It happens routinely every year – once Christmas is over, the shiny baubles and tinsel strands in malls start making way for flashy red and gold couplets and “福” (luck) signs to signify the start of the Chinese New Year period. *Cue “dong dong dong qiang” music* Instead of just admiring the festive displays at Chinatown, go one step further to invite extra huat to your home this Chinese New Year by decking it out with ready-made CNY decor – no time-consuming DIY-ing with red packets needed. We have a whole list of CNY decoration stores in Singapore to help you get your home CNY-ready.
Table of Contents
This year, Chinese New Year falls on Wednesday, 29th January 2025, marking the start of the Year of the Snake. However, the festivities officially begin on the eve, 28th January 2025, with family reunions with scrumptious food either at restaurants or at home. The celebrations last for 15 days until Chap Goh Mei on 11th February 2025. Preparations, however, start well before CNY eve, with spring cleaning and decorating homes to welcome prosperity and good fortune.
Chinese New Year decorations are more than just ornamental. They carry significant meanings rooted in tradition and symbolism. For instance, the character “福” (fú), which means luck or fortune, is often hung upside down because the Chinese word for “upside down” (倒, dào) sounds like “arrive” (到, dào). This clever wordplay symbolises the arrival of luck, which is why Chinese households, especially those who own businesses, put them up.
However, not all characters should be flipped. The character “吉” (jí), meaning auspicious or lucky, is never displayed upside down as it could imply the opposite – turning good fortune into bad luck.
Other popular decorations, like red lanterns, couplets, and paper cuttings, feature imagery of wealth, longevity, and happiness, making them staples in homes and public spaces during the season.
CGS Party (Chin Giap Soon) is a lesser-known party shop quietly tucked away in KINEX. During regular periods, you’ll find their shelves stacked high with colourful kids’ knick knacks like beads, pinwheels, and bubbles. But come Chinese New Year, and their entire storefront will be shrouded in bright red from lanterns and hanging scrolls adorned with gold foil.
Image credit: CGS Party
You can get these cute CNY Money Bag Snake soft toys in 3 different sizes from $8.80.
CGS Party review: “Wow what a fab find! I went in for Halloween items but this store has EVERYTHING party related, along with lots of Christmas items and small toys. I highly recommend a visit!” – Kerry Bunn via Google Maps
If not Chinatown, where else would one make a beeline for CNY-related items?
Of course, traditional Chinese trinkets are available all year round here. But every year without fail, there’s usually a huge CNY bazaar in Chinatown in the People’s Park area (outside OG) with even more of such goodies.
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS6uu6AuL
Needless to say, the festivities are always in full swing here and you’ll be able to find all your ong lai lanterns, wall decor, dangling charms, and faux firecrackers at one go without any fuss.
Check out the CNY light-up too that features the year’s zodiac animal.
Image credit: @corysutandi via Instagram
Besides decorations, you can look forward to pasar malam stalls selling Chinese New Year snacks, traditional and modern garb, house plants, and furniture.
Image credit: @skpsingapore via Instagram
You’re probably familiar with SKP if your mum used to put together goodie bags packs for your kindergarten classmates during your birthday. Other than their affordable range of balloons, confetti poppers, and small stationery items, they also have a sizable selection of couplet banners, good luck signs, and Chinese New Year streamers to hang across your hallways.
SKP has more than 40 stores scattered throughout all regions of Singapore. But if you’d rather have the convenience of shopping online, SKP products are now available on their own online store, Shopee and Lazada.
SKP review: “Staff is very knowledgeable about products. The disadvantage of SKP is that not every store carries the same design or same products. Due to space limitations, the store may look messy but there’s some organisation.” – Liang Valerie via Google Maps
Full list of SKP locations
Image credit: Elise via Foursquare
CUBE-i can be found in neighbourhood malls like Tampines 1, Hougang Mall, and AMK Hub. This party shop may be small, but has everything you need for any occasion packed in its little units, including CNY decorations.
You’ll find the usual party decor like large helium balloons for birthdays and proposals, as well as goodie bag supplies like stickers, party poppers, and small plushies. CUBE-i sells seasonal items for festive occasions like CNY, including wall hangings and angbaos.
CUBE-i review: “This shop has a variety of decorating items covering every function at very affordable prices. Such a gem to stationery lovers. I loved their greeting card collection; one card cost me around $4 and the designs were beautiful.” – Dulakshi Ambepitiya via Google Maps
Full list of CUBE-i locations.
Image credit: @mingsingflowers via Instagram
Ming Sing Flowers specialises in artificial floral arrangements that look just like the real thing. These are especially great if you have a large house with plenty of space to fill, or are holding a big home gathering and want to impress.
