Simply Red & a touch of Gold!

THE Chinese New Year of the Monkey is almost upon us and a sense of excitement and renewal is in the air for the Chinese community here and the world over.

On the home front, I’ve been busy trying to refresh my little apartment and have relied on tried and tested makeover ideas for new looks appropriate for the celebrations.

Here are some tips I’d like to share with you. Some are relevant for their significance during Chinese New Year while others are a more modern take on tradition.  Let’s usher in the new year and welcome spring into our homes!

Add colour and texture with rugs

One easy way to add colour and texture is to use rugs. They’re a great way to bring new life to any space.  Whatever style or pattern of rug you choose, make sure it goes with the décor of the space. A brightly coloured rug would surely add a big impact to the room. Go for modern and graphic or bold and Oriental. You will find a large variety of rugs at Artefloor (Gardens Mall), Janine (BSC and Great Eastern Mall) or even at Ikea (Mutiara Damansara and Cheras).

Wallpaper panache

One sure way of injecting the ‘wow’ factor into a space is with the use of wallpaper. It can be the main focus of the room in itself or the background canvas that allows you to feature a nice piece of art.

I recently decorated this condominium in the enclave of Mont’Kiara and was able to turn a small dining corner into a stand out space by choosing a bold wallpaper. The highlight of the room was certainly the dramatic original painting by Malaysian painter Ismadi Sallehudin. In contrast, the dining table was a round vintage marble top, art deco, teak wood table from the 1930s. It exudes quiet elegance but provides practicality for the family of six in this home. 

Accessorise

Bring life and colour to a tired sofa or armchair with colourful cushions. Gorgeous tropical-themed ones featuring exotic birds with colourful plumage will add a spring to your step. Cushion covers  with bold graphic prints or cute motifs (such as of your favourite pet) would also certainly get the nod of approval from grandma. These cushion covers certainly add a lot of punch to any room at very little cost.  I found some inexpensive ones at Bits & Pieces (Gardens Mall and Publika).

For a more contemporary touch, the gold metallic fruit bowls by Tom Dixon and the red glass vases by LSA at Gudang (BSC and Great Eastern Mall) are also very appropriate for the festive celebration.

Light and bright

I always remember what my late grandmother told us — that we should usher in the new year by making sure that the house is light and bright on the eve. No corners were left dark and unattended, especially at the entrance of the abode.

Browsing around town recently, I was delighted to discover some truly ‘sparkling’ options of floor and table lamps that are both functional and beautifully designed. Several of them are in a shiny, metallic, gold finish while others are shaped like lively fishes. Fish signifies prosperity among the Chinese.

Art is all it takes

A dull corner is instantly transformed with the right artwork. And it does not need to be a hefty investment either. For instance, an inexpensive painting of an elegant chandelier I found recently could be just the perfect piece that adds drama and elegance to a dining area, making that family reunion dinner all the more special. Affordable, easy-to-hang artwork can be found at Bits & Pieces. 

The new limited edition monkey sculpture recently introduced at Royal Selangor is modern and yet relevant for the season. It’s one of my favourite pieces of this festive season and would make a great addition to any Chinese New Year decor.

Last but not least, don’t forget to add bunches of colourful fresh flowers all over your home to mark the advent of spring and another new year!  Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Raymond Lee is an interior designer and founder of Xceptional Interiors. He can be contacted at Email: [email protected] or check out www.xceptional-interiors.com

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This article was first published in The Edge Property pullout, Jan 29, 2016, that appears every Friday with The Edge Financial Daily. Tap here to download your personal copy of The Edge Property pullout for free.