Asian Inspired Bathroom Ideas

Simplicity is the Key
When we talk about Asian style bathroom, it should be remembered that simplicity is what works the best. Here, the keyword is ‘less is more’ and ‘practicality’. It is the place where you should have the least clutter. In fact, the bathroom should serve as your retreat from the other over-stuffed rooms of your house and make you feel relaxed.

Natural Elements
Asian theme bathrooms pay emphasis on natural elements, whether it is flooring or fixtures. As the building material, natural element of stone is amongst the most preferred ones. Apart from that, accent open floors and countertops with green plants or a running fountain is something that you can use to give your bathroom an Asian look.

Bring the Nature In
As mentioned earlier, the concept of Asian bathroom is all about maintaining harmony with nature. If possible, design the bathroom is such a way or build it at such a place in your house that its window overlooks the garden outside. You can also bring the nature indoors, by placing plants in the bathroom or using accents made from wood and stone.

Versatility
The designs of Asian bathrooms are such that they allow you much versatility in themselves. You can choose a look that ranges from ultra-modern to classic, in its appeal. On one hand, you can use earth tones, with Japanese sensibility, to give a subdued look, on the other; you can go the Chinese way and paint the bathroom red. The choice is entirely yours!

Accessories

Accessories form one of the main aspects of a room, be it your bathroom or bedroom. You can use shower curtains tumblers, toothbrush holders, wastebaskets and soap dishes imprinted with traditional Asian symbols. Another option is to use black and white accessories and combine them with bath towels and rug in either gold or red. Just make sure that the accessories do not make your bathroom look stuffed.

After a long day at the office or from running errands for the afternoon, it is always nice to come home to a calm and soothing atmosphere where you can put up your feet and enjoy a little personal time. A great way to achieve that “Zen” factor in your living room or bedroom’s design is through Asian inspired lamps and lanterns. The soft glow of a paper floor or table lamp is easy on the eyes and creates a relaxing ambiance that you can look forward to on your commute home.

Asian paper light fixtures are typically made from rice paper with a polished metal or wooden frame to create a unique, Zen-like quality from your foyer and bedroom to your porch or bathroom. Adding a paper lamp or paper lantern provides just the right amount of light while you read a book by a paper table lamp on your end table or by a beautifully elongated floor lamp near the couch. Asian inspired paper rice lanterns are just as versatile as they are beautiful and don’t have to be limited to the interior of your home. Oriental inspired paper lanterns serve as an excellent source of outdoor lighting while you are cooking by the grill or enjoying the night sky from your porch. Hanging outdoor lanterns creates a serene and peaceful look that can make any night romantic.

lamps are perfect for filling an empty corner with a little bit of mood lighting while creating a fun, modern texture to your room. Choose from a large variety of funky paper lamps from long and rectangular to wide and spherical. The unique shape and design will fill up the drab areas in almost any location from the ceiling to the floor while adding a modern twist of design to the mix. If you are one to change your home’s style a few times per year, this would be one of the best lighting options you can invest in as transferring paper lamps and lanterns are so easy to transport due to their light and airy material. Mix and match each lantern throughout your home to find the design that aligns with your personal style.

Even if you don’t have a professional designer you can get an Asian inspired look in your dining room by changing little things, for example adding a wallpaper border and coordinating your tableware and serving dishes to give an exotic Asian look to the room. Don’t be timid to change things like your floor coverings, lighting, decorative accessories and wall color in conjunction with your table and chair set and sideboard.

Decorative items are key to pulling your Asian inspired look together. Even if you can’t replace any other items - you can get a new look by changing the decorative accessories! Focus on shopping for tableware, serving dishes and table cloths and runners, in colors and patterns that match your Asian look. You’ll be amazed at how easy and economical it is, and what a huge difference these changes make! You might want to include a rice paper folding screen or Shoji doors combined with Asian style potted plants and you could even try some exotic knick knacks like geisha girl figures or anything with an Asian look to add some punch to your dining room. Adding more touches such as a beautiful silk kimono hung on the wall can make your room look like it was done by an interior designer.

Flooring can make or break your decor, but if you can not pay for new flooring in your dining room then you can mask your existing floors by using small rugs with an Asian flair. If you are lucky enough to be able to afford new floors, check out dark hardwood floors or bamboo flooring. Accent them with oriental rugs or bamboo mats for an authentic look.

