Using Mirrors in Vastu: What to Do and What to Avoid
In Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of architecture and placement, every object in your home has energy, and how and where it’s placed can affect your health, happiness, prosperity, and success. Among the many powerful elements in Vastu, mirrors hold a unique and significant place.
Mirrors are not just objects that reflect your physical image — they also reflect and redirect energy. While they can enhance positive energy when used correctly, improper placement can disturb the energy balance and lead to disharmony. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the do’s and don’ts of using mirrors in Vastu Shastra, and how you can harness their power to create a more positive, balanced, and prosperous home.
Why Are Mirrors Important in Vastu?
Mirrors are considered “double-edged swords” in Vastu Shastra. They have the ability to expand space, reflect light, and amplify energy. This is why correct placement of mirrors can increase prosperity, health, and peace, while incorrect placement may cause stress, financial losses, or health issues.
From reflecting clutter to bouncing back negative energy, the way mirrors are placed influences the energy flow or Prana in your space. Hence, it’s essential to be mindful about their location, size, shape, and even what they reflect.
The Do’s of Using Mirrors in Vastu
1. Use Mirrors to Reflect Positivity
What to do: Place mirrors in such a way that they reflect beautiful views, greenery, open spaces, or a source of natural light like a window. This enhances positive energy in the home.
Why: Mirrors double positive imagery, multiply that energy. If they reflect good energy sources, that energy is enhanced.
2. Ideal Direction for Mirrors
What to do: The best directions for placing mirrors are the North and East walls.
Why: North is ruled by Kubera, the lord of wealth, and East is governed by Indra, the king of gods. Placing a mirror here is believed to attract wealth and prosperity.
3. Use Full-Length Mirrors in Dressing Rooms
What to do: Place full-length mirrors in the North or East walls of dressing rooms or wardrobes.
Why: They help maintain body image, increase self-confidence, and promote mental clarity when properly positioned.
4. Place Mirrors in the Dining Area (With Caution)
What to do: If placing a mirror in the dining room, position it so that it reflects the dining table.
Why: According to Vastu, this symbolizes doubling of food and abundance, enhancing prosperity.
5. Use Mirrors to Expand Small Spaces
What to do: Use mirrors strategically in narrow hallways or small rooms to create an illusion of space and increase energy flow.
Why: Vastu supports open, clutter-free environments. Mirrors can help simulate this when used with intent.
6. Maintain Clean and Spotless Mirrors
What to do: Regularly clean your mirrors and avoid cracks, stains, or blurs.
Why: Dirty or broken mirrors are believed to invite negativity and confusion. Clean, clear reflections bring clarity and positive thoughts.
7. Use Mirrors with Wooden Frames
What to do: Opt for mirrors with wooden frames, especially in living and bedroom areas.
Why: Wood is a natural element that balances energy, while metal frames might amplify negativity if the mirror is wrongly placed.
The Don’ts of Using Mirrors in Vastu
1. Avoid Mirrors in Bedrooms
What to avoid: Do not place mirrors in bedrooms that directly reflect the bed.
Why: It is believed that a mirror reflecting the bed can cause marital discord, health issues, and disturbed sleep. It reflects energy back into the body while sleeping, leading to restlessness.
Tip: If your bedroom already has a mirror facing the bed, cover it with a curtain or cloth while sleeping.
2. Don’t Place Mirrors Facing the Main Door
What to avoid: Never place a mirror directly opposite the main entrance.
Why: The main door is the entry point for energy. A mirror here will reflect and push away positive energy, stopping prosperity and harmony from entering.
3. Avoid South and West Wall Placement
What to avoid: Do not place mirrors on the South or West walls of any room.
Why: These directions represent stability, strength, and grounding. Mirrors, being reflective and mobile in energy, conflict with these attributes and may cause instability, financial losses, or delayed progress.
4. Do Not Reflect Clutter or Negative Objects
What to avoid: Mirrors should not reflect dustbins, toilets, cluttered shelves, broken items, or sharp objects.
Why: According to Vastu, mirrors reflecting negative or low-vibration images multiply that energy, attracting negativity, stress, and mental fog.