Apart from evergreen floral arrangements, Ming Sing sells customisable wreaths to hang on your door to welcome visitors when they bai nian. You can choose from ready-made ones or visit their store at KINEX to create something better suited to your taste.
Ming Sing Flowers review: “Ming Sing Flowers is a shop full of warmth and creativity. Their artificial flowers and decor items are not only beautiful but also of high quality. The family members who run the shop are incredibly friendly, making you feel right at home.” – Dolma LhaKhang via Google Maps
Image credit: @daiso_singapore via Instagram
Daiso is a go-to for cheap craft supplies and simple but tasteful decorations for occasions like Halloween and Christmas. Being a Japanese chain, their CNY decorations come with a slight Japanese twist.
Image adapted from: @daiso_singapore via Instagram
Choose from varied stalks of artificial flowers like peonies, sakura, and chrysanthemums, or top your tables with manekineko (fortune cat) figurines and daruma dolls – a symbol of luck in Japanese culture.
Since all items at Diaso don’t cost $2 each anymore, smaller decorations such as stickers and banners start from $2.18 while decor like lanterns and wreaths cost $6.26.
Daiso review: “A fantastic store for affordable, high-quality products. From home essentials to unique gadgets, they offer an extensive range, all at a flat price. The store is well-stocked, and despite being busy, it’s easy to navigate. Perfect for picking up everyday items or discovering fun and quirky finds without breaking the bank.” – Nabil Basaad via Google Maps
Full list of Daiso locations.
Image credit: Shevron
Chances are, your CNY decorations are haphazardly kept in a box once the celebrations are over. But Shevron has embroidered decorations you’d want hung up all year round. Their Zodiac Charms ($13.90), tangerine pouches (from $29.90), and wall hangings (from $69.90) are made of felt and covered in intricately embroidered birds, peonies, and lion dance motifs.
Image credit: Shevron
Even their angbaos are worth framing up if you’re lucky enough to get one. You get a set of 3 Silk Embroidered Red Packets ($22.80) that feature timeless designs of a pineapple, fortune cat, and mandarin orange. The angbaos are big enough to fit a $100 note.
Shevron review: “Excellent gift not just for CNY festival, can be used year round. Nicely decorated and excellent embroidery. Perfect gift and it’s made in Singapore.” – Stella Toh via Google Maps
Available at Giant: zodiac-themed wall decor, mandarin orange bags, and fortune knots.
Trust a supermarket to have everything. If you’re short on time, simply pop by your nearest neighbourhood Fairprice, Cold Storage, or Giant to pick up a few affordable CNY decorations and essentials while you’re grabbing your groceries and last-minute pineapple tarts.
Pretty much every outlet will have the bits and bobs you’re looking for, though the larger ones in malls will probably have a wider selection that includes plants like potted bamboo and pussy willow.
Since we still have a few weeks left before CNY, it also means there’s still time to order any festive goodies online. With platforms like Amazon and Shopee offering a wide range of CNY decorations, snacks, and even apparel, you can effortlessly complete your Chinese New Year shopping from the comfort of your home. Plus, many stores are offering festive discounts and express shipping, ensuring your items arrive well before the celebrations kick off.
Image credit: Amazon
Amazon is a convenient platform for browsing CNY-themed decorations like lanterns, banners, and floral arrangements. Prices range from $5-$50, depending on the size and intricacy of the item. You can even purchase classic CNY refreshments like soda and snacks.
Plus, Amazon Prime members get free 1-day shipping, just in case you’ve left decorating to the last minute.
Get Chinese New Year decorations on Amazon Singapore.
Image credit: Shopee
Shopee is a treasure trove for budget-friendly CNY items, from cute decorations as low as $0.77 to matching CNY fits for visitation for the fam from $5.45/shirt. To sweeten the deal, Shopee offers a bunch of flash sales and bundle deals, making it easy to save while you shop.
Get Chinese New Year decorations on Shopee.
Surprise your house guests this year by sprucing up your home with some vibrant Chinese New Year decor. It won’t take much time or effort to place a few fortune cat figurines around, or stick good luck signages on your walls. Best of all, these come at affordable prices and won’t eat too much into your angbao fund.
More CNY festive reads:
Cover image adapted from: Daiso, Shevron
Last updated by Ariel Soh & Raewyn Koh on 14th January 2025.
If you can’t decide on one angbao design, why not collect ‘em all?
Shop celebrity looks for really cheap.
Dress up your home for Chinese New Year with some ready-made festive decorations from these…
Find out what the fuss is about behind that green tub all your friends are…
Here's a beginner's guide to angbao giving in Singapore for folks who feel like a…
Spruce up your home this year with these 7 CNY decorations. Best part is you…