Neglecting a water closet’s Vastu (for bathroom) can literally make all your efforts go down the drain
Across the Indian subcontinent, ancient Vedic architecture always maintained their toilets as a separate entity, away from the main building.
Was this scientific, intuitive, a nod to a discriminatory caste system, or reflective of a more rudimentary drainage system? All of the above, Vastukar Neeta Sinha from Mumbai-based AstroArchitecture says, but she also adds that with ensuite bedrooms becoming the norm, special attention needs to be paid to restrooms especially in the modern apartment setup. It is because water closets accumulate the highest amount of negative energy according to both Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui, and need utmost care as compared to other rooms in a household. Here are the Vastu principles to apply in one of the most trickiest household areas.
Best bathroom direction
Unlike most Vastukars, Sinha isn’t very particular about plotting room directions as she knows that they are impossible to follow in modern times. Instead, she places emphasis on the direction in which a commode is placed. The toilet pot should not be facing east or north as prayers are offered in these directions in Hinduism.
Eliminate foul odours
High moisture levels, doubled with extremely narrow windows, translates into stagnant energy in these rooms. Install effective exhaust systems as the ventilation is compromised. Refresh these rooms with scented candles, rattan sticks or potpourri to eliminate any bad odours. Remember, the golden rule in the toilet is: deodorize, deodorize, deodorize.
Fixing the faucets
If you want the money tap to flow, fix all the leaky taps or dripping pipes in your wet rooms, or any room for that matter! Leaky taps symbolize leaks in your prana or life force, or wealth being leached from one’s life, which should be remedied immediately.
Bathroom colour schemes
Ironically, we often have our ‘moments of truth’ while we’re at it under the shower! Archimedes discovered the buoyancy principle and screamed “Eureka!” while he was bathing, remember? Sinha recommends avoiding dark colours and opting for light pastel hues, which are soothing and easy on your psychology.
Floor plans
It is a tough job for even a neat freak to maintain sanitary and hygiene levels in these rooms, and Sinha says that the dry and wet areas should be clearly demarcated by architects and interior designers, right at the outset. “Choose a water closet that isn’t too narrow or compact. The placement of the toilet pot should be such that one doesn’t touch it while moving around,” Sinha suggests.
No Gos
Your bathrooms and toilets should never share walls with a kitchen or puja room. “Even science would agree you can’t cook and store ingredients hygienically, if you defecate right next door,” Sinha says.
Bathroom mirrors
What is a changing room without a looking glass? Sinha still feels that one should exercise caution: “The mirror should never be placed right behind a toilet pot or reflect the commode, as it is considered a bad omen,” the Vastukar notes.
Toilet doors
Spouses often argue on whether the toilet seat cover was left up or down. Vastu says you should close the door behind you and keep the lid down when not in use. “Think of the commode as an epicentre of negativity,” Sinha says. “Create shields between this zone, and the people who live in the house,” she adds.
In a nutshell, Sinha says that this is the room of drainage, so it is natural for anyone to feel drained when they are in and around these rooms. Create an uplifting ambience by generously using aromatherapy, pops of pastel colours and being cleaner than usual in these rooms.