5. Avoid Broken or Cracked Mirrors
What to avoid: Never keep broken, chipped, or cracked mirrors in any part of the home.
Why: Such mirrors symbolize broken relationships, bad luck, and distorted energy. They can attract misfortune and emotional imbalance.
6. Don’t Use Multiple Mirrors Facing Each Other
What to avoid: Avoid placing mirrors so that they reflect one another.
Why: This creates an infinite energy loop that can confuse the energy flow in the home, leading to mental chaos, restlessness, and disharmony.
7. Avoid Mirror Walls in Bedrooms or Study Rooms
What to avoid: Wall-sized or ceiling mirrors in the bedroom or study area.
Why: These can lead to overstimulation of mental energy, lack of focus, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
Special Vastu Tips for Mirror Placement in Different Areas
Living Room
- Do: Place mirrors on the North or East wall.
- Don’t: Avoid mirrors behind the main seating area or facing the main door.
- Tip: A mirror reflecting greenery or a painting can uplift the room’s energy.
Bedroom
- Do: If a mirror is necessary, place it inside a wardrobe or cover it when not in use.
- Don’t: Avoid mirrors facing the bed or ceiling mirrors.
- Tip: Always keep mirrors covered at night.
Bathroom
- Do: Place mirrors above the washbasin or on the North/East wall.
- Don’t: Avoid mirrors on the bathroom door or outside the bathroom facing other rooms.
Kitchen
- Do: Avoid mirrors in the kitchen altogether.
- Why: Kitchen represents fire (Agni), while mirrors represent water (Jal Tatva). These elements conflict, causing energetic imbalance.
Study Room
- Do: Use mirrors only if necessary and place them away from the study desk.
- Don’t: Avoid mirrors reflecting books, papers, or the student’s reflection while studying.
Staircase Area
- Do: Avoid mirrors near or under staircases.
- Why: This may lead to obstacles and setbacks in life progress.
Mirror Shapes and Their Significance
- Square or Rectangle: Most preferred. These represent stability and balance.
- Round or Oval: Acceptable in some areas for softness and harmony.
- Irregular/Abstract Shapes: Avoid. These can disrupt energy flow and cause confusion or stress.
Vastu Remedies for Incorrect Mirror Placement
If you suspect a mirror is wrongly placed but you can’t remove it due to constraints (built-in furniture, design elements, etc.), here are a few remedies:
- Use a curtain or decorative cloth to cover mirrors at night or during inappropriate times.
- Place Vastu pyramids or crystals in the area to neutralize negativity.
- Install a wooden frame around the mirror to contain and balance its energy.
- Avoid using the mirror altogether in certain cases and rely on decorative wall art instead.
Psychological and Energetic Effects of Mirrors
Modern psychology also agrees that mirrors can affect our mental and emotional state:
- A well-placed mirror enhances self-image and confidence.
- Overuse or poorly placed mirrors can cause nervousness and identity confusion.
- Mirrors in children’s rooms can lead to overstimulation or fear.
Thus, balancing aesthetics and energy awareness is essential.
Final Thoughts
Mirrors, when used thoughtfully according to Vastu principles, can be powerful tools to invite prosperity, peace, clarity, and abundance into your life. On the other hand, careless placement may lead to stress, misfortune, or energy blockages.
By understanding the subtle science behind mirror placement, you can transform your space into a harmonious and energetically aligned home. Remember, Vastu is not about superstition — it’s about living in balance with nature’s forces and using ancient wisdom to support your modern lifestyle.
Quick Recap: Mirror Placement Do’s and Don’ts
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Place mirrors on North/East walls | Avoid mirrors on South/West walls |
| Reflect positive images or light | Don’t reflect clutter or negativity |
| Use full-length mirrors with clean reflections | Avoid cracked or broken mirrors |
| Use wooden frames for mirrors | Don’t use metal frames in bedrooms |
| Keep mirrors clean and dust-free | Avoid facing mirrors toward the main door or bed |
For those who are deeply into Vastu or considering a home redesign, consulting a Vastu expert for personalized guidance based on your home’s layout, direction, and energy flow is always a wise step.
