Take a Room in Your Home on an Asian Adventure

Wondering how you can improve the look of your home with something exotic and unique?  Why not take your home on an exotic adventure to the Far East?  Asian decor is an elegant simple solution to bring life to a room. Just resist the urge to over-decorate.  In truth, it’s the simplicity of design and uncluttered feel that make the most of Asian design.  With Asian inspired style, less is more.

Color:  For the walls, think beige or tan, inspired by aged bamboo or rice parchment. These neutral tones will create a good base color that can be decorated with bolder Asian color combinations.  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.  Use a health splash of red and gold to transport your guests to the Far East.

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.  Stone and ceramic tile look great to terra-cotta tile will really make a statement.  While an oriental rug might seem like an obvious choice, consider passing on it.  A natural fiber rig is likely to be a more pleasing solution.This loomed, natural fiber alternative offers a simple solution that supports your design theme well.You should be able to find a 6′ x 9′ rug in the $200 range.  If you’re on a budget, consider a wool blend or synthetic version.

Windows:   Embrace the ambient light in the room and use light silk drapes tied back with gold cord with tassels.   For a more casual vibe, consider 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 perfect.  Candle Lantern style lighting can be combined to good effect as well.  Try not to use lighting that’s contemporary or associated with a specific era.  A lighted water fountain can be a gread stand-in for a lamp that creates a true Asian atmosphere.

If you’re going to break the budget, this is where you might want to do it.  Lacquered furniture is recognizable for its ornate, glossy look.  Often finished in a polished black tone, it can make a grand statement sure to please the eye.  Think about a small table, trunk, armoire or stool.  These furnishings generally painted with scenes of life, landscape or floral designs.  Wicker and Bamboo furniture will be perfectly welcome in your Asian decorated room as well.

Decorations: This is your opportunity to shine and have some fun.  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.  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.  Add an oriental fishbowl or porcelain vase. It makes a great Asian decor accent.  Bonsai trees, Asian plants, tea jars, Asian clocks and mirrors work great 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.  Let a few key pieces in the room carry the theme and emphasize the approach that less is more.