We hear that kissing an Irish person brings good luck, which comes in handy on St. Patrick’s Day—and every day of the year. But if you’re not a fan of getting a wee bit frisky in the name of good fortune, we’ve got five fun, not-so-forward ways to bring good luck into your home.
Whether you believe in good luck symbols, or subscribe to the ‘it’s worth a shot’ school of thought, give a few of these ideas a try and let us know how they affect your luck.
- Green & Other Lucky Colors
The ancient Chinese art of arranging your surroundings to let energy flow smoothly (aka feng shui) has some interesting principles to guide your paint color choices depending on the orientation of your front door. For instance, a south-facing front door should be painted or decorated with red or orange colors; for north-facing doors, choose blue or black; go brown or green for an east-facing front door; and choose white or gray for a west-facing door. Following this rule of thumb is believed to help ensure good luck is yours.
2. In A Circle, On A Diagonal
Another feng-shui-inspired, good-luck-wielding strategy is to arrange your furniture properly. For a living room, circular or oval tables help energy flow. Principles suggest putting your couch against a wall. For your bedroom, place your bed on a diagonal in relation to the door. (There are many other feng shui principles aimed at bringing you good fortune. We just gave you the very super duper abridged version.)
3. A Horseshoe Just For Kicks
Just about everyone ‘round these parts knows that a horseshoe is a symbol of good luck. The tradition has certainly been a part of our Western heritage and has been part of ancient Egyptian and Islamic cultures as well.
But there’s controversy afoot! While most people agree that a horseshoe is best hung above a doorway to spread good luck, there’s no consensus on whether to hang it pointing up or down. Points down fans say luck will be spread to all who pass under the shoe. Points up proponents say luck will run out unless it’s hung with points up. What say you?
4. Lucky Plants
Plants really do make a house more homey, but certain plants can make a house lucky, too. Lucky bamboo, known for its strength and low maintenance requirements, are believed to bring luck and energy to your home. Remember, the more stalks, the more good fortune it can bring; so choose wisely.
Fresh cut flowers are also a good choice if you want to invite good luck into your home. Just avoid flowers with thorny stems.
5. Go Fish
In several civilizations including Greece, Egypt and China, goldfish are believed to bring about prosperity, longevity, harmony and wisdom. And much like the lucky bamboo, they’re relatively low maintenance. (Plus, they don’t shed like some pets!)
Good Luck!
As you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and court the luck of the Irish, we invite you to start planning which good luck magnets will work for you. If you’re looking for a home to bring said good fortune into, a HIP-qualified lender and/or real estate professional can deliver something more than just luck: incredible skill.
