It’s that time of the year again when red and gold decor are displayed as far as the eye can see. If traditional CNY decoration shops aren’t quite up your alley, we’ve rounded up some Chinese New Year decor, accessories, and gifts that are more on the modern and aesthetic side.
From statement pieces that will give your bai nian guests major envy to hair clips that let you wear huat on your head, these are far from obiang.
Note: Prices are accurate at the time of writing and may be subject to change.
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Image credit: Shopee
These plush hand cloths can be hung up beside the sink, serving dual purpose as both a functional household staple as well as eye-catching CNY decor. Plus, it’s like touching wealth every time you dry your hands, which is mighty auspicious indeed.
Price: From $1.35
Buy angbao and money bag hand cloths.
Image credit: Shopee
Use these mahjong tiles as desk lamps for soft, mood lighting in the living room; they’re perfect to illuminate your late-night mahjong sessions. Available in ‘中’ (zhong) and ‘發’ (fa) designs, they also make for great Chinese New Year decor pieces even when not switched on.
Price: $5.50
Image adapted from: Shopee
Couplets – called ‘chun lian’ in Chinese – are those red strips of paper with calligraphy greetings written on them. Pinning a pair of couplets in your hair will allow you to bring the auspicious well wishes with you wherever you go, all while keeping your fringe out of your face.
There are a handful of options to choose from, including ‘平安喜乐’ (safe, peaceful, and happy), ‘心想事成’ (achieve whatever your heart desires), and the quintessential ‘恭喜发财’ (get rich and prosper).
Price: From $2.13
Image adapted from: Shopee
Bring the dong dong qiang liveliness with you, right on your head. These hair clips can be kiapped onto your fringe, or worn along a braid or ponytail to jazz it up. The plush design also has tassels, charms, and little bells that will jingle with each step.
Price: From $1.59
Image credit: LEGO
The LEGO Galloping Horses Canvas set marries the childlike whimsy of LEGO with a striking and auspicious depiction of horses charging right out of a painting. This powerful scene signifies having all your wishes and desires spring into fruition.
Get this 1,650-piece set to put together with your friends and family this CNY, as a fun activity in between all the mahjong and snacking.
Price: $109.99
Buy the LEGO Galloping Horses Canvas set.
Image credit: Annabella Patisserie
This 12-piece CNY-themed macaron set by popular sweets company Annabella Patisserie is great as a bai nian gift, or to serve as goodies when you’re hosting visits. Besides a pair of horses to celebrate the Year of the Horse, there are auspicious symbols like a golden ingot, pineapple, orange, and peach for longevity.
The macarons also come in a wide range of flavours for different preferences, including unique ones like creme brulee, Oreo, and lemonade.
Price: $48.80
Buy Annabella Patisserie’s CNY-themed macarons.
Image credit: Minty Mentaiko
Couplets are usually the typical CNY shades of red and gold. For those who find that sort of CNY decor a tad too gaudy and clash with the rest of their home aesthetics, get these kawaii couplets by local artist, Minty Mentaiko. They come in a trendy colour palette and feature cute cartoons like a teddy bear, shiba inu, and kawaii fortune cat.
If you love this style, you can even get their matching red packets.
Price: $7.90
Buy Minty Mentaiko’s kawaii couplets.
Image adapted from: Shopee
A chic and understated way to rep the Year of the Horse, these earrings are sophisticated enough to be worn any other time. There are 13 designs to choose from, from bedazzled rocking horses to elegant pearls with horse charms. Take your pick and buy a pair to match each bai nian outfit you have planned!
Price: From $2.02
Buy Year of the Horse earrings.
Image adapted from: @chermfung & @shirleenlimfy via Shopee
A way to shout out ‘新年快乐’ (happy new year) in a modern and glamorous way. The signs are super customisable, because the 4 characters are not fixed together which means you can arrange them as you wish.
Place them as countertop decor, or make use of the built-in notches on the back to hang them on the wall. You can choose between a white casing with yellow LEDs, or red casing with white lights.
Price: $29.99
Buy CNY marquee lights.
Image adapted from: Shopee
For guests to immediately have a positive impression of your home, stick these floor mats at your door. The cutesy designs are equally auspicious, without being old-fashioned.
Take your pick from plenty of options, from chubby horses to pastel ponies. There’s also a semicircle design if you don’t want to go the conventional rectangle route for your CNY decor.
Price: $5.38
Buy horse floor mats.
Image adapted from: Shopee
These cute and squeezable hanging ornaments have a thick plush design and 3D effect, leveling up the typical plastic ornaments that may look a bit cheapo. Designs for this Chinese New Year decor include a horse, a mahjong tile, and a lion dance mask. There are also orange and gold coin designs which look extra adorable and Jellycat-inspired!
Price: $8.99
There’s an adorable bokchoy vase because bokchoy in Chinese (bai cai), sounds similar to the characters meaning “100 fortunes”.
Image credit: Shopee
For those who lack the space for a full-blown pussy willow plant and vase setup, these pint-sized fortune trees will jazz up your living or working space, and hopefully bring in more prosperity. Think of it as the huat-ified version of desktop potted plants, and you won’t even need to water them.
Price: $13.30
Buy mini fortune trees.
Image adapted from: Shopee
These fold-out paper creations – also known as honeycomb ornaments – are simple, affordable, yet attractive Chinese New Year decor and not tacky at all. They’re available in CNY-appropriate designs like a horse, ingots, a gourd (symbolising joy, prosperity, and protection from evil), and a stylised ‘福’ (Fu) character, meaning blessings and good fortune.
There are also non-CNY-specific designs that will liven up your space during the festive season and beyond. Think minimalist apple, orange, and pear designs that look classy and impressive.
Price: $3.78
Buy minimalist honeycomb ornaments.
Image credit: Shopee
We talked about the symbolism and meanings of ‘福’ (Fu) and the gourd, AKA hulu. This statuette combines both, giving you double blessings. It looks atas enough to be a prized work of art, but costs under $20. Choose between beige, cyan, and red for the main body, which comes with a speckled design and grainy effect.
Price: From $15.60
Buy “Fu” and gourd statuettes.
Image adapted from: Carer
These Jellycat-inspired fruit companions are great for decor, gifting, and presenting to your relatives in place of actual mandarin oranges when you bai nian. Each one is meticulously handcrafted using pipe cleaners by the elderly members of the Carer senior activity club.
They are also available in pineapple form, for pineapple rolling rituals to usher in prosperity (pineapple in Hokkien is ‘ong lai’, which sounds like ‘fortune and riches come’). Proceeds go towards Carer’s activities and initiatives for the elderly, so you’ll also be helping to support a good cause. It’s a fruitful way to spread the cheer and blessings this CNY!
Price: $38 for orange, $98 for pineapple
Buy Jellycat-style pipe cleaner fruits.
Make haste like a galloping horse and these goodies to cart now. You’ll receive them just in time to spruce up the house for all the rowdy visits and get-togethers, and be able to doll up with auspicious accessories that will score you brownie points with the relatives. And a fatter angbao too, perhaps? One can dream!
Get your CNY prep sorted with our other guides:
Cover image adapted from: Shopee, Minty Mentaiko
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