| Looking for a way to dress up a drab room in your | | | | perfect. Candle Lantern style lighting can be combined |
| home? Why not take it on an exotic adventure to the | | | | to good effect as well. Avoid obviously contemporary |
| Far East? Asian inspired decor can be a simple but | | | | or modern lamps and lighting. Water plays an important |
| elegant look that's easy to achieve provided you | | | | role in Asian culture, so a lighted water treatment or |
| control your impulse to over-decorate. In fact, when | | | | fountain might make a good substitute for a lamp. |
| planning out your Asian decorating adventure, simplicity | | | | Furniture: This is an area where you may want to |
| is the key to success. With Asian inspired style, less is | | | | splurge. Traditional lacquered furniture is a mainstay or |
| more. | | | | Asian decor. Most often found a highly polished black, |
| Color: For the walls, think beige or tan, inspired by aged | | | | red gold or white - it's a centerpiece accent that can |
| bamboo or rice parchment. This will create a nice base | | | | bring the Asian influenced theme together. Consider a |
| color for the room that can be accented with some | | | | small table, trunk, armoire or curio cabinet. These |
| bolder, Asian inspired colors. Blacks and whites are | | | | pieces are usually hand painted with unique designs, |
| well-suited to Asian decor. Mix in some green that | | | | florals and landscapes or with scenes of every day |
| conjures up visions of a dense bamboo jungle for a | | | | Chinese life. Wicker and Bamboo furniture will be |
| bold, expressive look or a jade sculpture to create | | | | perfectly welcome in your Asian decorated room as |
| more muted, tranquil space. A touch of bold red and | | | | well. |
| some gold also conjure up images of the Orient. | | | | Decorations: This is your opportunity to shine and have |
| Floors: Bamboo flooring is an obvious, but sometimes | | | | some fun. For function, consider a Shonji room divider |
| expensive flooring solution to create that Asian inspired | | | | available in hundreds of looks and colors. A Buddha |
| feel in a room. Bamboo-look laminate flooring is less | | | | statue makes a great Asian decor accent or you |
| expensive alternative, but any wood flooring is suitable | | | | might consider a statue of Kuan Yin. A laughing |
| in your new Asian room. Terracotta tiling is another | | | | Buddha statue is believed to improve one's chances of |
| great option, but light stone and ceramic tile look great | | | | prosperity, but at the very least can add a bit of |
| too. | | | | whimsy to a room. |
| It might seem like an oriental rug is a requirement, but | | | | You may want to do a little research on Feng Shui as |
| avoid the temptation and potential expense. Instead, | | | | its theories will surely give you inspiration and instill your |
| seek out a jute rug. This loomed, natural fiber | | | | decorating ideas with meaning. |
| alternative offers a simple solution that supports your | | | | Jade carvings, Oriental wall fans, silk paintings, Asian |
| design theme well. You should be able to find a 6' x 9' | | | | wall reliefs or lacquered wall art are perfect Asian |
| rug in the $200 range. For the budget conscious, seek | | | | decorating choices. Porcelain vases or fishbowls make |
| out a wool blend or synthetic version. | | | | a great Asian decor accents as well. Bonsai trees, |
| Windows: Embrace the ambient light in the room and | | | | Asian plants, tea jars, Asian clocks and mirrors work |
| use light silk drapes tied back with gold cord with | | | | great too. The possibilities are as limitless as the |
| tassels. For a more casual vibe, consider roll-up | | | | imagination. |
| bamboo shades. Plain blinds are fine, but you can also | | | | Have fun with the decorating possibilities, just keep in |
| find bamboo blinds painted with oriental calligraphy or | | | | mind that to get an authentic Asian feel you need to |
| other Asian symbols and scenes if you want a bolder | | | | exercise some restraint. A cluttered room won't give |
| look. | | | | you the desired effect. Let a few key pieces in the |
| Lighting: Japanese Lanterns come in dozens of shapes | | | | room carry the theme and emphasize the approach |
| and sizes to suit any taste or budget. These are | | | | that less is more. |