Vastu Guidelines for guest bedrooms
“Dr. Sharma, I don’t know why the guests start bossing around in my house after staying for a few days” asked the wife of a Dubai based Indian businessman, who had invited me to check her beautiful villa in a posh residential area. Even before checking the house floor plan through my compass, I knew the reason instinctively. The guest bedroom was located in the area where the master bedroom should have been.
Lack of desired space in big cities is forcing us to work and adjust with whatever little available room. There is noting we can do much about it. But still we do get guests at times, which may be close relatives, friends or distant family members. Most of the time it’s the kids, who are asked to sleep on the couch to make room for the guests. These days many times guest also prefer to stay in nearby hotels or guest houses. Airbnb concept, which allows people to rent out their extra space at a reasonable amount, has also made life easy for both; guests as well hosts. In the good old days, for the middle class families, the ‘Baithak’ used to double up as guest sleeping area with a temporary bed. Later when affluent families, who got exposed to the western life style, introduced the idea of a separate guest bedroom in the house, slowly it became a important feature in middle class and upper middle class homes too.
The guest bedroom area should be little separated from the main family living area. This helps when the guest is not so close the host and the relationship is formal. At times the guests also need some privacy and want to be left alone. In such cases the separately defined guest area is more practical.
In case parents visit or come to stay for a longer period or stay with us, their bedroom may be planned in the south or southeast area.
For formal guests ideally West, North or North West area, which are Varuna, Soma or Vayvya zones, are ideal for planning guest bedrooms. Never plan guest bedrooms in South or Southwest direction, which is Yama or Nairitya zones, which are reserved for master bedroom. The bed should be placed in such a way that feet are not facing South/Southwest direction.
