Displaying raw crystals in natural shapes can be very stylish. Coffee tables and book shelves lend themselves well to these accessories.

Crystals can light up dark corners of a room as the sunlight reflects off them.

You could also opt for crystal book-ends, lamps, bowls or candle stands. This is a great way to marry aesthetics and functionality. Try a bookend made from agate or lamps made from smoky quartz.

Crystal Clear

Clearing crystals periodically is a good practice. Aside from adding beauty to your home, crystals spread good energy and absorb negative vibrations from the surrounding space.

You can clear crystals by leaving them in the sunlight for a couple of hours. You need to do this once in a couple of months.

Pick and Choose

Choosing the right crystal is an art in itself. Different crystals bring different influences to your home. See which one is for you.

Finding the Crystal for You

You can find crystal shops in most large cities in new-age or tourist areas. Colaba Causeway and Kalbadevi areas in Mumbai and Spencer's Plaza in Chennai have crystal shops you can search for unique crystal artefacts.

Jaipur, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Africa, Yemen are all places known for raw crystals as well as good crystal cutters and shapers. If you travel to any of these parts of the world, do look around for unique crystals to bring home.

Crystal Check

Here is how you can test and choose good quality crystals.

The Light Test

1. Hold up the crystal in the light.
2. Look for any flaws or 'inclusions' inside the crystal. These could be in the shape of bubbles, clouds or other fragments stuck inside.
3. Generally speaking, the clearer the crystal, the purer it is.

Good Vibrations

Another way to check whether a crystal is good is to feel for vibrations.

Simply hold the crystal in your hand and focus. In larger crystals, mild vibrations will quickly become obvious. Crystals with stronger vibrations are considered to be better stones.

So, the next time you see a shimmering piece of stone, think about giving it a home!

Author: Maya Hari

(Maya Hari is an alternative therapist, meditation instructor and art & decor enthusiast.)