Wall Decor & Vastu: How to Select Art that Brings Positivity

Have you ever walked into someone’s house and just felt… good? You couldn’t put your finger on it. The furniture wasn’t overly expensive, the layout was simple, but there was a certain lightness in the air. You felt welcomed.

Wall Decor & Vastu: How to Select Art that Brings Positivity

Now, compare that to walking into a home where you immediately felt heavy. Maybe you felt a sudden wave of exhaustion, or you just wanted to leave as soon as possible.

We often blame these feelings on the people living there or the cleanliness of the house. But in my experience studying spaces and energy, the culprit is often staring right at you from the walls.

Paintings and wall art are not just decoration. In Vastu Shastra, they are essentially “portals.” They are visual affirmations that constantly feed your subconscious mind. If you hang a painting of a sinking ship (because it looks “artistic”), your subconscious is processing “sinking” and “loss” every single time you walk past it. Over time, that manifests in your life.

I remember visiting a friend, let’s call him Amit. Amit was a brilliant guy, but he was always anxious. His career was stagnant, and he couldn’t figure out why. I walked into his living room and saw a massive, expensive painting of a lonely man walking in a desert storm. It was beautiful art, yes, but the energy? It was isolation, struggle, and harshness.

“Amit,” I asked, “How do you feel when you look at that?” He shrugged. “It’s just art. It cost a fortune.”

We replaced that painting with a simple, vibrant image of a green forest with a path leading towards sunlight. It wasn’t magic, but three months later, Amit felt calmer. He said he felt like he had “direction” again. That is the power of Vastu compliant wall decor.

In this guide, I want to walk you through how to choose art that doesn’t just look good, but actually works for you. We’ll keep it simple, practical, and honest.

Wall Decor & Vastu: The Psychology Behind the Art

Before we get into the “put this in the North” rules, you need to understand the why. Vastu Shastra is often misunderstood as superstition. At its core, it is the science of environment and architecture. It connects the macrocosm (the universe) with the microcosm (your home).

Your walls are the largest surface area in your home. They surround you. When you place an object on a wall, you are effectively programming that space with a specific intention.

• Visual Impact: What you see, you become.
• Elemental Balance: A painting of fire (red/orange) generates heat and activity. A painting of water (blue) generates flow and cooling.
• Symbolism: Archetypes like horses, elephants, or mountains trigger deep, ancestral responses in our brains regarding power, memory, and stability.

If your life feels chaotic, and your walls are covered in abstract, confused, or jagged art, your environment is reinforcing that chaos.

Which Wall Needs What?

The easiest way to get Vastu right is to follow the directions. Every direction in your home is governed by a specific element (Water, Fire, Earth, Air/Space). If you put a Fire painting in the Water zone, you create a “clash” (symbolically putting out the fire of your success).

Let’s break it down by the four main walls.

1. The North Wall

The Zone of Money and Opportunities

Element: Water Ruling Planet: Mercury

The North is where opportunities enter your home. It represents flow, career, and wealth. What to hang here:

• Flowing Water: Think rivers, waterfalls, or calm lakes. The water should look clean and blue, not muddy or stagnant.
• Greenery: A lush green forest or a path through the woods also works well here, as water feeds wood/growth.
• The “Kuber” Connection: Since North is the direction of Kuber (the treasurer of the gods), this is a great place for a money plant painting or imagery that suggests abundance.

The Golden Rule for North: Ensure the water in the painting feels like it is flowing into the house or pooling comfortably. Avoid huge waves or storms; you want wealth to flow, not crash.

2. The East Wall

The Zone of Social Connections and Health

Element: Air / Wood Ruling Planet: Sun

The East brings the energy of the rising sun. It governs your social circle, your relationship with the government or authority, and your physical health. What to hang here:

• The Rising Sun: This is the classic Vastu remedy. A beautiful sunrise painting here signifies new beginnings and health.
• Flowers and Gardens: Bright, blooming flowers (especially sunflowers or colorful meadows) expand your social network.
• Birds: Flying birds represent freedom and networking.

