The basic principles of Vaastu:

While purchasing a plot or a site, it is advisable to go in for a rectangular or square shape. As far as possible, the site should be slopping towards North & East or Northeast.
According to Vaastu, the most beneficial entrances in the house are those in North East, East or North direction.
Living Room or the dining room is best looked in East, North & Northeast directions.
The bedroom according to Vaastu should be in southwest/south or west direction.The children’s bedroom should ideally be in NorthWest. It could be in Southeast & North as well but never in southwest or south.Make the guestroom in Northwest.
The kitchen of the house is ideally located in Southeast followed by NorthWest.
The living room of the central zone (Brahma sthan) should be free from any kind of obstructions. By obstructions, we mean any kind of beam, pillar, fixture, toilet, staircase or even a wall or lift.
The direction in which you sleep is also very important. One should never sleep with head in the north. Sleeping with head towards south ensures long life.
While on a journey, it is advisable to sleep with head towards west.
In your study room, have your seat so as to face east or north.
Do not use a dark colour in the study room. Use yellow or white or pink. Put the book shelf in east or north.
If you construct more than a floor, prepare the first floor on Southwest. The height of first floor shall not exceed that of ground floor. Do not build a storeroom on first floor.
It is said that a storeroom in the Northwest corner leads to abundant supply of essential commodities. Keep a holy picture on one eastern wall. Light colours should not be used on the storeroom. Use dark colours or blue or green. Never sleep in the storeroom at night. Also refrain from taking out grains from the storeroom in night.
The bathroom/bathrooms can be either inside or outside the house. In case it is inside, it should be located on the eastern or northern side. (If attached to a bedroom, then to eastern or northern side of the bedroom). When located outside, then it should be in Northeast corner, but away from the main building.The lavatories are forbidden in Northeast, Center, Southwest and West directions of the house.
Vaastu Sastra also guides us about what type of plants and trees should be planted around a dwelling unit so as to enjoy their positive properties the most.
Vaastu does not prescribe having trees with horns very near your house. However Peepal at some distance from the house in West direction is considered auspicious as is Imli in South West of the house.It is also auspicious to have an Anaar, Ashoka, Chandan, Champa, Chameli,Gulaab, Nariyal & Keshar tree around a house.
The Paintings / Statues in the house are also important. One should not have pictures depicting war scenes (even if they belong to the Epic Mahabharata or Ramayan battles). Similiarly scenes depicting negativities of life like sorrow, struggle , violence (including that of wild beasts), tragedy and of calamities.
This research article is submitted by Guruji Dr. K. Venkatesan, BE, MTech, EdD, PhD, DDiv