6 quick DIY CNY decor ideas

The Lunar New Year will be here very soon and you have yet to get your home decked up for the festivities? Do not fret for we have picked a few easy jiffy DIY decor ideas to put you in the right mood for the celebrations.

1. Lanterns

The Chinese lantern is believed to have been created to replace the open flame as the shade protects the flame from being extinguished by the wind. You can make your very own DIY (do-it-yourself) lantern by following these steps:

You will need a sheet of A4 sized red paper, a sheet of A4 sized gold paper, a pencil, a ruler, scissors and glue.

First, fold the red paper into half and use a pencil and ruler to trace lines perpendicular to the folded side leaving a small space on top and at the bottom. Then cut through the lines.

Roll the gold paper lengthwise to form a tube. This will be the centre of the lantern. Secure it with some glue. Then, glue the portion of the red paper with the space on top and bottom to the gold sized paper. Cut off the access gold paper at the bottom of the lantern. You can make a handle from the excess gold strip.

2. Paper firecrackers

Firecrackers carry a symbolic meaning of driving away evil spirits with the noise they make. But if all you’re after is the symbolic meaning and not the real thing, you can try making your own paper firecracker decor.

You will need a piece of red paper, a piece of gold paper, scissors, glue, a cord or string, and a hole puncher.

First, cut the red paper into squares. You can choose the size you want. Cut strips of gold paper to stick on the squares.

Then roll and glue the squares to form tubes. Punch two holes at the top and bottom of the tube.

Push the string into the holes and tie a knot in the middle of the “firecracker”. Keep doing this on alternating sides until a twin row of “firecracker’ is formed.

3. Chinese paper fan

You will need a piece of A4 red and a piece of gold paper, scissors and glue. Trim the red paper into a square. Cut one strip of gold paper and stick it on to one end of the red square leaving some space from the edge. Then, starting from one end, fold pleats in an accordion style, about two to three centimetres apart. With the pleats together, fold the fan into half and glue the middle together. At the bottom pleat, you can use the scissors to cut a small knick to make a hole which you can thread a small piece of gold ribbon through to hang up the fan.

4. Ornaments on plants

It is important to the Chinese community to have plants as decorations as plants signify growth and flowers symbolize wealth. Two of the most popular plants in a Chinese household during Chinese New Year are the cherry blossom and the pussy willow. Cherry blossoms represent reliability and perseverance while the pussy willows signifies wealth and new beginnings.

Get small lanterns and hang them on the branches of the pussy willow or cherry blossoms for an instant festive feel.

5. Upside down Chinese word for prosperity

The Chinese word for prosperity is Fu in Mandarin or Fook in Cantonese. The Chinese stick the word Fu on their walls and doors to invite abundant prosperity into the house. To make your own Fu, get a square red paper and write the word Fu in the middle of the diamond shaped red paper. Then, turn the word upside down and stick the it upside down. This is because the word upside down in Chinese also sounds like the Chinese word for arrive, which means prosperity has arrived!

6. Red tablecloth or table mats

There will be many dinners and lunches taking place during Chinese New Year as families and friends gather to celebrate. One simple way to decorate the dining table then is to lay a red table cloth or get some red table mats. You just can’t go wrong with auspicious red during Chinese New Year.

Enjoy these quick decorative tips and have a very auspicious and prosperous Year of The Fire Monkey!

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