Avoid: Dark, night scenes. The East is about light and beginning. Keeping it dark symbolically “dims” your social standing.

3. The South Wall

The Zone of Fame and Recognition

Element: Fire Ruling Planet: Mars

Do you feel like you work hard but nobody notices? That’s a South wall issue. The South governs your reputation and the “fire” in your belly to get things done. What to hang here:

• Mountains: Wait, aren’t mountains Earth? Yes, but high, rocky mountains represent stability and height. However, the best option here is…
• Running Horses: The famous 7 Running Horses painting usually goes on the South wall (facing North) to boost speed in work.
• Phoenix: The mythical bird rising from ashes. This is powerful for fame.
• The Color Red: Art with dominant red or orange hues works wonders here.

Story Time: I had a client, Sarah, who was a chef. She was talented but invisible in her industry. Her South wall had a large mirror (Water element). In Vastu, Water destroys Fire. She was literally drowning her own reputation. We moved the mirror and put up a painting of a vibrant red abstract sunrise. Within a year, she was featured in a local magazine. Sometimes, it’s just about removing the block.

4. The West Wall

The Zone of Gains and Profits

Element: Space / Metal Ruling Planet: Saturn

The West is where you see the results of your hard work. It’s the “harvest” sector. What to hang here:

• Village Scenes: Landscapes showing harvest, gold crops, or happy village life.
• Camels: It sounds specific, but camels represent stability in tough terrain (persistence).
• White and Grey Art: Paintings with metallic frames or colors like silver, white, and grey support the Space element.
• Children’s Photos: If you are creative, this is also a good spot for displaying creativity or pictures of children (the fruit of the family).

Paintings Everyone Asks About

If you go to any Vastu shop, you will see three paintings everywhere: The 7 Horses, the Waterfall, and the Buddha. Let’s decode them so you don’t hang them incorrectly.

1. The 7 Running Horses

This is probably the most popular Vastu remedy for career growth.

• Why 7? The number 7 represents the spectrum of light (rainbow) and the sapta-rishis (sages). It signifies wholeness.
• Where? South Wall (facing North) or East Wall.
• Crucial Detail: The horses must be running on land, not water. They should look happy and triumphant, not angry or aggressive. Never hang horses that are running in different directions; they must run together in unison.

2. The Waterfall

• Purpose: To generate cash flow.
• Where? strictly the North or North-East.
• The Mistake: Do not hang a waterfall painting behind your back where you sit in your office. It creates a sense of insecurity (water is not a stable backrest). It should be in front of you.

3. The Buddha

• Purpose: Peace, calm, and wisdom.
• Where? North-East (the Eshanya corner). This is the “God corner” of the house.
• Tip: Never place a Buddha painting on a bathroom wall or a wall shared with a toilet. It creates a conflict of energies that leads to headaches and confusion.

The Bedroom

The bedroom is where you spend 8 hours a day recharging. The art here shouldn’t be about energy or activity; it should be about rest and bonding.

For Couples: The South-West corner of the house is the relationship hub.

• Hang: Photos of you and your spouse looking happy.
• Hang: Pairs of birds (lovebirds, swans).
• Avoid: Photos of gods or deities in the bedroom. It’s considered disrespectful in Vastu, but practically speaking, the bedroom is for romance and rest, while deities represent devotion and alertness. Keep the energy separate.

The “Water” Warning: Never, and I mean never, hang a painting of water (ocean, lake, river) in the bedroom. Water is unstable. Bringing that energy into the bedroom can lead to emotional instability, coldness in the relationship, or even health issues related to the cold (Kapha). Keep the bedroom Earthy (browns, yellows) or fiery (pinks, reds) for passion, but keep the Water out.

What to Avoid

I call this the “Energy Drain List.” If you have these up, consider taking them down for a week and seeing if the vibe in your house changes.

