Celebrate the Chinese New Year with these home design ideas

19 Feb 2026

Chinese New Year is all about fresh starts, good fortune and filling your space with meaning. Your home is the perfect place to join in the celebration too! This year, take design cues from centuries old traditions and give them a modern twist with colour, pattern and texture.

Bold reds, joyful lanterns and intricate wallpapers inspired by classic Chinese art, these ideas show how Resene paints and wallpapers can help you welcome the Year of the Horse in a way that feels festive, personal and beautifully considered.

Year of the horse

This mural is the perfect way to celebrate 2026, the year of the horse. Key design elements to incorporate in your home could be warm, vibrant colours like red, orange, yellow and earthy tones, equestrian-inspired design like this mural, Resene Cirque Act II Wallpaper Collection 63095, as well as materials like leather, wood and brass.

Lucky garden

This DIY lantern stand will brighten up your garden. Since the very first paper lanterns were made over 2000 thousand years ago, they've become ubiquitous in Chinese culture and around the world, particularly in times of celebration. They represent family gathering and a brighter future and can also symbolise people letting go of the past and creating new goals for the year ahead.

The colour of the new year is almost always red to symbolise good fortune, and this red lantern stand painted in Resene Bullseye will stand out amongst your garden greenery. Click here to make your own lantern.

In the details

Give your bedroom an elegant makeover with this Chinese-inspired wallpaper design, where delicate florals and intricate porcelain patterns come together. The dusky pink backdrop of Resene Pip Studio 6 Wallpaper Collection 333143 adds warmth, infusing the space with a gentle and soothing atmosphere. The floral motifs, inspired by traditional Chinese art, gracefully dance across the wallpaper, bringing nature's beauty indoors.

Published: 19 Feb 2026