An important factor when decorating your dining room with an Asian inspired look is your wall color. For this look the colors can really enhance the feel - you should consider adding reds and muted tones with contrasting woods either as wallpaper or paint. Try using a deep red paint on the walls, or you might consider a lighter colored paint or wallpaper in plain pattern. You don’t have to get too fancy or spend a lot of money and if you don’t want color on the walls, you can always cover the walls in a neutral palette and put the color into your flooring and accents.

You don’t have to buy a coordinating table and chair set, sideboard, and hutch but the dining room should have plenty of sleek and elegant furniture. To really showcase the Asian theme, try furniture with a black lacquer finish or a quality rattan set.

Window treatments can have a large effect on your Asian inspired design theme. To put together a magnificent look in your dining room try hanging silk drapes with or without embroidery or silk fabric valances with sheers. For a less formal look, you could try bamboo shades that roll up.

Lighting is an important element in your home and the dining room is no exception. To compliment your Asian inspired decorating style, you will want to keep in mind the style of the fixtures as well as the type. When you are incorporating an Asian style, you would want to take a look at making use of plain overhead lighting with accent lighting with silk or puffed paper shades, crystal chandeliers or exotic lamps but try to shy away from anything that has a country style.

One decorating area that is often ignored when decorating your house is the wall space. Even the ugliest walls can be made to look good with great accessories and wall art. Try adding Asian silk paintings hung in vintage frames or block prints to your dining room walls to enhance the exotic appeal of your Asian Interior Design. You can even add a nice Asian folding screen in the corner with a large oriental plant in front of it for depth and appeal.

Getting a nice Asian look in your dining room can be as basic as just buying new decorative accessories or as involved as doing a total room remake. Either way, attention to the fine details and making sure to coordinate your accessories and furniture will help you accomplish a wonderful new Asian inspired style that will make dining at home a new experience!

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Because Asian home decor relies so heavily upon rich fabrics and deep, dark colors it may not always be a good idea to have the whole house done up in this theme. In fact doing up the entire home in this theme can be quite overwhelming. Far better to focus on doing up just one or two rooms using this theme so that it creates a focal point of interest.

Asian Decor in the Dining Room

The dining room is a good starting point. Drinking tea is an important part of the Asian culture. Japanese or

Chinese tea pots or tea cups would fit in very well with the Asian home deco theme. Bamboo table mats, chopsticks and chopstick holder, all make great enhancements at any meal setting.

Asian Decor in the Bathroom

Another room that you can incorporate the Asian look in, is the bathroom. Asian decor has a lot of relaxing accents, which can be used in the bathroom and which serve the purpose of washing away the stresses of the day; think candles, waterproof calligraphy, figurines and other assorted Asian artwork. A fountain in the bathroom, even a small one, would tie in all the Asian

decor elements for a look that is fabulous yet relaxing and soothing. Plenty of storage room is a must as the Asian look is clean and uncluttered.

Asian Decor in the Bedroom

However, if you love your dining room and bathroom look good as they are but you still want to incorporate the Asian theme in at least one room, the bedroom is a great choice. Rich highly embroidered fabrics set off with delicate rice paper window coverings to give you the necessary privacy, framed calligraphy or Oriental art and candles everywhere can transform your bedroom into a romantic Asian haven. Replace all harsh overhead lights with indirect lighting and wall scones to give the room a truly sensuous look. An intricately carved Asian screen makes a wonderful addition to any Asian bedroom. It enhances the room with its sheer artistry and is also functional as it can be used to keep cluttered areas and piles of clothes hidden away.

While it could take a fair amount of time and money to incorporate the Asian look into your home, the stunning end results are definitely worth it. While shopping for your Asian home decor theme, keep in mind that it is worth buying the most expensive fabric you can afford. Cheap Asian fabrics can look tacky and gaudy and will detract rather than enhance your overall home decor.

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In search of an inexpensive housewarming gift? Are you planning to give home accessories for friends who are about to tie the knot? If you’ve begun to realize that the new ceiling fan you’ve just bought for your neighbor appears to be a prime candidate for regifting, we’re here to provide some cheap home decoration gift ideas which may just be worth your while.

