When the new year arrives, minds inevitably grow busy. As if turning the first page of a diary, you want to bring fresh air into your home. However, a full scale remodel or replacing costly furniture feels burdensome. That is why the keyword drawing attention now is ‘bokterior’. A portmanteau of bok (good fortune) and interior, this trend overlays the act of styling a space with meanings of luck, warding off misfortune, and emotional stability. Because a single small object can shift both the atmosphere and your mood, it is spreading with hashtags such as ‘#bokterior’ and ‘#goodluckdecor’.

In uncertain times
Products that ease anxiety and provide calm
Gain attention
Warding pollock and moon jar
Money tree that invites wealth
Year of the Horse items also ‘catch the eye’

The more uncertain the times, the more people seek areas they can control. The home is the most certain of those. Predicting 2026 trends on a YouTube channel, Park Hyun young, head of the Lifestyle Change Observation Lab, highlighted “consumption behaviors that relieve anxiety and seek stability”. Alongside singing bowls and stress balls, he mentioned “moon jars and warding pollock that can promote a sense of calm through spatial styling”. The representative icon of bokterior is, without doubt, the moon jar. A symbol of Joseon white porcelain, the moon jar, with its imperfect symmetry and generous round form, is said to bring peace simply by looking at it. Placing one in a corner of the living room or entryway softens the impression of the space. The concept of “emptying to fill” is visually realized. Recently, beyond traditional ceramic forms, moon jars have been reinterpreted into modern products such as mini objets, candle holders, diffuser vessels, and lighting. If physical space is limited, consider a moon jar shaped mirror or framed print.

Since old times, dried pollock has been regarded as a fish that does not close its eyes and has been used as a symbol that wards off misfortune and protects fortune. Once seen mainly at newly opened businesses, the warding pollock has now been reborn not only with traditional straw ornaments but also as fabric, ceramic, and graphic objets. Clever items that marshal Korean ingenuity, such as plaster air fresheners and pollock shaped rugs, have also appeared. A small key holder makes a good gift like a lucky mascot for someone about to move or sign a contract. Some also hang a bell so that a bright chime rings each time the front door opens, based on the belief that a clear sound chases away bad energy. Magnet type doorbells that attach to the door are also on sale. Vintage Nine, which sells a doorbell that combines a warding pollock wrapped with silk thread and a copper bell, explains, “Winding a skein of silk thread without cutting it expresses a wish for wealth to stretch out for a long time.” Sunflower frames, once a popular housewarming gift thanks to the folk belief that hanging them in a spot that is immediately visible when you step inside brings in wealth, could feel a bit too blunt. These days, people seek minhwa frames that suit minimal interiors. According to the minhwa artist Kim Mi yeon, “Peonies symbolize wealth and honor, chrysanthemums symbolize longevity, and character paintings, ten longevity paintings, and tiger and magpie paintings embody wishes for longevity and success.”

When it comes to bokterior, you cannot leave out zamioculcas, also called the money tree for being thought to bring financial luck. The affection for plants that invite good fortune is not unique to Koreans. The UK interior magazine Livingetc recommended orchids, pothos, lucky bamboo, guzmania, aglaonema, and anthurium as “lucky pots that will breathe good energy into the home”. The plant expert Brian Woo explained, “The red spathes of anthurium symbolize luck and prosperity,” but most of the recommended plants also thrive in low light and help purify the air, so there is little reason not to bring them home.

Two thousand twenty six is the Year of the Red Horse. If you want to resemble the energy of the horse, associated with passion and drive, consider bringing home a wooden horse figurine, the Dala horse. In Sweden, where horses were regarded as sacred and auspicious, people believed that placing a carved wooden horse painted with ornate patterns in the home would bring happiness. Now a popular Swedish craft item, the Dala horse can even be found at Ikea.

Bokterior is less a superstition that relies on luck or a benefit that can be scientifically proven, and more about the psychological comfort that helps you endure an anxious era. Piling up items simply because they are said to invite fortune will make a space feel cramped. It is important not to forget openness and symbolism. If you are going to harness positive meanings, make use of places your eyes land on several times a day, such as the entryway, living room, or desk. Items that gather dust or are difficult to maintain can instead cause stress, so choose those that are easy to care for.