TWEAKS+inspiration : Lunar New Year

Happy Lunar New Year! Did you know that the Lunar New Year is celebrated by a quarter of the world's population? It's fun to see local flower markets bulging with quince and other flowering branches. To get into the spirit, our entry (above) has an urn of Magnolia blossoms. Even Costco features kumquats and money trees, pots of orchids and lucky bamboo. Our next door neighbor has huge red lanterns and ropes of faux firecrackers hanging on each side of his front doors - it looks as festive as can be. This got me thinking, why not take some inspiration from traditional Lunar New Year decorations to use in our rooms year round? Let's take a look.

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Money in traditional red paper envelopes is passed to children on New Year's. Why not paint an accent piece that beautiful red?

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Mandarin oranges signal good fortune and are often given as gifts. Costco carries smaller kumquat trees which make a nice feature in a room but for lasting color, a delicious front door could not be more welcoming.

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Lanterns are covered in Chrysanthemums during Beijing's New Year's celebration are amazing. For a long lasting look, a large paper lantern provides a light hearted addition to a neutral room.

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Our outdoor Jade plants are an exposition of color, just in time for the Lunar New Year. Why not use this fresh color palette for a room?

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Red lanterns and cherry blossoms are quintessential New Year's. A large bouquet of blossoms is heavenly in a bedroom any time of the year.

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This is the Year of the Golden Pig which comes around every 60 years. If you are born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995, you're a pig - diligent, compassionate, and generous. But we already knew that! The Lunar New Year falls on February 5 this year, year 4717 is celebrated for about 2 weeks.