Home Asian Decor

So you want to decorate your home using an oriental flair, but don’t want to overwhelm your space with Asian décor, bold colors, and clutter? It’s not an impossible feat, we promise. The reason why? Think about the Japanese style of decorating. Before I got “into” decorating, I had a British friend visit who remarked that my condo was “practically Japanese”. I had to ask her what she meant. What she was referring to was actually not any Asian trinkets I had, but the fact that my house was so…..bare. But, hey, I had practically just moved in!

But there it is….the secret to a simple Asian home decor. The Japanese don’t do it, so you can just take a cue from them.

So the very first thing you need to do to get started is to go get a big box and clear away all of your clutter. Take away as much as you can, focusing on items that in no way, shape, or form, would fit into an oriental motif. Of the things you simply must leave behind, make sure everything has its own “space”. Unless the items are part of a set meant to be displayed together, each item should have breathing room away from other items to keep the area feeling open and spacious.

Next, you should go and pick out some Asian items to decorate with. Here’s some of our recommendations:

• Houseplants – If you don’t have a green thumb, or don’t have the best conditions for houseplants (like your little kitty Fluffy keeps eating them), you can always go fake. Of course, the natural tendency when one thinks of “houseplant” and “asian” is to go “bonsai!”, but you don’t have to paint yourself into that corner. Why not try an Asian money tree or if you like fresh flowers, an oriental lily? Remember to count the plant as a decoration and thus give it its own “space” as mentioned above. Water fountains -
• Water fountains are a very traditional feng shui application. Not only are they beautiful, their sound is so soothing after a stressful day. A few drops of bleach in the water will keep away the bacteria and algae that can turn a water green and stinky.
• Japanese Tea Sets/Sake Sets – These are perfect for adorning a kitchen or dining area, even if you never use them. (Dust them off to fool guests!) They come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and patterns, anything from nice earthy tones to a bold blacks and reds. You can even have a dragon tea set!
• Chinese Gongs – You don’t have to have a huge one! These gongs come in small sizes too, perfect for a desk, end table, or even at that perfect mantle centerpiece. This is another traditional feng shui addition, too.
• Figurines – Buddha figurines are very traditional, but if you’re looking for something more secular, Asian figurines come in all shapes and sizes.

Remember to keep it simple; you only really need four or five items to bring an Asian feel to any space, and the simpler you keep the room, the more each of those items will speak out. Experiment with the placement of the items to find each one’s “perfect spot”.

Following these tips can bring Asian beauty to any space, is budget-friendly, and keeps your room from being over-dominated in the theme.