For many families, decorating with red on 17 February isn’t just about picking a color – it’s a ritual that feels alive, meaningful, and full of intention. In cultures that celebrate the Lunar New Year, particularly those rooted in Chinese tradition, red isn’t just decorative. It’s a way of welcoming good fortune, love, and protection into the home as the new year begins.
During this season, homes glow with red lanterns, couplets, delicate paper cuttings, and textiles. Many even hand out lucky red envelopes with money – similar to these Red Envelopes for the Chinese New Year from Amazon – for luck and abundance.
These vibrant touches aren’t just decorative – they’re believed to sweep away bad luck and fill the space with joy, warmth, and the promise of prosperity. There’s an undeniable energy in red, a lucky color that enlivens every corner of the home and sets the tone for a bright year ahead.
Designers often note that it’s one of the most stimulating and dynamic colors, which is why it can feel so alive when woven into a home. Too much, and it can feel overwhelming, but balanced with softer tones or strategic accents, red brings warmth, vibrancy, and a sense of life – exactly what you want as a new year begins.
Decorating with red has long been a color of celebration and significance. From ancient weddings – such as Roman brides draping red shawls to symbolize love and loyalty – to modern-day China, where red represents good fortune and happiness, the hue has always carried significant meaning.
Beyond tradition, color psychologists have found that red can influence our moods, perceptions, and even our energy levels.
In interiors, it’s more than just a pretty accent color: red can subtly affect how we feel and even our physiology, making spaces feel lively, engaging, and emotionally charged. There’s something about the deep shades of crimson, scarlet, and ruby that gives a room presence and vitality, which is exactly why red feels so powerful in Lunar New Year homes.
Hebe Hatton, Head of Interior Design at Homes & Gardens, puts it beautifully: ‘Used in the right way, red room ideas don’t just energize a room – it gives it personality and presence. It can make a space feel welcoming, confident, and full of life, which is why it’s such a powerful choice when we want to set an intentional tone.’
That’s why red works so perfectly for Lunar New Year decorating. It’s not only about honoring tradition – it’s about how color makes us feel: grounded, hopeful, and ready for what lies ahead. With thoughtful placement and a mix of textures, those red accents become more than festive flair. They fill the home with optimism, energy, and warmth that lasts long after the celebrations have ended.
At the end of the day, a red palette – or even an unexpected red scheme – is as much about intention as it is about style. It’s a way to invite positivity, celebrate life, and usher in the year with hope and joy. This simple yet powerful tradition transforms your home, filling it with warmth and energy, and sets the tone for months of good fortune to come.
Shop Red Accents
Even if you’re not planning to lean into red on 17 February, this bold hue deserves a place in your home all year round. Thanks to the 'unexpected red theory' – the idea that adding a touch of red to any space instantly makes it feel more dynamic, layered and intentionally designed – even the smallest crimson accent can completely transform a room. A flash of red on a side table, bookshelf or sofa adds warmth, contrast and that elusive designer edge.
The Bobbin Rechargeable Portable Lamp is a chic, cordless glow-up with its glossy orb-stacked base and mushroom shade silhouette. In a bold red finish, it’s a wonderful way to tap into the unexpected red theory – adding instant warmth, contrast and designer polish to any corner.
A velvet throw pillow is the ultimate finishing touch – and Carmine delivers. With its dark floral print set against rich red velvet, it’s an effortless way to embrace the color red, adding depth, drama and a layer of quiet luxury to your space.
Valentine’s Day may be over, but my love for a subtle heart motif is forever. A delicately detailed throw is the chicest way to weave in a touch of red – soft, understated, and just enough to make a space feel warm and considered all year round.
