FT NEWS

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival of making new beginnings, ushering in prosperity and getting rid of obstacles. Why not use this occasion to make your home a hub of positivity and inspiration for lifelong achievements and happiness? To make it in a place that invites good things to happen? Roman philosopher Lucius Seneca is supposed to have said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Even if he didn’t, it’s an excellent description of good luck.

Here are simple ways to create a calming, comforting and an inviting home that will say ‘hello’ when opportunity comes calling.

Reduce clutter
A room full of furniture, decorative objects, accessories, and other knick-knacks can not only look unsightly, but can also create a sense of chaos and clutter. Organised areas that have neatly stacked items are invariably low on maintenance and don’t create too much distraction. Such spaces are easier to clean and navigate through. They give the opportunity to have a more inviting and comfortable room – a space you can enjoy and be happy in. Compound this happiness by creating joyous and light spaces that will not distract you from giving your 100 per cent to the tasks at hand, enabling you to create your own good luck.

Ensure a well-lit interior
Light plays a pivotal role in the decor of a space; it can also affect the mood, look and ambience of a room. What good are well-designed interiors when accents are not highlighted and people are enveloped in gloomy darkness?

A well-lit interior, be it through ample sunlight or balanced indoor illumination, can influence the mental state of the inhabitant and create a conducive environment to work in. When the ambience inside the home is welcoming and comfortable, it helps people be more cheerful and productive, I think. Good luck is bound to follow, then!

Allow for ample ventilation
The flow of natural, clean air or cross-ventilation through doors and windows can help clear out moisture, smoke and indoor odours and pollutants, thereby improving the quality of the air inside the house. This also aids in regulating indoor temperatures. Fresh air and well-ventilated spaces are good for a healthy body and an alert mind. Definitely the stuff we need to go after our dreams and meet good fortune.

Keep the interiors smelling fresh
For me, cleanliness has a smell of its own and a distinct identity and aura. Think about it, when you enter a space that is sparkling clean and the natural aroma of freshness fills you up, you immediately feel uplifted, don’t you?

A clean home sets the stage for action without distraction as it frees up one’s mind and energy for important pursuits. More energy and more focus helps one follow a better work ethic. And good luck and fortune favour those who work hard!

Infuse warmth with togetherness as a family
While decor changes can help create an interior that can inspire you to achieve more, the bond between its dwellers goes a much longer way in bringing happiness and positivity.

Create opportunities for the family to come together and spend quality time with each other. Be it dinners, weekend board game nights or just plain chatting sessions, family rituals like these can bring make communications better, resulting in stronger bonds. And isn’t it family that pushes us to give opportunities our best shot?