Table Accents

Tables offer great flexibility when it comes to decorating. For dining tables, metal fruit baskets and wicker bread trays are excellent storage accessories that offer great decorative value. Pillar candle holders and cheap glass vases are excellent for coffee tables and consoles in living rooms and lobbies. The list for unique yet inexpensive table accents can go on and on. As with any room interior, the key is to match your décor with current furniture theme.

Wall Decorations

In lieu of expensive paintings, items like wrought iron decorations and full sized mirrors offer practical alternatives for both traditional and contemporary room designs. Sandstone wall decorations make great accents for both modern living room interiors and Asian garden themes. For contemporary walls, you may want to try to infuse a bit of African art by hanging decorative tribal masks.

Storage Accessories

Though your friends’ clutter free home may appear to be wondrous sight at first, they will eventually find the need to organize at one point or another. Every home always has room for a new wall mounted shelf. Chest drawers and metal magazine racks rarely ever outrun their use. Corner racks are cheap home accessories that are often assured of a space in kitchens and living rooms.

Traditional and Antique Décor

Though the terms traditional and antique connote ideas of elegance and luxury, you’ll be surprised of the number of ways you help spruce of your friend’s Victorian room theme without going beyond your budget. Resin vases and sculptures are steadily gaining popularity because of two key factors, “beauty and affordability”. As one of the most versatile synthetic substances today, resin can be fabricated to replicate the texture of wood or metal in any shape or form imaginable. When used as decorative fixtures or furniture, the difference between resin and wood is often hardly discernable.

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There’s nothing like an Asian-inspired theme! The rich colors, details, fabrics, and textures of the Asian are simply unparalleled and distinct. Simple but elegant and impossible to imitate - that’s how I would describe an Asian-themed home.

Be warned however - a great price comes along with this style of décor. And it can be quite steep for the average consumer and household. If you have the budget and the resources, and if you’re all decided and want to adopt the Asian-theme, it’s important to keep in mind that the Asian style of decor relies heavily on color and texture. The

Dining Room
If you can adopt the Asian-theme only for one room, make it your dining room! The Asian style of décor creates stunningly beautiful dining rooms…not just by improving and enhancing the decorations and ambience of it but by adding different important tools and dining utilities that are uniquely Asian.

Chopsticks, plates, placemats, tea cups and tea servings - these are just some of the things you’ll find only within an Asian-styled dining room. Focal Points In The House
Looking at the expense involved in creating an Asian-themed home, many home decorating experts recommend that only one or two rooms should be created and based around the Asian-motif. Not only will this allow you to save money but you’ll also make the Asian-themed rooms as the focal points of your home.

The Bathroom
The bathroom is a place where people go to regularly to relax, wash themselves, and relieve themselves of the worries and pressures that are bugging them the whole day. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense to adopt the Asian style of décor for your bathroom as well. Candles, figurines, water-proof calligraphy, Asian artwork, tranquil colors - all of these components of the Asian style of décor would make excellent improvements and touches for your bathroom.

You can even add a small fountain inside your bathroom to give it a more relaxing and soothing ambience. Keep in mind though that your bathroom should have a lot of storage space and the surfaces should be uncluttered if you’re going to adopt the Asian-theme. There are other components and things you can add to give your Asian-themed room or home a romantic ambience. For example, you can add brightly colored fabrics to create a romantic atmosphere. You can add more privacy by adding rice paper window coverings. And to top it all off, you can place candles in different locations of the room.

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Decorative Accessories are to your design style what jewelry is to an outfit, and your Asian decorating style is no exception. This decorating theme works well with oriental influenced accessories which help reflect the colorful and exotic appeal of Asian influence. Your Asian décor will really be fabulous when you add chosen complimentary knick knacks, pillows and artwork.

Wall art adds drama and depth to any design theme, but you will need to know how to hang it well for the best effect. You are going for the center of the artwork to be at eye level. If you are hanging a grouping of photos, prints or paintings, then lay them out on the floor first to determine how they look best. Placing Colorful Asian prints in bamboo, bright red or black lacquer frames can help to add zip to the Asian decorating style.

