Chinese New Year Decorations for a Picture-Perfect Celebration at Home

Chinese New Year is the time when people often visit families and friends. They fly in from different countries and cities to celebrate in unity. They also catch up on what they’ve missed with one another. Loved ones gather around a table and enjoy each other’s company in the reunion dinner, part of the celebration. This dinner is one of the most important and significant events for all Chinese. Typically, all the dishes are homemade. Fish also must be put on the table, because fish translates to “surplus” in-home supply and wealth.

Another important and essential part of Chinese New Year is eating dumplings. Dumplings represent reunion, harmony, and wealth in Chinese culture. Usually, the dumplings are made by the whole family, engaging in conversation. This bonding activity makes for a heartwarming memory, so be sure to hire a family photographer to savor this moment. Go ahead and give your family a dumpling-making photoshoot.

Spread good fortune through the New Year. Red envelopes are a monetary gift given to the younger generation. Red envelopes are given by parents, grandparents, and other older relatives after the reunion dinner. Also known as “lucky money”, the money in these red envelopes must be new bills. In folk culture, children live safe and sound for the whole year if they receive this lucky money. Nowadays, lots of children use the money from their red envelopes to buy books and school supplies.

There are many crafts you can create when decorating the house for Chinese New Year. This becomes a bonding experience for family and friends gathered around. Before the celebration, houses are traditionally cleaned and traditional New Year’s decorations are displayed throughout. Cleaning or sweeping the house indicates sweeping the bad luck out of the house prior to the New Year. 

Fun decorations you can make include Chinese Knots, Window Paper-Cuts, and Spring Festival Couplets. Chinese Knots were first used to string jade pendants on clothes as decorations. Now, they are used as gifts or curtain decorations. Bigger ones are decorated and turned into ornaments. 

Window paper-cuts help carry people’s good wishes. Positive words or patterns are cut on red paper. These words include the happy moments in their lives or the imagination of a better life to come in the New Year. 

Spring Festival Couplets are typically pasted on doorways. The history of these couplets can be tracked over 1,000 years back when the original version was a piece of wood. The wood protected you against evil and has transitioned from peach wood to red paper. This makes for the perfect backdrop for a family photoshoot.

Just like holiday cards given in the United States, greeting cards are meant to spread joy. They’re especially for those you cannot see around the New Year. New Year cards are tradition and written with words of blessings. They are given to their friends and family to acknowledge they are thinking of them, even when not physically together. Cards can also now be sent digitally. This is the perfect excuse for a holiday photographer because you can get your professional holiday photoshoot in!

Firecrackers are one of the most popular Chinese New Year activities. Firecrackers are watched by onlookers to ring in the New Year and scare away evil spirits. Public fireworks are seen all over large cities like Beijing and Shanghai, becoming a truly a magical masterpiece to view. This also seems like quite a romantic endeavor. If you’re feeling lucky in love, hire a proposal photographer to capture the picture-perfect moment and get that romantic proposal photoshoot.

A Temple Fair is a perfect activity outside the house. This is an old practice of Chinese New Year customs and now includes carnival-type activities held in parks. Cultural performances such as puppet shows, diabolo, magic and puppet shows, and more can be enjoyed by the whole family. All types of small commodities at very low prices. With this, you can also hire an affordable holiday photographer to follow you around as you embrace the fair in its full.

Watch colorful lanterns shine on the evening of the 15th day of the first lunar month. Coming in all different shapes and sizes, this is the way to mark the end of the celebration and festival. In ancient times, these lanterns were made of paper or silk with candles placed inside. Now, the materials changed to become sturdier. Candles were replaced with bulbs or LEDs, so the candles last longer. This is another great romantic setting, so get your engagement photographer ready for the big moment.

Rather than spreading decorations thinly throughout your home, focus on the spaces where people naturally gather and where photos are most likely to be taken. Entryways, living rooms, and dining tables usually become the heart of Chinese New Year celebrations. Decorating these areas thoughtfully ensures that every greeting, hug, and shared meal happens against a festive, intentional backdrop that looks beautiful both in real life and in photos.

