Design Ideas for Chinese New Year

1. Time for a Spring Clean

Clean: Give your house a thorough clean: neglected corners, under sofas and beds, air-conditioners, inside cupboards and drawers

De-clutter: A tidy and ordered house miraculously creates space.
 
Replace: We're all in favour of sustainability, so if you can, recycle or repair, but many products do not have an infinite life, even with regular care.

This includes cushion fillers, pillows, kitchenware (have a close look at your wooden spoons...), towels, bed linens, soft furnishings, clothing lamp shades and more, and while you are at it, check the use-by dates on food (eg jars of spices: five year old curry powder needs to go in the bin!) and personal care products.

It's a tiresome set of tasks, but once it is done, not only will your house look much better, but you will feel better and more energised too.

2. Embrace Spring Colours, not just Red and Gold

We love the drama of Red and Gold, but if it's overdone, it is not a combination for year round living (for most of us, anyway). Many other colours have auspicious connotations for the Lunar New Year, so don't be put off using them and choose what feels right for you.

Yellow represents happiness, warmth and prosperity

Green symbolizes growth, harmony and freshness, bringing a sense of renewal

Purple is associated with nobility and power

White is traditionally associated with mourning, but can also symbolise purity and new beginnings when used thoughtfully, especially in floral arrangements

Pink signifies love and happiness and when paired with Red (energy, passion and good fortune) these colours create a viibrant dynamic that evokes a sense of joy and warmth

Blue represents healing and tranquility

3. Red and Gold adds Glamour to any Interior!

Featured Products: The Cote Bougie Scented Candle Sabra Gold, is one of many hand-crafted scented candles from this Moroccan brand, using organic products where possible and re-usable containers; the rectangular Faux Shagreen Tray with gold 'twig' handles is in Coral, (many other colours are available); the Embroidered Cushion Cover Diamond in Red & Gold from Rasa Jaipur is finely hand-embroidered on top of a block print fabric base; the Lennox Wall Mirror in Gold is also available in Silver.

A few well chosen accents in Red and Gold bring a touch of glamour and luxury to any space.

Scented candles, vases filled with Spring-themed flowers and stems, cushions and ornaments will effortlessly create a festive mood, and have an enduring year round appeal.

4. Indulge Your Love of Chinoiserie

Featured Products: Assorted Products, including Suzani cushion 'Gulestaan', Ceramic Vase 'Octavia' and plates from Sthal and Faux, whose beautiful Hong Kong Willow and Hong Kong Toile designs in red, green and blue are a classic of the  'East meets West' genre and a great addition to a Chinese New Year table setting; the Carver Chair Cora is made from wood in the Chippendale style, a classic Chinoiserie look; the Cushion Cover 'Mongolia', is made with fabric from the UK and depicts traditional hunting scenes with horses on (we imagine) the Mongolian Steppes.  The cushion is finished with blue piping;  The final image is a feature from the Old Hong Kong Lights vintage Vase 'Cockerels', we would also recommend their Scented Candles, made from upcycled ceramic containers found in Hong Kong and Southern China.

The decorative style known as 'Chinoserie' emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, as trade exposed Europeans for the first time to Chinese artistic traditions and motifs. Dragons, pagodas, bamboo, cherry blossom, birds, and other elements inspired by Chinese (and later other Asian) art and culture started to appear on high end wallpapers, textiles, ornate furniture and homewares, in new (to Europe anyway) materials ranging from lacquer to porcelain and silk.

Chinoiserie continues to inspire contemporary interior design, providing a unique fusion of East and West that brings warmth, charm, romance and character to spaces. We are fortunate to be in Hong Kong so close to where much of it originated. At INSIDE, many of our products draw on this look, and it works well with both modern and traditional interiors.

The colour palette in Chinoiserie decor tends to be vibrant and bold, commonly incorporating reds, golds, blues and greens – colours that are greatly favoured at Chinese New Year.

What better moment to make it centre stage, and if you don't have any, perhaps it's time to take the plunge!