Kitchen Vastu
In Vastu the kitchen is the seat of the fire element, so its placement is tied to the south-east (Agni) zone. If your kitchen is elsewhere — very common in flats — what you place where inside the kitchen matters just as much.
Reviewed 8 October 2026 · Traditional Vastu guidance, not a guarantee of outcomes.
Check your kitchen
Which zone of your home is it in?
North is at the top. Not sure? Use the compass.
Tap a zone to see its traditional rating and what you can do.
Best direction for the kitchen
The south-east is associated with the fire element (Agni), so it is the classic kitchen zone; the north-west is the most common alternative. The north-east (water) and south-west (earth/stability) are generally kept away from fire.
| Rating | Zones for the kitchen |
|---|---|
| Ideal | South-East |
| Good | North-West |
| Neutral | East, South, West |
| Avoid | North, North-East, South-West, Centre (Brahmasthan) |
Inside the room, whatever its zone
- Place the stove in the south-east part of the kitchen and cook facing east if possible.
- Keep the sink and drinking water towards the north-east of the kitchen, not directly beside the stove.
- Store heavy grains and appliances towards the south or west walls.
Inside the kitchen: what goes where
| Item | Preferred spot in the kitchen |
|---|---|
| Stove / hob | South-east corner; cook facing east |
| Sink, water filter | North-east part; not directly beside the stove |
| Refrigerator | South-west, west or south |
| Heavy storage, grains | South or west walls |
| Microwave / oven | South-east or south |
| Window / exhaust | East (morning light and ventilation) |
Fire and water
A recurring principle is keeping fire (stove) and water (sink) apart. In a straight (galley) kitchen where they share a counter, keep at least a work surface between them. This is also simply good kitchen ergonomics.
If your kitchen is in the north-east or south-west
- Move the stove to the kitchen’s own south-east corner if the gas/electric connection allows.
- Cook facing east, or failing that, north.
- Keep the north-east of the kitchen light: water, a window, no heavy cabinets.
- During a renovation, consider shifting the kitchen to the south-east or north-west zone of the home.
Check yours
Use the compass in “Cooking facing” mode while standing at your stove, or mark the kitchen on your plan in the floor plan analyzer.