Main entrance in Vastu

The main door sets the tone for everything inside. Tradition favours entrances in the north, north-east and east, which bring light, growth and opportunity. North-west and west are workable; south and south-east need care; and a south-west entrance is usually avoided.

Vastu also divides each side of the plot into padas, part of the 32 that line the edge of the Vastu Purusha Mandala, each with its own deity. A door in a favourable pada, such as Grihakshata on the south side or Pushpadanta on the west, can be good even on a less favoured side. Our Vastu checker rates the door by its pada when you mark where it sits on the wall.

Good practice: make the main door the largest in the home, opening inwards and clockwise; keep it well lit, clean and free of shoes and clutter; and avoid an obstruction directly in front, such as a pole, a tree or another door. A nameplate, a threshold and a simple rangoli or toran add a welcoming touch.

A south-facing home is not unlucky in itself. What matters is where the door sits along the wall and how the space is used. When a door is less than ideal, there are gentle remedies to try before anything structural.