Lunar New Year Home Preparation Checklist

Why Preparation Matters

In Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions, the state of your home at the turn of the new year sets the tone for the twelve months ahead. A clean, well-decorated house welcomes good fortune. Clutter and dust are believed to harbour the stale energy of the old year.

Four Weeks Before: The Big Declutter

Start with storage areas and work toward living spaces. Donate clothes you have not worn in a year. Discard broken items, which symbolically represent stagnation. Fix leaking taps, squeaky doors, and burned-out light bulbs — completing repairs signals readiness for fresh beginnings.

Two Weeks Before: The Deep Clean

The traditional deep clean should be completed before New Year's Eve. Once the new year begins, sweeping is avoided for the first few days to prevent sweeping away newly arrived good luck. Clean top to bottom, front to back — pushing the old year's energy out. Polish every mirror and window to let positive energy flow in.

One Week Before: Decorations

Red Everywhere

Hang red lanterns at the entrance, place red tablecloths on dining surfaces, and affix chunlian — red paper couplets with gold calligraphy — on either side of the front door. These carry wishes for health, wealth, and happiness.

Lucky Plants and the Character Fu

A small kumquat tree near the entrance symbolises wealth. Branches of plum blossoms represent renewal. The character fu, meaning good fortune, is hung upside down on the front door — the word for "upside down" sounds like "arrive," implying fortune has arrived.

Three Days Before: Pantry and Kitchen

Stock glutinous rice flour for nian gao, dumpling wrappers, Napa cabbage, minced pork, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Oranges, tangerines, and pomelos are essential — their round shape and golden colour symbolise coins. Display them throughout the house. Plan the New Year's Eve reunion dinner carefully. A whole steamed fish represents abundance, dumplings shaped like ancient gold ingots symbolise wealth, and longevity noodles must never be cut.

New Year's Eve: Final Touches

- Place red envelopes with crisp new banknotes near the entrance - Set out a tray of togetherness with dried fruits, seeds, and candies - Test all lights and lanterns - Lay out new clothes for each family member - Stay up past midnight to welcome the new year together Avoid sweeping, taking out trash, or using sharp objects on the first day. The celebrations extend through the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day.