East Meets West: Adding Asian Design to a Modern Home
Many people living in the United States and Europe are really interested in a different way of life - one that comes to us from the Far East. We take yoga classes and wear Asian-print fabrics and find ourselves longing for the kind of spirituality that emanates from another part of the world.
We may not want to go all out in adopting an Eastern way of living but many of us do seek a balance between our Western beliefs and the Eastern philosophies that we have learned about over the years. I believe it is possible to bring some Asian design techniques into our homes to assist us in creating that balance.
Just how to do this varies considerably among different homes. Some people really want to go all out using Asian motifs in every room and creating a sacred space for meditation. Others seek to bring a more subdued level of simplicity to their homes using Asian-inspired materials or colors in the decor.
This ideabook shows some of the different options along that spectrum and highlights some of my favorite methods of adding a bit of the Far East to a Western home.
We may not want to go all out in adopting an Eastern way of living but many of us do seek a balance between our Western beliefs and the Eastern philosophies that we have learned about over the years. I believe it is possible to bring some Asian design techniques into our homes to assist us in creating that balance.
Just how to do this varies considerably among different homes. Some people really want to go all out using Asian motifs in every room and creating a sacred space for meditation. Others seek to bring a more subdued level of simplicity to their homes using Asian-inspired materials or colors in the decor.
This ideabook shows some of the different options along that spectrum and highlights some of my favorite methods of adding a bit of the Far East to a Western home.
One of the easiest ways that you can begin to incorporate a bit of that simple Asian design into your home is to use materials that call up just such a feeling. Bamboo, such as that which is used here in the cabinetry of the bathroom, is a great material to use in this way. With colors that compliment the natural look of the bamboo, this bathroom offers a serene escape from the rest of life.
The home office isn't a space that you typically think of influencing with Asian decor. But why not? You may find that your whole mentality towards work shifts after you add some Asian influences to the design in your office.
In this case, an emphasis on the color red sets the tone of the room. The carpet here, with its nature-influenced designs, really changes the mood of the space. It's a place where I can see work and play coming together as one!
In this case, an emphasis on the color red sets the tone of the room. The carpet here, with its nature-influenced designs, really changes the mood of the space. It's a place where I can see work and play coming together as one!
The media room of the home is another space that you wouldn't typically think of filling with Asian decor but this example here shows how it can be done in a truly stylish way.
I love the nature-inspired art laid out on the neutral walls here. I also love the flowery pillows that compliment the clean lines of the furniture so well. I think it provides a nice serene balance for the aggressive, violent, passionate movies and television shows that we often watch in our homes!
I love the nature-inspired art laid out on the neutral walls here. I also love the flowery pillows that compliment the clean lines of the furniture so well. I think it provides a nice serene balance for the aggressive, violent, passionate movies and television shows that we often watch in our homes!
This image here shows that you don't have to make a lot of big changes to your home to bring in some of the serenity of the Asian decor style. Adding a simple table runner and a few candles to your dining space and using dishes that go with your theme can help you bring your focus back to the basics without requiring you to make a big investment in design changes to your home.
Another way that you can add some Asian flavor to your home without changing too much about the space is to put some Asian dishes and antiques on display. Some people choose a specific cabinet or room of the home to do this in. I, on the other hand, just scatter my stuff about the apartment and enjoy it whenever I enter different rooms.
Perhaps you think that Asian style must mean "zen" style and you're not really in favor of the simplistic approach to home design. This room here shows how you can have a lot of different items in one space and still have a sense of peace in the active room.
Many of the touches here are Asian-inspired. Just take a look at the art on the wall, the red umbrella in the fireplace and the design of the pillows on the seating areas. These items all pull together to create a solid look for a modern home.
Many of the touches here are Asian-inspired. Just take a look at the art on the wall, the red umbrella in the fireplace and the design of the pillows on the seating areas. These items all pull together to create a solid look for a modern home.
If I was going to make one major Asian-inspired change to my home, I think it would be to get rid of my boring bed and get an elaborate Chinese bed like this one instead. Even without the decorative sheets, this bed really stands out as a magnificent place to rest your head. I think just sleeping here would enlarge the scope of my dreams! If it's too intimidating to sleep in a space like this, you could make it the centerpiece of a living room for communal lounging.
If the big Chinese bed is just too much for your modern home, perhaps you could add a bit of Asian style to the bedroom in a more stylish fashion. The little touches here - the big red headdboard, the symmetry of the lamps and the curvature of the bench - all add up to a peaceful place for sleep.
The spots where your guests sleep are also a great place to add some Eastern-inspired design to the home. A guest room is supposed to be a getaway for the people who are visiting you. Using Asian-inspired furniture and bedding, simple artwork and plant life, you can make a haven that your guests will like even better than a great hotel!
If you're lucky enough to have a yard then you can enhance it with a bit of Asian landscaping to give yourself a place to retreat to. Here we have what looks to be cherry blossom trees next to a pond.
You may not be able to create something this elaborate in your own yard but you could look towards Asian landscape design to add to your existing exterior. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment but I'm lucky enough to have cherry blossom trees right outside my window!
You may not be able to create something this elaborate in your own yard but you could look towards Asian landscape design to add to your existing exterior. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment but I'm lucky enough to have cherry blossom trees right outside my window!
Here is another example of how to alter an outdoor space to create the kind of peacefulness you might experience if you went to a zen garden. You don't even have to change the landscaping here; simply add some Asian-inspired outdoor furniture to your patio and get ready to get back in touch with your inner self.
If you really want to get in touch with your inner self, you may want to consider setting aside an entire room of your home as a meditation and relaxation space. This large room has a few different places for you to sit, room for doing yoga and space cut out of the walls where you can create an altar or burn some incense. The rest of your home may be busy and technologically advanced but you can always escape to a room of your own.