Interior Design Around the World – Oriental Influence

If you are looking for some exotic interior design ideas, look to the East, and the influence that Oriental architecture, artwork and design has had on today’s modern interiors.

From Zen to Feng Shui, pottery to sculptures, wall decor to wood floor choices, color and furniture…we wanted to share some of our favorite interiors, products, and trends for bringing an Eastern influence into your interior.

Atmosphere

One of the most popular elements of Oriental design could be the semblance of peace and tranquility that can come from that type of environment.  With statues and artwork that tell a story, calming wheat and cream hues, and soft lighting and smooth hardwood floors, when you walk into a room like this it might lower your blood pressure just a bit.  With Oriental Design you can use the principal of Feng Shui to guide you by combing elements that create a feeling of balance and harmony.   Many designers also recommend choosing decorative elements that add strength to a room, like a classic Buddhist sculpture or decorative wall plaques.

Pottery & Statues

It goes without saying that pottery and statues have a strong influence in Oriental interiors.   They can capture the very essence of Eastern culture.  Buddhist sculptures are probably the most common.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You might find decorative elements representing the four elements – earth, wind, fire and rain.  You will find ornaments crafted in the shape of dragons, cranes, cats and other animals.  Find out more about the meaning of animals as they might impact creating an Oriental interior.  Or infuse your room with strength and find a statue of a medieval samurai warrior.

The blue and white pottery and ceramics are also popular for interior design.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps a restoration quality or authentic antique vase would look lovely on a shelf in the living room.  Or you can store Peony’s atop the fireplace mantle.  Or perhaps a beautiful vase as a decorative table or footstool in front of the living room, like in this home from HGTV.

 

Walls

The when it comes bringing an Oriental influence into your home, the interior walls present an amazing canvas.   Why not consider some decorative wall plaques, which are available in a countless array of styles.  From animals, to flowers, Geisha’s and samurai’s, these plaques are a great way to introduce a story into your home, while also introducing some color and art. In the Upward Bound House by Elizabeth Bomberger, she beautiful wall plaques are a beautiful contrast to the blue color on the wall, and the red in the plaque is complemented by the lamp and bed pillows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When considering your walls you can also consider an authentic Oriental style mural like in the dining room of this home from Saint Dizier Design.

Or you can opt for a decorative bronze sculpture, like this room on HGTV.  These are available in a variety of shapes, patterns and prints…many of which have a deeper underlying meaning, so choose wisely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or why not consider something really unique and use these bamboo style chutes as your wall.  They are a great fit for this Los Angeles home designed by Arch-Interior Design Group, Inc, adding a unique touch while better defining the bedroom and bathroom on either side.

Decorative Oriental fans are also popular to hang on walls due the intricate detailing and artwork that comes to life.

Color & Pattern

The use of color, and combining a variety of colors, is popular for Oriental interiors.  Soft color tones like beige, white, wheat and other neutral tones tend to take up the primary color palette.

But you can accent this with bold colors on an accent wall, tapestry, textile, artwork, pottery or any other decorative element.

According to Making Tea Design red and black are good choices to infuse a space with color.  You can see an example of this in this Japanese Room designed by John Lum Architecture, Inc.

This room from AS Design Group is a great example of starting with a light color palette in the walls and furniture and adding colors with the dark wood shelves, artwork and pillows.

 

When thinking about color in your room, think about how this will impact your wood floor selection.  Light floors like maple hardwood floors are a great backdrop for an Oriental style room, because it complements the neutral color palette.

Or if you are using light colors throughout you might want to consider a beautiful dark wood floor, like Walnut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another popular element of Oriental design is the inclusion of patterns.  These can be incorporated in the handles on cabinets (see above), to the decorative framing around doorways, like in this designed by Harte Brownlee & Associates Interior Design.

Or you can incorporate geometric shapes into the textiles or the overall design of the interior walls or flooring, just like in this bathroom from Exit Interior Design.

Furniture

There are so many styles of Oriental furniture, it would be impossible to fit them into our blog, so we’ve chosen a few of the most iconic.

 

Tansu Step is a popular 19th century Japanese style of furniture that is both functional and decorative.  They are available in a variety of colors, and with a variety of hardware.  This form of furniture would work great in small condos and townhouses where space is limited.  You can view more options here.

Just as popular is the Mizuya Chest, like this one from Green Tea Designs.  It allows for even great storage capacity, while also helping to maintain a neat and orderly room with closed compartments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also love the furniture we found at Design in Boulder, Colorado. They actually have a great assortment of Oriental inspired furniture, bedding, floor decor and more.

This Kenso Japanese platform bed is an iconic piece of furniture, and very popular especially in today’s modern interiors.

We also love this couch – available in three colors of white, red, or black.  The architecture is stylish yet simple.

 

 

What do you love about Oriental Interiors?  Have you been influenced for your home?