1. Abstract Confusion

Modern art is great, but Vastu relies on clarity. If a painting is a jumble of jagged lines, confusing shapes, or dark swirls, it reflects confusion in your life. If you look at it and don’t know what it is, your subconscious doesn’t either. It creates anxiety.

2. War and Sorrow

I once saw a home with a painting of the Titanic sinking. The owner thought it was history. I saw disaster. Avoid:

• Weeping women or children.
• War scenes (even historical battles).
• Crows, owls, or vultures (symbols of death or isolation in Vastu).
• Dried trees or autumn scenes (symbolizing decay). Always choose spring or blooming trees.

3. Ferocious Animals

Tigers, lions hunting, or angry bulls might look “masculine,” but they bring aggressive energy. Unless you are in a field like the military or police where aggression is a tool, you don’t want this in your living room where you try to relax with family.

Frames and Conditions

It’s not just the picture; it’s the package.

Dust and grime: A beautiful Vastu painting covered in a layer of dust represents “blocked chi.” If your “opportunity” painting (North wall) is dusty, your opportunities will come with delays. Keep them clean.

The Frame:

• North (Water): Use black or blue frames, or silver (metal holds water).
• East (Air): Use green or wooden frames.
• South (Fire): Use red or golden frames.
• West (Metal): Use golden, silver, or white frames.

Glass Cracks: If the glass on a painting cracks, remove it immediately. Broken glass is a major Vastu defect (Dosha). It signifies a “break” in the luck that the painting was providing.

The “Stuck” Writer

I helped a young writer named Priya a few years ago. She was talented but suffered from terrible writer’s block. She felt drained the moment she sat at her desk.

Her desk faced a blank wall. But behind her? A huge painting of a grey, stormy ocean.

We made two changes:

1. We moved the ocean painting out. It was washing away her stability (since it was behind her).
2. In front of her desk, we placed a picture of high, green mountains with the sun just peeking over.

The mountains gave her a sense of stability, and the rising sun gave her the energy of “new ideas” (East energy). She finished her book six months later. Was it just the painting? Maybe not. But the painting changed how she felt when she sat down. That feeling changed her work.

Trust Your Gut

You don’t need to turn your home into a temple or a gallery of cheesy stock photos to follow Vastu. You just need mindfulness.

Look at your walls today. Stand in front of each painting and ask yourself: What emotion does this give me?

If it brings a smile, a sense of calm, or a feeling of strength, keep it. If it makes you feel lonely, confused, or sad, thank it for its time and let it go.

Your home is the charging station for your soul. Decorate it with things that charge you up, not things that drain your battery.

Actionable Takeaways

• Check the North: Is there a water element there to invite career flow?
• Check the South: Do you have red or mountain elements there for recognition?
• Purge the Sadness: Remove any art depicting war, crying, or jagged confusion.
• Bedroom Check: Ensure there are no water paintings or deity photos in the master bedroom.
• Fix the Frames: Clean the dust and match the frame material/color to the direction if possible.

Start with just one wall. You might be surprised at how much lighter the whole room feels.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is based on the principles of Vastu Shastra. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful content, Vastu Shastra is a system of belief and traditional architectural guidance, not an exact science.

Please note the following:

• No Guarantees: Implementing these suggestions does not guarantee specific results regarding wealth, health, or personal relationships. Results may vary based on individual circumstances, karma, and other external factors.
• Not Professional Advice: This content does not constitute professional architectural, engineering, legal, financial, or medical advice. For major structural changes or significant life decisions, please consult with a certified professional in the respective field.
• Personal Responsibility: The application of the tips mentioned in this article is solely at the reader’s discretion. The author and [vaastudevayah.com] assume no liability for any losses, damages, or adverse effects resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

For a personalized analysis of your home or office, we recommend consulting a qualified Vastu expert to assess your specific floor plan and directions.