Quick answer
Vastu remedies are simple corrections for a home that can’t be rebuilt. The most popular are a painting of seven running horses (usually on the east or south wall), tulsi and other plants in the north and east, a metal tortoise facing the north, Vastu pyramids and yantras for specific zones, and mirrors on the north or east walls but never facing the bed.
In this article
Before you buy anything
Walk into any market or scroll any shopping app and you’ll find shelves of “Vastu items”: horses, tortoises, pyramids, crystals and coins, each promising to fix something. It’s tempting to buy a few and hope for the best.
Here’s the honest advice most experienced consultants give: start with what’s free. Clear the clutter, repair what’s broken, let light and air in, and keep the north-east and the centre of the home clean. Many homes feel noticeably better after that alone. Items are the second step, and they work best when you know why you’re placing them.
Popular Vastu items and where they go
- 7 running horses painting: traditionally on the east wall for growth, or the south wall for recognition. The horses should look energetic and run into the room, not out of it.
- Plants: tulsi in the north, east or north-east; money plant in the south-east; bamboo in the east. Thorny plants such as cactus are kept outside the house.
- Tortoise: a metal tortoise in the north, facing into the home, is linked with stability and long life.
- Pyramids and yantras: used to correct a specific zone, such as a cut or a misplaced room. Which one, and where, depends on the problem.
- Mirrors: on the north or east walls. Avoid mirrors facing the bed or the main door.
- Water features: in the north or north-east, the water zone.
Getting the details right
With Vastu items, the small details are often what people get wrong:
- The 7 horses should be white or light-coloured, running together, and look calm but energetic. Avoid paintings of horses that look aggressive, injured or tied up.
- Plants should be healthy. A dried-up tulsi or a yellowing money plant is better replaced than left in place.
- Water features should have clean, moving water. A stagnant fountain does more harm than good in most consultants’ view.
- Mirrors should be clean and unbroken. A cracked mirror is one of the first things to remove.
- One or two well-placed items are better than ten crowded together in the same corner.
Common mistakes
- Buying items before understanding the problem. A pyramid placed at random won’t fix a toilet in the north-east.
- Hanging the horses so they run out of the door, which is traditionally read as energy leaving the home.
- Placing a large mirror opposite the bed, which many people also find disturbs their sleep.
- Keeping broken idols, stopped clocks or chipped crockery “for luck”.
- Spending large amounts on remedies sold with fear, such as warnings that something terrible will happen without them.
Remedies that need an expert
Simple placements are safe to try, but bigger issues, such as a toilet in the north-east, a cut corner or a kitchen in the north-east, need a Vastu expert who can read the whole plan. Remedies work best when the cause is understood, not when items are added at random.
Numerology works the same way for numbers: a missing number in your chart is balanced through what you can change. See missing numbers in the Lo Shu Grid.
Frequently asked questions
In which direction should a 7 horses painting face?
It is traditionally hung on the east wall for growth or the south wall for recognition, with the horses running into the room.
Which plants are good for the home as per Vastu?
Tulsi in the north, east or north-east, money plant in the south-east and bamboo in the east are the most common choices. Thorny plants are kept outside.
Where should a mirror not be placed as per Vastu?
Not facing the bed and not facing the main door. The north and east walls are preferred.
Do Vastu items work without changing anything else?
They work best alongside the basics: a clean, uncluttered home with good light and air. Most consultants treat items as a support, not a replacement for those.
Where should the money plant be kept as per Vastu?
The south-east is the traditional choice. Keep it healthy and let it grow upwards rather than trailing on the floor.