Revamp your home the Chinese way

Revamp your home the Chinese way
By PropertyGuru – January 24th, 2011




Chinese New Year 2011 (Photo courtesy of The Past Perfect Collection)
By Sunaina Anand (courtesy of PropertyGuru)

Just a month into the new-year, and we’ve worked too hard already. There’s nothing more we want than to get away from the mayhem of the corporate world, and to sit back and relax in the sun. At this very opportune time, Chinese New Year (CNY), the most important social and economic festival in China, comes along.

While most of us look forward to CNY for the ‘days off from work’, it’s time we learn more about the festival, and celebrate it in the same spirit as our Chinese brothers and sisters do.

And from what we can already see, with Singapore all dressed in red, decorations have a big role to play during CNY. So for the upcoming holidays, adorn your house the Chinese way. Find out how.

Ribbity Rubbit

And what better way to start than with the rabbit? After the year of the very ferocious tiger, 2011, the year of the rabbit, promises to bring prosperity and peace for all. For the kids’ rooms, a picture of bugs bunny would be ideal. Even better, buy a picture of bugs bunny dressed in a cheongsam (a body hugging Chinese dress). Chinatown is the best place to buy decorations for CNY.

Fire It Up

Legend has it that a beast called Nian would appear on the eve of every CNY eve to harm the villagers. They learned to scare it away by lighting firecrackers. Hence firecrackers are crucial during CNY. Since bursting crackers is banned in Singapore, they are mostly used for decoration purposes. You could even buy electronic firecrackers that sound and light up like the real ones for the front yard or balcony and light them up before dinner.

Light Up Your Life

One of the most popular CNY decorations, the lantern signifies vitality and good luck. The streets of Singapore are already adorned with red lanterns; hence you’ll have no trouble finding them. However, making paper lanterns together with the children will be a good way to spend some quality time together. This year, make paper lanterns in the shape of a rabbit and hang them in your entryway. Paint the lanterns red and gold in keeping with the colours of the festival.

A Splash Of Colour

Red and gold are considered auspicious during Chinese New Year. While red signifies longevity, gold is meant to bring happiness, good luck and wealth to a home. Decorate your house with red and gold balloons and streamers this CNY. You could even buy red and gold Chinese characters that spell happiness and good luck to hang on the walls.

Shop For The Pot

There’s no better time to go shopping than CNY. Sweep away the old and welcome the new is the motto during CNY so splurging is legal! This CNY, buy a brand new round table, with a Lazy Susan (a circular rotating tray placed on top of a table to aid in moving food) mounted on top. Invite family and friends over for dinner to celebrate the very essence of the festival. Have hotpot with the family on your brand new acquisition in true Chinese style.

Fortune Cookie

No Chinese meal is complete without the fortune cookie. This year, predict good fortune for your friends and families by slipping in personalised notes in the cookies. You could bake the cookies yourself, or buy ready-made cookies, microwave them till they are pliable (20-30 seconds), open the cookie and exchange the fortune with your message. Pinch it back together and let it harden. Tie red and gold ribbons around a glass bowl, put the cookies in it, let the bowl sit on your coffee table till everyone’s ready for them.

Blessings Galore

Buy red packets (Hong Bao) and shape them like different cartoon characters (including a rabbit). Put some money or tiny gifts for the children in them and place them on the dinner table where the children will sit. You could even stick some Chinese characters spelling good luck and health on them and bless your kids with all the luck and good fortune this year.

Life In The Wild

The lion dance is performed on most Chinese festivals and is said to bring good luck and happiness. Make or buy a Lion costume for the kids and decorate their room with it. You could even teach them the lion dance and have them perform before dinner.

Fruitilicious

No CNY celebration is complete without the tangerine tree. Buy two tangerine trees and place them on either side of your entry. Mandarin oranges and tangerines are considered traditional symbols of abundance and good fortune during CNY. Buy some for your guests as presents and bless them with all the good fortune for the coming year.

Beauty Personified

There’s no better way to decorate your house than with flowers, so beautify your house with flowers this CNY. A blooming flower on CNY signifies a year of prosperity. Flowers are also meant to bring good fortune into your home, so have lots of earthen pots and vases ready. Place them in your living and dining area and decorate them with some peach and plum blossoms, water lilies and peony. While peach blossoms symbolise growth, prosperity, long life and romance, plum blossoms represent perseverance and reliability. The peony signifies feminine beauty and love. So bring happiness, luck, love, colour and vibrance into your home this New Year.

Get more home décor tips at PropertyGuru.