Trying to figure out how to break out of the decorating doldrums?  Taking your living room or bedroom on an Oriental adventure could be the perfect excursion.  With it's exotic flavor, Asian decor can be a beautiful decorating choice, but requires some restraint.  When it comes to the perfect Asian influenced decor, simplicity is critical.  When it comes to Asian design, less is more.

Color:  For the walls, think beige or tan, inspired by aged bamboo or rice parchment. This will create a nice base color for the room that can be accented with some bolder, Asian inspired colors.  Liberal use of black and white in furniture and accents can be desirable.  Green factors heavily into many Asian designs. They can range from the vivid greens of the bamboo jungle to the subtle luxury of a jade sculpture.  A touch of bold red and some gold also conjure up images of the Orient.

Floors: An obvious choice is bamboo flooring which looks great but can be costly.  Bamboo-look laminate flooring is less expensive alternative, but any wood flooring is suitable in your new Asian room.  Terracotta tiling is another great option, but light stone and ceramic tile look great too.  It might seem like an oriental rug is a requirement, but avoid the temptation and potential expense.  A natural fiber rig is likely to be a more pleasing solution.The natural fiber and neutral tones make this a well-suited rug choice that supports the Asian design.It shouldn't be hard to find a rug that's 6' x 9' for around $200.  If you're on a budget, consider a wool blend or synthetic version.

Silk drapes in dramatic colors can be the perfect look for window treatments. Consider using gold cord and tassels to pull them back and take advantage of the ambient light.   To set a mood that's more relaxed, use roll-up bamboo shades. Plain blinds are fine, but you can also find bamboo blinds painted with oriental calligraphy or other Asian symbols and scenes if you want a bolder look.

Lighting: Oriental lanterns come in all shapes, colors and sizes. You'll find one to suit your budget for sure.   these are great.  Consider using candles to set the perfect mood.  Avoid obviously contemporary or modern lamps and lighting.  A lighted water treatment can really set the mood in a room and makes a great substitute for a lamp.

If you're going to break the budget, this is where you might want to do it.  Traditional lacquered furniture is a mainstay of Asian décor.  Finished in polished black, red, gold or white — it can be a statement piece that brings the room together.  Armoires, curios, desks, small tables, or stools are all options.  These pieces are usually hand painted with unique designs, florals and landscapes or with scenes of every day Chinese life.  Expand on the look with Wicker or bamboo furniture which perfectly complements a room decorated in Asian decor.

Decorations: This is an opportunity to exercise your inner designer and have a blast.  A Shonji divider can be used to separate the room and create more intimate areas. Buddha decor can be a fun, funky option.  Considering displaying a few Buddha figurines in various poses. For a chance at wealth and good fortune consider a laughing Buddha statue.  Feng Shui princicples are based on promoting positive energy but there ideas are equally suited to good design.

Carvings in jade, porcelain statues and figurines, silk paintings and Asian wall art are all great choices.  The addition of a porcelain vase or oriental fishbowl makes a strong Asian inspired decor accessory.  A bonsai tree is just right. Tea and Ginger jars are great for tables and storage. Asian plants are inspired too. The only thing standing in the way of your perfect Asian inspired room is lack of imagination.

Have fun with the decorating possibilities, just keep in mind that to get an authentic Asian feel you need to exercise some restraint.  It's important to make sure that the space is free of clutter, otherwise you won't get the same effect.  Don't overdo it. Use a few key decorative accessories to project your theme. You can always add more later.

Tags: asian decor, asian decorating, asian decoration, asian-themed interior design, interior design, oriental decorating

Trying to figure out how to break out of the decorating doldrums?  Taking your living room or bedroom on an Oriental adventure could be the perfect excursion.  With it's exotic flavor, Asian decor can be a beautiful decorating choice, but requires some restraint.  When it comes to the perfect Asian influenced decor, simplicity is critical.  When it comes to Asian design, less is more.

Color:  For the walls, think beige or tan, inspired by aged bamboo or rice parchment. This will create a nice base color for the room that can be accented with some bolder, Asian inspired colors.  Liberal use of black and white in furniture and accents can be desirable.  Green factors heavily into many Asian designs. They can range from the vivid greens of the bamboo jungle to the subtle luxury of a jade sculpture.  A touch of bold red and some gold also conjure up images of the Orient.

Floors: An obvious choice is bamboo flooring which looks great but can be costly.  Bamboo-look laminate flooring is less expensive alternative, but any wood flooring is suitable in your new Asian room.  Terracotta tiling is another great option, but light stone and ceramic tile look great too.  It might seem like an oriental rug is a requirement, but avoid the temptation and potential expense.  A natural fiber rig is likely to be a more pleasing solution.The natural fiber and neutral tones make this a well-suited rug choice that supports the Asian design.It shouldn't be hard to find a rug that's 6' x 9' for around $200.  If you're on a budget, consider a wool blend or synthetic version.

Silk drapes in dramatic colors can be the perfect look for window treatments. Consider using gold cord and tassels to pull them back and take advantage of the ambient light.   To set a mood that's more relaxed, use roll-up bamboo shades. Plain blinds are fine, but you can also find bamboo blinds painted with oriental calligraphy or other Asian symbols and scenes if you want a bolder look.

Lighting: Oriental lanterns come in all shapes, colors and sizes. You'll find one to suit your budget for sure.   these are great.  Consider using candles to set the perfect mood.  Avoid obviously contemporary or modern lamps and lighting.  A lighted water treatment can really set the mood in a room and makes a great substitute for a lamp.

If you're going to break the budget, this is where you might want to do it.  Traditional lacquered furniture is a mainstay of Asian d©cor.  Finished in polished black, red, gold or white — it can be a statement piece that brings the room together.  Armoires, curios, desks, small tables, or stools are all options.  These pieces are usually hand painted with unique designs, florals and landscapes or with scenes of every day Chinese life.  Expand on the look with Wicker or bamboo furniture which perfectly complements a room decorated in Asian decor.

Decorations: This is an opportunity to exercise your inner designer and have a blast.  A Shonji divider can be used to separate the room and create more intimate areas. A Buddha statue or Kuan Yin sculpture make great Asian decor accents.  For a chance at wealth and good fortune consider a laughing Buddha statue.  It's worth doing some research on Feng Shui to get a feel for how this decorating philosophy can be leveraged.

Carvings in jade, porcelain statues and figurines, silk paintings and Asian wall art are all great choices.  A Chinese vase or fishbowl on a stand will work well too.  Ginger or tea jars, bonsai trees, bamboo plants, Asian clocks and mirros are all excellent decorating options. The only limit is your imagination.

Have fun with the decorating possibilities, just keep in mind that to get an authentic Asian feel you need to exercise some restraint.  It's important to make sure that the space is free of clutter, otherwise you won't get the same effect.  Don't overdo it. Use a few key decorative accessories to project your theme. You can always add more later.

 

Tags: asian decor, asian decorating, asian decoration, asian-themed interior design, interior design, oriental decorating