Up the Luck in Your Home

1. Shamrock patterns. The four-leaf clover is famous for bringing good luck to the Irish. But who says you're just limited to one? Throw pillows and walls make perfect canvases for shamrock art. Create your own shamrock-filled space by using this DIY stencil pattern ...

... or replace the coffee table with a pair of upholstered, nail-trimmed four-leaf clover accent tables, like the ones in this shabby chic sunroom.

2. Red doors. In Ireland, red doors are believed to ward off evil spirits and ghosts. Most cultures — no matter what their opinions are of the supernatural — regard the red door as a barrier separating good and evil. Doesn't this red door make you want to see what's on the other side?

3. Lucky numbers. I've known people who have bought homes because of the house number's auspiciousness, and no number is believed to be as lucky universally as eight: There are eight days of Hannukah, Buddhism has the Eightfold Path, it's the atomic number of oxygen, and it's the sum of unmoving stars in the sky symbolizing a perfect alignment of planetary energy. Add up the house numbers in the picture above and you get lucky number eight.

4. Sapphire. The blue gem is said to protect its wearer from misfortunes, accidents, unexpected and natural calamities, and mental tensions — and what could be more agonizing than watching a televised game of your favorite team against their number-one rival in your media room? If you can't afford loose sapphire gems, experiment with sapphire paint. This otherwise neutral man cave is enveloped in a lovely sapphire blue, bringing elegance and richness (and hopefully luck) to a masculine space.

6. Dream catchers. The Native American dream catcher, said to have originated from the Sioux Nation, is believed to catch bad dreams in the house, leaving its inhabitants with a peaceful and calm mind. If hanging one over your bed doesn't mesh with your design style, consider dream catcher artwork or décor like this nautical window in blown glass in the design of a dream catcher.

7. Bamboo. Heralded as one of the luckiest feng shui symbols, the enduring and hydroponic bamboo plant brings peace and luck to any environment. Bamboo also doubles as a durable barrier and decorative plant in any Zen-inspired garden or walkway.

10. Elephants. The elephant totem is believed to be a harbinger of good luck, wisdom and strength in many cultures. Some think of the large creature as being one of the smartest animals on earth, and I have to agree. Elephants' average life span is 70 years, so they must be onto something. Wild, beautiful pachyderms are celebrated in this nursery's wall art ...