Direction is useful because it tells you when sunlight may reach a window. But a compass bearing alone cannot describe the room: the balcony above, the tree outside and the season all have a say.

Visit twice if you can

A bright morning photograph can hide a hot afternoon. If you are comparing homes, return at a different hour. Notice whether the bedroom can be dark enough for sleep, whether a work spot has glare, and whether the main room has light where you spend time.

Look for the simple controls

Can you open windows safely? Are there curtains, shutters, an overhang or a shaded balcony? Which rooms retain heat after sunset? Those questions help you decide what the home will ask of you day to day.

Where Vastu comes in

A Vastu reading locates the room in a direction and describes what the tradition says about that zone. Physical daylight and thermal comfort can help you decide what action to take. Neither the room’s compass label nor the presence of sunshine predicts what will happen in your life.

Further reading

Sources for the historical and building science points on this page. Where we describe a traditional belief, we label it as such.