Red and gold are traditional Chinese New Year colors symbolising luck, happiness, and prosperity, but how you use them matters. Keeping a consistent color palette across banners, cushions, tableware, and wall décor helps your home feel visually calm and elegant instead of overwhelming. This cohesion also translates exceptionally well into photographs, making images feel timeless rather than busy or chaotic.

Chinese New Year decorations don’t have to compete with your home’s existing style. Modern interiors can still honour tradition through subtle accents like red textiles, gold-toned décor pieces, or a single meaningful ornament. Blending traditional symbols with your everyday surroundings creates a celebration that feels authentic, personal, and comfortable — perfect for relaxed family moments and natural-looking photos.

Lanterns are not just decorative — they shape the entire mood of your celebration. Placing Chinese New Year lanterns near windows, doorways, or dining areas adds a warm, flattering glow that transforms evening gatherings into intimate, cosy moments. Soft lighting enhances skin tones and creates a calm atmosphere that makes family photos feel warm, emotional, and inviting.

For homes celebrating with children, LED lanterns are a practical and stress-free alternative to traditional candles. They provide the same festive glow without safety concerns, allowing kids to move freely and enjoy the celebration. This peace of mind helps everyone relax — and relaxed families always make for better, more genuine photos.

Lanterns can become more than décor when you turn them into a shared activity. Let children decorate lanterns or write wishes for the New Year, creating moments of curiosity, creativity, and excitement. These interactions often become some of the most meaningful memories of Chinese New Year for kids and offer beautiful opportunities for candid, storytelling photographs.

Chinese New Year flowers are chosen not only for their beauty, but for what they represent. Plum blossoms symbolise renewal and resilience, orchids are linked to abundance and refinement, and peonies are associated with wealth and prosperity. Selecting flowers with intention adds cultural meaning to your décor and gives your celebration an extra layer of storytelling depth.

Where you place flowers matters just as much as which ones you choose. Entryways welcome guests and good fortune, while dining tables naturally become a focal point during family gatherings. Positioning floral arrangements in these areas ensures they appear naturally in photos, enhancing the visual narrative without feeling staged.

The strong reds and golds of Chinese New Year decorations can feel visually intense if not balanced carefully. Flowers help soften these bold tones, adding texture, freshness, and contrast. This balance creates a more harmonious look that feels elegant in person and translates beautifully into photographs taken throughout the celebration.

Of course, one of the most exciting destinations to travel to is where the magic happens. Beijing, China’s capital is a great destination to celebrate the New Year because it’s a city that combines tradition and modern prosperity.

Temple fairs are also known to play a huge role here. During and after the Spring Festival, Beijing has Temple fairs almost every day. All are located in different places such as Wangfujing, Altar of the Earth and Longtan Park. Temple fairs have been a part of daily life in Beijing for hundreds of years and will continue to act upon it each New Year. Various forms of entertainment such as carnivals, Peking opera, martial arts, and acrobatics are performed. Be sure to try much of the festival foods and arts and crafts. Plus, you can check out the tea culture displays, as tea is a very popular drink.

A city brimming with people and entertainment, Hong Kong is a popular destination to celebrate Chinese New Year. It mixes old traditions, practices, and beliefs with new customs from the younger generation. Their colorful festival promises astonishing fireworks, parades, and festive markets selling traditional food and blooms.

Red lanterns illuminate the city, an unbelievable sight that you’ll want to cherish with the help of a private photographer. For travelers looking for the good fortune that the New Year brings, visit the racing track. The racing track is decorated with red lanterns and offers a lion dance on the third day of celebrations. 

Two events that cannot be missed while you’re visiting are the fireworks display and the night parade. The fireworks take place over Victoria Harbor. The parade, on the other hand, travels along the streets of Tsim Sha Tsiuji. The night parade is made up of illuminated floats, performance artists and dancers. Disneyland Hong Kong also joins the annual celebration. The park offers Chinese New Year events and attractions. See if you can spot Mickey Mouse walking around dressed in traditional Chinese attire.

