction almost every source advises against. |
A bed set at an angle reads as the nearer of the four directions.
How to find your head direction
- Stand at the foot of the bed and face the headboard.
- Hold your phone flat, a metre away from steel almirahs, columns and appliances.
- Open the Vastu compass and read the heading. That is the direction your head points.
- Take three readings a step apart. If they differ by more than 10 degrees, move away from metal and try again.
In the USA a phone compass can be more than 10 degrees off true North. See how to find North for Vastu.
Where the bed goes in the room
- Avoid a mirror that faces the bed.
- Move the bed and heavy wardrobes towards the south-west part of the room.
- Keep the room free of stored clutter, especially under the bed.
- Avoid placing a bed directly under a beam.
Where the bedroom itself should be
Bed direction is one question; which zone of the home the bedroom sits in is another. Here is what each school says, from our rule table.
Master bedroom: 16-zone school
| Zones | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| SW, S, WSW, W | Good | A stable zone for the master bedroom. |
| ESE, SSW, WNW | Avoid 3 of 5 | A bedroom in a zone linked to anxiety, wastage or low mood. |
| NE | Avoid 2 of 5 | The north-east zone suits prayer and thinking more than sleep. |
Master bedroom: Traditional 8-direction school
| Zones | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| SW, S, W | Good | South-west is the traditional place for the head of the family. |
| NE | Avoid 3 of 5 | The north-east is kept for prayer and open space, not the master bedroom. |
| SE | Avoid 2 of 5 | The south-east fire corner is traditionally linked to restlessness in a bedroom. |
Bedroom: 16-zone school
| Zones | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S, W, WSW, NW, E, NNW | Good | A suitable zone for a bedroom. |
| ESE, SSW, WNW | Avoid 2 of 5 | A bedroom in a zone linked to anxiety, wastage or low mood. |
Bedroom: Traditional 8-direction school
| Zones | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| W, NW, E, S | Good | A suitable direction for children's and guest bedrooms. |
More on the bedroom page.
When you cannot turn the bed
In many flats the door, window or wardrobe leaves one wall for the bed. If that wall puts your head to the north, look for any other wall that puts it to the south, east or west, even if it means a smaller bedside table. If no other wall works, the placement steps above still apply.
Questions people ask
Which direction should my head be when sleeping, as per Vastu?
Sleep with your head to the south or east. Avoid the head to the north. West is acceptable.
Is it bad to sleep with your head to the north?
Traditional Vastu advises against it, and almost every source agrees. This is traditional practice, not medical advice.
Is sleeping with the head to the west okay?
Acceptable. Most guidance neither recommends nor forbids it.
My bed sits at an angle. Which direction counts?
Read it by the nearer of the four directions. A headboard against a wall that faces 30 degrees east of south counts as south.
How do I find which way my head points?
Your head points towards the wall the headboard rests against. Stand at the foot of the bed facing the headboard and take a phone compass reading, a metre away from metal.
Should a mirror face the bed?
No. Vastu guidance advises against a mirror that faces the bed. Move it to a wall the bed does not face.