How to Nail the Oriental Interior Design Look
With thousands of years of independent history and cultural development, the Far East has cultivated its own unique sense of style that is wholly different from Western sensibilities. Placing a particular emphasis on zen-like tranquillity and harmony with nature, the Oriental interior design style is one that spells elegance, refinement, and grace.
While Western and Eastern cultures were never really insulated from each other historically, the rise of Asian representation in Western popular culture has increased the West’s interest in Oriental designs. Let’s take a look at what makes Oriental interior design so distinctive, and how you can incorporate them into your spaces too:
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Colour Scheme: Pastels and Neutrals
Inspired by the colour palette of mother nature, Oriental interior design tends to feature floral pastel shades heavily, while being balanced out by the neutral hues of nature, such as the brown of the earth and the grey of natural stone. The result is an immersive indoor environment that blurs the dividing line between the built space and the natural environment.
When designing your space, you could consider neutral-coloured tiles like Touch Stone which blends in with other elements of your space in a minimalistic and unobtrusive way, allowing you to build upon it further with pastel accents and pops such as floral arrangements or tasteful art pieces.
Geometries: Embrace Circles and Squares
Embracing the philosophy of balance and harmony expressed through Yin and Yang, circles feature heavily in Oriental design: doorways, arches, and furniture can typically be found in pleasantly circular forms. But this is also balanced out by the strong presence of squares that can take the form of room dividers and ventilation blocks.
In creating Oriental-inspired spaces, a useful exercise would be to think about how to balance contrasting elements: circles and squares, pastels and neutrals, and even light and shadow. Getting the right mix is key!
Materials: Wood, Silk, and Parchment
Given the long period of cultural development before the region became a fully industrialised force, it’s only expected that the use of natural materials would feature heavily in this part of the world. Furniture made from lumber, cloths made from silk, and decorative items made from parchment paper are common hallmarks, adding a rich textural experience to these spaces.
For a modern take, the inclusion of wood tiles like Portino’s Albar or Madeira can enrich and enhance your living spaces with a touch of nature while being easy to maintain. Be sure to check out our wood tiles catalogue here:
Design Motif: The Natural World
As mentioned, the separation between the lived environment and the great outdoors is extremely thin in Oriental interior design. Often, one could walk indoors and be greeted with a lush garden in the middle of the house, sustained by a generous air well. You would also notice that much of Oriental design revolves around the beauty of nature, whether it is a blooming cherry blossom tree or a flock of geese in flight.
Where in the past Oriental homes would have been clad in plain clay tiles, today you could get stone effect tiles like Pedregal to form the basis of natural inspiration within your home.
Put all these elements together, and you’ll have your very own Oriental-inspired space in no time!
