May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Many of today’s most popular styles have Asian roots – from the minimal lines of Mid Century Modern to the flamboyant intricacy of Maximalism. Let’s explore some of my favorite design influencers and Asian-inspired decor pieces.
Continue reading to discover more about these incredible artists and their work, whether you choose to weave in these stunning designs in your own home or simply want to learn the names of interior designers who are changing the interior design game for the better.
Influential Asian Designers
Certainly, a brief article such as this, cannot adequately honor the rich cultural contributions of the broad area that we call Asia today, which includes Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea. Generally we think of Asian-inspired design as consisting of clean and well-defined straight lines (reflecting the structure of calligraphy characters), minimalist decorations and sleek symmetry. These elements allow you to effortlessly incorporate the theme into a wide range of settings with a few furniture and color changes.
Designers like Helen Liu Fong and I.M. Pei — Chinese-American architects and interior decorators — helped pave the way for modern-day Asian-inspired design. They mixed vintage design with simplistic style to fashion a look that can now be seen all over the world.
“Zen” is a popular term used to describe design that draws from the natural world as a source of spiritual inspiration.The key element to Asian interiors is that space reflects a sense of harmony and intricate decoration mixed with a blend of warm colors. Chinoiserie is a blend of elegant European design with intriguing, exotic East Asian artistic traditions and is versatile enough to work with every interior design style.
Asian-Inspired Design Trends To Pay Attention To
Now that you’ve been motivated by the several amazing designers listed above, it’s time to dive into some popular Asian designs that you should consider incorporating into your home.
Fabrics and Wall Coverings
Asian-inspired design leans heavily on clean and well-defined straight lines to achieve a minimalist and sleek look. It’s also inspired by nature, making simple floral prints and painting-like patterns a popular choice for window treatments, wallpapers, pillows, blankets and upholstery. Traditional wood block printing techniques produce graphic designs.Luxury paper weave and grasscloth wallcoverings originate in ancient China and Japan.
Porcelain
Introduce a delicate touch to any room by adding detailed or hand-painted china as a vase or table centerpiece. Popular colors to include with your choice of glassware include blue, pink and red — all balanced out with neutrals.
Dark Wood
Ditch your pine or maple wood furniture, and choose a darker option instead. Using deeper browns works wonderfully with this style because most other hues incorporated in this design are light or neutral, making a mahogany or ebony piece really stand out.
Nature-Inspired Design Elements
Asian designs and themes are largely inspired by the colors and designs of nature. Reinterpret landscapes of beautiful gardens or grassy mountains in wall artwork or drapery or even cabinets with chinoiserie motifs. Make your home a zen oasis by swapping out bold, bright colors for neutral and soothing ones instead.
Stone and Bamboo
One irresistible appeal of Asian-inspired fashion is the sustainable material choices. For your bathroom or kitchen, pick smooth, polished stones like river rocks for your backsplash or shower to bring another touch of nature to your indoors. Looking to add a touch of cozy, boho flair to your space? Woven wood shades accomplish this, all while being better for the environment!
