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Asian Decorating
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Published: November 29, 2006
Looking for a little Zen in your life? How about a room with some feng shui?
Zen, the Buddhist idea of finding peace through focused awareness, corresponds with a style of Asian design known as feng shui, which is an ancient oriental term meaning "the way of wind and water."
Feng shui is all about energy, the flow of energy and how it affects humans. Zen and feng shui are words that can help you understand the practice of Asian decorating.
At its root, Asian decorating focuses on how people interact with their surroundings and how they utilize their living space. It is about lines and shapes being harmonious, and celebrating cultural vitality and history. Natural elements like bamboo, stones, water, natural lighting and depictions of animals and plants form the living space. Asian decorating is meant to encourage a calm connection with the outside world.
Asian decorating can encompass many design styles. Its influences come from a variety of distinct cultures from the Orient: Japan, China, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand.
Two ways to classify Asian decorating is to differentiate between Japanese and Chinese styles.
One of the primary types of Asian decorating, Japanese decor is simple and muted. Its proportions are based on mimicking the human size. This appears in Japanese rooms as natural fiber mats called tatami mats. The color scheme is based on nature with muted greens and tans, often including actual natural elements like Bamboo and stone. Smaller bursts of brighter color, like red or blue, can be used to add more visual interest and direct the eye around in the room. Because of this desire to keep living spaces as simple and clean as possible, furniture is minimal and quiet. Tables are close to the floor, with simple mats for seating.
Adding a shoji screen to any room will increase its flair of Asian decorating while simultaneously creating a private space or dividing a larger room. A shoji screen is made from opaque white rice paper and wood with rows of small-framed squares. Many times it will include two pieces that can be slid open and closed.
Natural lighting is important when creating a calm, relaxing environment, thus natural fiber window shades are used to give privacy without blocking too much light. Electric lighting should be muted with soft bulbs or by using rice-paper lamps. Besides bamboo, stone, wood and rice paper, silk fabrics are another important element capable of adding the finishing touch to a Japanese interior. Traditional Japanese silks often are embroidered with intricate floral or natural designs that add visual interest to an otherwise simple palate.
Chinese decor is more highly stylized and elaborate. Furnishings often are intricately carved. Dark woods and high-gloss finishes contrast with bright colors like red, green, yellow and black for a dramatic effect. Red often is used as a symbol of good luck.
History and mythology are important elements of Chinese décor. Accessories, materials and other decorative materials often depict statues of animals or mythical creatures. Art is often large-scale, such as a mural showing a scene from Chinese history or legend.
Sources:
http://interiordec.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite. htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=interiordec&zu=http%3A%2F% />http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/topics/article/0,2496,H GTV_22932_4011973,00.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_styles_asian/article /0,1793,HGTV_3509_2697966,00.html
Zen, the Buddhist idea of finding peace through focused awareness, corresponds with a style of Asian design known as feng shui, which is an ancient oriental term meaning "the way of wind and water."
Related Articles
Feng shui is all about energy, the flow of energy and how it affects humans. Zen and feng shui are words that can help you understand the practice of Asian decorating.
At its root, Asian decorating focuses on how people interact with their surroundings and how they utilize their living space. It is about lines and shapes being harmonious, and celebrating cultural vitality and history. Natural elements like bamboo, stones, water, natural lighting and depictions of animals and plants form the living space. Asian decorating is meant to encourage a calm connection with the outside world.
Asian decorating can encompass many design styles. Its influences come from a variety of distinct cultures from the Orient: Japan, China, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand.
Two ways to classify Asian decorating is to differentiate between Japanese and Chinese styles.
One of the primary types of Asian decorating, Japanese decor is simple and muted. Its proportions are based on mimicking the human size. This appears in Japanese rooms as natural fiber mats called tatami mats. The color scheme is based on nature with muted greens and tans, often including actual natural elements like Bamboo and stone. Smaller bursts of brighter color, like red or blue, can be used to add more visual interest and direct the eye around in the room. Because of this desire to keep living spaces as simple and clean as possible, furniture is minimal and quiet. Tables are close to the floor, with simple mats for seating.
Adding a shoji screen to any room will increase its flair of Asian decorating while simultaneously creating a private space or dividing a larger room. A shoji screen is made from opaque white rice paper and wood with rows of small-framed squares. Many times it will include two pieces that can be slid open and closed.
Natural lighting is important when creating a calm, relaxing environment, thus natural fiber window shades are used to give privacy without blocking too much light. Electric lighting should be muted with soft bulbs or by using rice-paper lamps. Besides bamboo, stone, wood and rice paper, silk fabrics are another important element capable of adding the finishing touch to a Japanese interior. Traditional Japanese silks often are embroidered with intricate floral or natural designs that add visual interest to an otherwise simple palate.
Chinese decor is more highly stylized and elaborate. Furnishings often are intricately carved. Dark woods and high-gloss finishes contrast with bright colors like red, green, yellow and black for a dramatic effect. Red often is used as a symbol of good luck.
History and mythology are important elements of Chinese décor. Accessories, materials and other decorative materials often depict statues of animals or mythical creatures. Art is often large-scale, such as a mural showing a scene from Chinese history or legend.
Sources:
http://interiordec.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite. htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=interiordec&zu=http%3A%2F% />http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/topics/article/0,2496,H GTV_22932_4011973,00.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_styles_asian/article /0,1793,HGTV_3509_2697966,00.html
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