The Chinese New Year tradition of clearing out the old and welcoming the new has added significance this year after the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic.
With a great number of employees still working from home, decor experts advise home owners to go for well-designed accessories instead of run-of-the-mill embellishments when dressing up their homes for the Year of the Metal Ox.
Timothy Wong, of home-grown design firm Studio Juju, says that while colours are closely associated with festive moods, less is more.
“Naturally, accent items in the home can have a little more of the colours of the Lunar New Year, such as red and a little gold,” says Timo, who co-founded the multidisciplinary studio in 2009 with Priscilla Lui.
“However, they should not be too overpowering. Some plants will always be good to liven up the atmosphere. The key is to replace colours that are already in the house and not to introduce too many new decorations that may be unnecessary.”
Architect and interior designer Charmaine Wong says Chinese New Year is all about welcoming the spring, characterised by fresh greens and vibrant blooms.
To add zest and evoke the feeling of the season, she suggests dressing up staid walls with an oriental wall sculpture or brightening a balcony with a potted plant with fresh blooms.
“Tableware in vibrant, warm colours with a touch of champagne gold can also help ring in the new year,” says Charmaine, founder of local firm Chalk Architects. The Straits Times spotlights the latest interior accents with distinctive design stories.
