If the compass says ‘south’, your garden is south facing. Alternatively, if you want to know what direction a garden faces at a house you’re keen to buy, you can find out on Google Maps.

A home, where the main entry is towards the north direction, is a north-facing home. North-facing plot.

However, according to Vastu Shastra, all homes are considered equally auspicious, and there is no such thing that west-facing homes are not as good as north or east-facing homes. A west-facing home can be as equally prosperous as other homes, provided you follow certain Vastu Shastra principles.

In the northern hemisphere, the south side gets the bulk of the sun, because the sun is in that half of the sky. But if you are on a hill, or have a hill to the east or west, it can significantly shorten your solar ‘day’.

West

Typically a south-facing home gets sun for most of the day, especially at the front of the house, and is therefore usually brighter and warmer. A north-facing home gets sun at the back of the house and is typically darker and naturally cooler than a south-facing one.

How important is it which way your garden faces?

• Gardens that face north receive the least light and can be damp.
• Gardens that face south receive the most light.
• Gardens that face east receive light in the morning.
• Gardens that face west receive light in the late afternoon and evening.

Sun and shade: Theoretically a pool or spa with a southern exposure (in the Northern Hemisphere) will be warmer than one that faces north. One that is west-facing will be warmer than one with an eastern exposure. And a pool facing south will be warmer than one facing west.

Window orientation and placement

• North-facing windows receive twice the winter sun than east and west facing windows, allowing light and warmth into the home.
• East and west-facing windows receive little sunlight in winter, autumn and spring, but excessive sunlight in summer.