Knick Knacks can really provide a unique look to any room design, no matter what the décor. To enhance your Asian home decorating, think of using knick knacks with a colorful and exotic style. Decorating with asian style figures on black lacquer shelves or providing simple flower arrangements in unassuming vases or bowls. You can inject your own distinct personality to the interior design by selecting accessories that reflect your personality. Contrary to what you may believe, you don’t have to spend a bundle to get wonderful decorative pieces. Shopping at thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets can yield ideal items for a lot less.

Decorative pillows are another item you can use to spruce up your décor. You can come up with a use for pillows in any type of room even the bathroom and kitchen. Pillows can be a charming compliment to the bedroom when piled against the headboard. Pillows on your sofa or chair will help give a sense of the Asian home decorating feel to the furniture. Pillows can add softness to the bathroom and kitchen - imagine using one on the hamper or on a kitchen chair in a corner. For this style of interior design, pillows that are done in rich red and gold silks will look perfectly.

Additional accessories that can help add to the ambiance of Asian influence include an indoor water fountain, an Asian room divider, and Asian figurines in glass domes. When selecting your decorative pieces, however, you should be certain that they are in keeping with the interior design and also have some sort of coordinating qualities with each other. Don’t stray to far from your design style or you can end up with a confusing design approach.

Adding Asian folding screens, kimonos and painted lacquer accessories to your Asian decorating style will be a great way to help the room be fabulous. It’s imperative, however, that you have a vision of the kinds of pieces you seek so you can stick to shopping for just those that suit. When picking out accessories, proportion is vital so be sure you stick with items in the sizes you need. Select your decorative pieces carefully and your room design is sure to look fantastic!

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Transform your abode into an enchanting home with bright colors, intricate designs, and a touch of the exotic - and what better way to do this than to adapt asian home décor? You might not be such a big fan of the exotic, and that is exactly why you need to take a plunge. Sticking to safe colors and designs may be, well…just that. Safe.

Redecorating Tips

If you are looking forward to redecorate your home, safety is the last thing you should be thinking of. Be creative. Be bold. But don’t worry - being creative and bold does not mean leaving behind your common sense. Exotic and fun doesn’t necessarily mean a crazy mishmash of exotic looking furniture, and eye-catching colors and patterns.

You might not think it possible, but you can get an atmosphere of warmth, calm and order with asian home décor. Here are a few tips you can work with when incorporating a touch of asian home décor into your space.

Lighting

Lighting is dominated by the use of lanterns made of rice paper. You can use table lanterns as well as hanging lanterns. The soft light emitted by low wattage bulbs will add a warm glow into any room. So if you want a brighter effect, just add more lamps.

Room Dividers

This popular asian home décor technique adds exotic elegance into your room and also allows you to create space when you need it. You can use them as art installations or headboards, and you can use them to create a small dressing area in the corner of your room.

You can select from a variety of room dividers that range from rice paper to wood. Depending on the theme and color scheme of your room, you can get a room divider to blend in or add an interesting contrast to the area. You can be simplistic with plain dividers, or extravagant with painted or embroidered dividers.

Fabric

Fabric is the most extravagant offerings of asian home decore. Elegant silks in stunning colors, intricate embroidery, appliqués, brocades, and saris are some of the exotic materials you can work with. Use them as window coverings, cushion coverings, bed spreads, pillow cases, table runners, and napkins.

Nature

Incorporate the elements of nature into your design. Water, plants and stone are a good way to go when you want to achieve that peaceful, comforting effect of asian home décor.

The sight and sound of water will breathe in tranquility into any room. You can use miniature water fountains for you coffee table or if your budget allows it, use an elegant glass wall fountain for a stunning effect.

Bonsai and bamboo are popular plant choices for any Asian inspired theme. Bamboo plants are easy to care for - place bamboo shoots in a clear glass vase, fill with water, add smooth stones and replace the water once a week. Using glass beads instead of stones but might colorful but stones add to the Asian feel.

For asian home décor, bonsai plants are nice additions, but these are high maintenance plants. Caring for it requires skill. If working with plants is a passion for you and bonsai plants will be a great choice if you want to incorporate plants into your décor; but if do not have the heart and the time to really care for one, then the bamboo plant is for you.

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