The Spring Festival is on the horizon, and the decoration market is gearing up. New apartment owners have already commenced decorating for the traditional Chinese holiday. They are keeping design and decoration companies so busy with work that most companies have stopped taking new orders.

Liu Li bought an apartment in Luohu District three months ago. She has spent about two months furnishing her new apartment, but still needs to put the finishing touches. Liu, a native of Hubei Province, had planned to go back to her hometown for the holiday, but she changed her mind when she heard that celebrating the New Year's Eve in a new apartment brings fortune to its owners. Now she hopes to finish decorating as soon as possible so she can move into the new apartment on time.

Liu said she had no experience in decorating, but found many articles online about home decor. She joined a group shopping network which included people from her community, and this afforded her bargains when purchasing cupboards, kitchenware and wooden floor boards. "Although I am tired, I feel happy and satisfied," she said.

A Mr. Wang from a decoration company said the peak business period is always September, October and November, as all projects are to be done before Spring Festival. To guarantee faster service, many homeowners tell contractors their parents are arriving in Shenzhen to celebrate the holiday. According to Wang, oil paint, cement and other decorating materials contain less moisture in the autumn, which is another reason why so many people prefer to decorate their new apartments during that time.

A Mr. Zheng from another decoration company said the number contracts they signed in the second half year are more than twice that of the first half of the year.

Editor: Wing