Paintings and Artwork as per Vastu

Vastu pays attention to paintings because images carry emotions and suggestions that we absorb every day, often without noticing. A painting you pass twenty times a day becomes part of the mood of your home.

VastuKimaya's commercial Vastu work already notes that paintings, posters and colours should reinforce a positive impression. The same applies at home. Art is also one of the easiest non-structural remedies: it can bring an element, a colour or a feeling into a zone that needs support, without any construction — helping balance the पंचतत्व (Pancha Tattva, the five elements).

Each direction suits art whose theme and colours echo that zone's element and qualities. Use this as a gentle guide rather than a strict rule.

Uplifting, welcoming paintings suit the living room, which is where guests and family gather. Choose art that feels open and joyful rather than heavy or dramatic.

Landscapes, nature scenes, flowers, cheerful family moments and traditional Indian art such as Madhubani, Warli or Pichwai work well. A painting of running horses is a popular choice in many Indian living rooms as a symbol of energy and progress — make sure the horses look calm and joyful, not frightened. Keep the ब्रह्मस्थान (Brahmasthan, the centre) of the room open, and do not overcrowd one wall with many frames.

Soft, restful and affectionate images suit the bedroom. The master bedroom in the South-West is a place of stability and togetherness, so art here should feel calm and warm.

Avoid paintings that show violence, sorrow, loneliness, decay or struggle, as Vastu considers them to bring those feelings into the home. Even beautiful art can carry a heavy mood.

Family photographs suit the South-West of the living room or master bedroom, while photographs of departed ancestors are traditionally placed on the South or South-West wall. The South-West is associated with stability and continuity of the family.

Many families prefer not to keep photographs of departed ancestors inside the pooja room alongside deities, and not in the bedroom. Keep frames clean, and offer flowers or light a diya on anniversaries as your tradition suggests. Photographs of happy, living family members can bring warmth to shared rooms.

Artwork can be used as a gentle Vastu remedy by bringing the missing element or colour into a zone. This approach connects closely with colour therapy.

For example, where a North-East toilet cannot be moved, a calm water-and-lotus image outside it (not inside) may be suggested alongside other remedies. A South-West that feels weak may be supported by a painting of mountains. Where you cannot paint walls in a rented flat, art is a simple way to add colour. Remedies like these are most effective when chosen with a clear understanding of your home's zones, so a consultant's guidance helps.

Consult a Vastu expert when you are decorating a new home, when artwork has been gifted and you are unsure where to hang it, or when you want to use art as part of a wider remedy plan. Dr. Kimaya Parikh-Ambekar can map your zones and suggest themes, colours and walls for each piece.

Consultations are available at the Andheri East office, on-site across Mumbai, or at a distance using your floor plan and photographs of your walls and artworks.