Chinese-themed Tablescapes for Lunar New Year
The holiday season isn’t over! Yes, there’s another major celebration coming up for those of Chinese ancestry—the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. For 2020, the revelry will actually extend from January 25th, which is the official start of the Chinese lunar calendar, all the way until February 8th. So within those two weeks, there will be lots of time to gather family and friends for a Chinese New Year party.
Wow everyone by setting out Chinese-inspired decorations and a traditional tablescape—like these amazing examples we found—laden with Chinese food favorites. Let the inspiration begin!
Tablescape Inspiration for a Lunar New Year Gathering
Chinese table setting elements are quite distinct. So you can actually have just a few key accent pieces to create the themed look for the occasion. We’ve pointed out the touches that caught our eye in the tablescapes below.
photo via Le Fidele Designs
This inviting spread found on Le Fidele Designs shows the use of the color orange in place of the traditional red. Central to this is a fancy-looking table runner (which is actually a metallic gold-sprayed mesh fabric), the Chinese dinnerware and serving platters, and actual fresh oranges scattered on the tabletop.
photo via from The Welcomed Guest
More dramatic is this eclectic tablescape from The Welcomed Guest that isn’t strictly Chinese (for one thing, black is almost never used), but includes these key touches—red dishes on ornate gold chargers, chopsticks, little money envelopes, and piles of oranges (for wealth), apples (for peace), and tangerines (for good fortune).
photo via Olla Podrida
Also in red and black is this lighter-looking table setting by Pattie Tierney of Olla Podrida—using Chinese-print fabric remnants for the table linens, red and white plates, paper fans, chopsticks, wooden utensils, and bowls old fresh lychees.
photo via Fabby’s Living
For an intimate Lunar New Year table on Fabby’s Living, see how a single decorative piece (here, a tall rice harvest girl figurine) serves as a striking focal point. Added Oriental touches are the ceramic teapots and cups, quilted placemats with Chinese pagodas, and red napkins with gold rings.
photo via Parties 2 Plan
If minimalist is more your style, check out this simple tablescape from Parties 2 Plan. Red Chinese-inspired plates, bowls and little sauce dishes join the gold chargers and votive holders to set the theme. While a single white orchid leaves ample space for the party food!
photo via Dishing with Diane
Traditional colors set the look for this Chinese-themed tablescape from Dishing with Diane, beginning with a solid red tablecloth. Added to this are gold chargers, black plates, Chinese zodiac paper plates (for 2020, it’s the Year of the Rat), white and black paper fans, and a bamboo plant centerpiece flanked by oranges and apples.
photo via Pottery Barn Kids
Will there be children among your guests? Set up a special table like this one inspired by Pottery Barn Kids, with fun Chinese-print party plates and placemats, DIY paper lanterns, paper fortune cookies, a dragon puppet, and mini Chinese takeout boxes for treats.
Here’s wishing you all good fortune, health, prosperity and success this Lunar New Year 2020!
Thank you for sharing my photo and giving me proper credit for the use. Stay well. Regards Diane of DishingwithDiane.com