If you're a Designer A client who approves the living room and bedroom will often reject a kitchen in the wrong zone. Knowing these rules before you start the layout saves you a full revision cycle.
If you're a Homeowner If you are buying a flat with the kitchen in the northeast, you need to know what that means and your correction options before you sign. If renovating, this guide tells you how to optimise what you have.
If you're an Architect Kitchen placement is locked at the structural stage. Getting the zone right in the initial floor plan prevents post-construction complaints that lead to client disputes.
Stove direction Placement: southeast corner of the kitchen Cooking direction: the person should face east Keep a gap between the stove and the wall. Do not push it flush. The stove should not be visible from the main entrance. If the sightline is direct, suggest a partition or island.
Sink direction Placement: northeast corner of the kitchen Sink and stove should never share the same platform. Maintain counter space between water and fire elements. Water purifier and drinking water also go in the northeast zone.
Fridge direction Placement: south or southwest corner of the kitchen. Position it against a wall so the door opens toward the north or east. Keep it away from the stove. Fire and cold-storage zones should not sit next to each other. Avoid the northeast corner for the fridge, which should stay light and uncluttered.
Water purifier and drinking water Placement: northeast corner of the kitchen, the same zone as the sink. Keep drinking water storage in the northeast, not the southeast fire zone. In a modular layout, this usually means the purifier sits above or beside the sink, not beside the stove. If northeast is not available, north or east are acceptable alternatives.