Couple photoshoot by Amber, Localgrapher in Hong Kong

The bustling city of Los Angeles is home to some of the largest Chinese New Year celebrations in the United States. There’s much to explore, including the incredible annual Chinatown parade. It consists of gigantic floats, talented drummers, lion dancers, and dance troops.

The midnight Temple celebration kicks off the festivities where visitors can receive a blessing and light off hundreds of firecrackers. Chinese- themed décor and traditional dragon dancers flood the shopping centers. A large, towering New Year Wish Tree is also set up for the holiday season. A scavenger hunt is also offered in Chinatown; something unique and different to do while you’re traveling.

For visitors looking for more thrill, Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates in style. The oark shows an abundance of decorations, characters dressed in traditional Chinese attire, and a Mandarin version of the studio tour. Similar to the Hong Kong location, Disneyland in California decorates its park with lanterns and banners, wishing visitors a Happy New Year. It also features authentic Chinese musicians and dancers.

Family photoshoot by Masha, Localgrapher in Los Angeles

A small community event has now turned into one of the world’s biggest celebrations of the Lunar Year. It is also considered one of the biggest celebrated events in Australia. Performers, markets and street stalls are all set up on the streets of Chinatown. There are Dragon Boat Races on Cockle Bay that play a huge role in this city’s celebrations. Visitors are invited to get up close with intricately carved boats that are an important part of the Chinese history.

Sydney’s signature Twilight parade will twinkle in travelers’ eyes. It has a sensational display of lights and color presented on floats, huge hovering lanterns, and projectors. Community performers make their way down the streets to entertain the onlookers. Other fun events during this month-long celebration include karaoke competitions and martial art demonstrations.

Family photoshoot by Marta, Localgrapher in Sydney

Get your holiday photographer ready, because this romantic city unexpectedly turns into a city of celebration. The streets turn into a haven for parades and festivities by the French-Chinese community. People crowd the streets to watch this spectacular display of elaborate decorations and floats. Dancers are dressed as lions and dragons, and there are firecracker displays.

However, Paris isn’t only about flashy parades and elaborate decorations. Hidden away from the tourists and unsuspecting residents are two Buddhist temples located in the 13th district. Families from Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian backgrounds come to this peaceful place to pay their respects and welcome in the New Year.

Family photoshoot by Segolene & Walid, Localgraphers in Paris

Ready for a jam-packed day that will keep you entertained from morning till night? London hosts a one-day festival loaded with traditional activities. This includes an annual parade, performances, and authentic crafts and food. You can find these happenings and more in three main areas of the city; Trafalgar Square, Chinatown, and Shaftesbury Avenue. Each section is unique and offers specific events that can only be found there. 

Besides all the booming entertainment, authentic food is a staple in London’s Chinatown. Be sure to book as early as possible to secure a table at one of the delicious restaurants. Chinatown gets decked out in the most tremendous decorations with lucky red lanterns and banners. Chinese dance groups and performers are found on the many stages throughout. Your holiday photographer will be beaming with ideas on what photos to take.

Family photoshoot by Natasha, Localgrapher in London

Home to the largest Chinatown in Thailand, Bangkok celebrates the Chinese New Year on three dedicated days. Most of the excitement falls on the actual New Year day. The Thai Princess begins the festivities and can be seen throughout the events partaking in the fun. During the day, temples are full of visitors and the parades fill the streets around noon. The parades will consist of dancers, floats, lanterns, and drummers.

Lanterns light up the night and display a beautiful shade of red. The long dragon popularizes the nighttime parade, becoming brought to life with LED lights. A main stage near the Chinatown Gate offers shows with acrobats and musicians performing all night. The temples surrounding the area provide a place of refuge from the busy street. Decorated with flowers and are all lit up, you’ll be sure to spot one or two.

Family photoshoot by Tom, Localgrapher in Bangkok