Asian Decorating - How To Bring
The Orient Into Your Home

The simplicity of the Asian decorating style makes it popular with people who want to redecorate their home without adding any silly clutter. This article will introduce you to simple Asian decorating tips that will help you achieve your aim. Asia itself embraces a vast variety of different cultures but many of them share the same decorating themes and ideas. Their principles are basically the same. People who are using an asian style of decorating use a fusion of these many styles to create a design that is unique yet true to the style of Asian décor.

Before you start with your Asian decorating project there are some key things you need to consider before you begin.

Firstly the Asian style embraces the idea of "less is more". If you're a person who likes having a lot of "stuff" in their home then this particular theme may be hard for you to implement in your home.

If you love simplistic furnishings that are low maintenance then you'll love the basic nature of Asian décor. If, however, you love ruffles and frills and extravagence then this may not be the ideal style for you.

How about the color schemes that you most prefer? If a palette of blue, beige, and green appeals to you then you'll enjoy this décor theme being used in a specific room or even all around your home. If you love bright and vibrant pinks and purples or neon colors then you might need to keep looking and find a décor style that suits you. Asian decorating is simple yet effective. Bear that in mind.

If you've decided that Asian interior decorating is still for you then the first step is to make space. Get rid of all the junk and clutter in your home. All the fancy furniture and ruffles and unncessary "stuff" that you've gathered and left in the room. Once you have a clear space to work with then you can start by painting your walls beige or a pale green shade of bamboo. You can use bamboo shades instead of whatever fabric you're using now. Another touch is to use a simple woven mat on Oriental style rug to cover your floor.

With the framework in place, you are ready to decorate. Decide which Asian style you are most drawn to and choose furnishings that reflect that style. If you like Japanese style tea areas and Zen meditation nooks, you can combine elements of both into a room or you can opt to stick strictly with one Asian influence in each room.

If you're decorating a bedroom then you can look at simplifying your bed for a start. The fancy headboard can go and you can replace the bed with a low bed frame that just has a simple quilt to cover it. Add a few pillows and the bed is done. A low bench to the side of the bed serves as a multifunctional table and meditation area when you add a few candles and a lucky bamboo plant. Add a beautiful scroll or painting and a decorated tri-fold screen to enhance the meditation area.

For a living/dining area, look for a sofa with simple lines. Replace your formal table with a low table and switch out your dining room chairs for oversize cushions. Consider Feng Shui principles as you position your television set in the room. You may need to add an entertainment center to hide all of your electronic equipment. You might, however, decide that some of those fancy electronics no longer fit in with your new Zen décor and lifestyle?