[For Seniors] Recommended Wall Decorations and Crafts for January
We’d like to introduce wall decorations that are perfect for January, the month when we welcome a brand-new year!
We’ve gathered auspicious New Year–themed pieces as well as works that let you feel the season of January.
Many January decorations feature vibrant colors that will brighten up your space.
We offer a wide range: items you shape by hand, projects with simple steps, and pieces that require fine finger work.
New Year’s decorations often feature traditional Japanese motifs such as shimenawa and shishimai.
Some older adults may find themselves reminiscing as they create.
Why not enjoy making them while sharing stories and memories?
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- Recommended winter wall decorations for seniors: heartwarming ideas
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- [For Seniors] Recommended Origami for January
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- [For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games
- For Seniors: Wall Decorations to Brighten Up February — Festive Ideas for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, Plum Blossoms, and More
[For Seniors] Recommended Wall Decorations and Crafts for January (111–120)
Red and white Japanese-style wall decoration
The origin of Japan’s red-and-white pairing is said to go back to the Genpei War, where the Taira clan flew red banners and the Minamoto clan flew white ones.
Over time, this opposing red and white came to be used for celebrations.
In Japanese life, the colors red and white are deeply woven in—calling newborns “akachan” (red babies), using white for burial garments, and cooking red rice for festivities, among others.
So how about making wall decorations using red-and-white streamers or colored paper? With rooms and walls adorned in red and white, you can ring in a dynamic New Year with the same energy as the year-end Red and White Song Contest.
Decorating with red-and-white origami cranes and turtles also feels perfectly fitting for the New Year!
New Year’s Mount Fuji decoration made of paper
Here’s a wall decoration idea featuring Mount Fuji, a familiar motif for the New Year.
Since it involves crafts using various types of paper—origami, cardstock, crepe paper, and more—the main tasks are cutting and pasting, making it perfect for older adults to enjoy creating.
First, apply your choice of paper to a cut piece of cardboard to make the base, then combine elements like Mount Fuji, the first sunrise of the year, and the zodiac animal for that year.
You can finish it with a traditional Japanese look using washi or chiyogami, or go for a modern Japanese vibe by pairing it with Western-style flowers—both are great! The charm of this project lies in the freedom to arrange and design it exactly the way you like.
God of Good Fortune in Paper Clay
If you’re a fan of kyōgen, the play “Fuku no Kami” might come to mind first.
How about stepping away from kyōgen for a bit and making a God of Good Fortune out of paper clay? The fluffy feel of paper clay even has a certain nostalgic charm.
Speaking of gods of good fortune, there’s Otafuku, the Seven Lucky Gods, and more.
It’s fine to make whatever you like, but it could be fun to have everyone create the Seven Lucky Gods together—“I’ll make Daikokuten,” “I’ll do Bishamonten,” and so on.
You could divide into groups of seven and make lots of sets of the Seven Lucky Gods.
With a little creativity, enjoy a lucky, springtime-themed recreation activity!
Strawberry and Rabbit
Why not try making a spring-perfect wall decoration with rabbits and strawberries? Use red construction paper for the strawberries and pink or white for the rabbits.
It’s a good idea to prepare the templates in advance.
For the strawberry seeds, simply dip the tip of a cotton swab in India ink or stamp ink and dab it on.
Assemble the rabbit so it’s holding the strawberry, draw the rabbit’s eyes and nose, and you’re done.
Even with the same template, it’s fun to see how each person’s creation shows their individuality.
Super easy Daruma-san
This is a decorative daruma that uses both sides of the origami paper to create color contrast, with a striking three-dimensional look.
First, make creases that connect the corners, and use those as guides to shape it into a daruma.
It’s also important to fold parts back so the white side shows; how you reveal this white area will change the expression.
Once the overall shape is set while letting some white show, the base is complete.
After that, draw the face and patterns with a pen.
The way you draw them adds originality, so it’s fun to see what kind of daruma each person creates.
Tatsu Kazari
Let’s make a stylish and cute dragon decoration by simply cutting colored construction paper in a spiral! It’s an easy craft that seniors can enjoy, so feel free to use it for day-service craft activities.
To make it, draw a spiral on a square piece of colored construction paper and cut along the line with scissors—that’s it! You can customize the dragon’s head as you like.
Adding plastic dividers used for lunchboxes (baran) to the dragon’s body will enhance the look.
Attach a string to turn it into a hanging decoration, and display it in your room to enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.
Dragon Origami
Among the twelve zodiac animals, the dragon (tatsu) is the only mythical creature.
It has a dynamic and cool image, doesn’t it? Let’s enjoy making a dragon with origami.
Origami is also effective for seniors as finger dexterity training and for dementia prevention! Use a regular-sized sheet of origami paper for the dragon’s head and a smaller sheet for the body.
The key for the head is to make firm creases as you fold.
Finally, combine the body with the head and add details like eyes, nose, mouth, and whiskers to finish! Its look is more cute than cool, so it’s also recommended as a gift for your grandchildren.