Asian Furniture
"East meets west" - Asian design is a broad term and is used to describe not only Japanese and Chinese styling but also Indonesia, India and the Philippines. Eastern furniture has long been popular in the West due to the exotic feels these room produce. For people who dream of far-off places, Asian furniture is a perfect addition to your home.
Traditional Japanese and Chinese furniture is characterized by simplicity of form and often offers a high black lacquered finish and brass handles. Indian furniture is often made with carved panels and intricate detailing. Indonesian furniture is often made from teak, which is plentiful in this region. The styling lies somewhere between Japanese and Indian styles and often the overall form is simple. The texture of the wood is celebrated by leaving it rough.
Traditional Asian furniture lays emphasis on the quality of the material it is manufactured from and the construction methods used. High quality teak is particularly popular because it is a durable material. Teak is naturally robust and presents a natural texture that lends furniture a rustic look.
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How to get the look
Furniture - with Asian inspired furniture you'll find low, clean lines blended within sensuous styles. Practicality and space efficiency are a priority with an Asian inspired theme, so look for chests that are perfect for stowing away odds and ends, which can also team up as a console or dressing table.
Colour - It is best to work within nature's palette to achieve your Asian-inspired style. Your background colour should begin with off-white or a natural hessian hue. Colour should be added with lush greens found in bamboo plants or soft jade tones. Bamboo furniture and reclaimed teak insert earthy tones that can inspire a calm feeling and these can easily be mixed with bolder colours such as red and black to energise the room. Accent walls can be used to create a richer colour scheme and can also create a stunning focal point.
Floors - Floors should be kept natural on your flooring. Asian style rooms usually feature hardwood oak or stone flooring. Look for a feature rug in a sisal or wool to soften the flooring and add warmth to the room.
Lighting - Look for lighting that will create a stunning focal point. A feature light should be simple and beautiful. A classic paper lantern is often the perfect choice if you're inspired by Asian décor. The light is diffused through faux or true paper shades for a soothing radiance that softens the straight lines that will define your living space. Lantern frames should be black or brown to create a rich contrast against the natural paper tone. The Kyoto arc lamp is a perfect example of an Asian inspired feature lamp.
Candles also work as a great alternative to overhead lighting and our bamboo candles can introduce texture along with a more intimate soft light.
Screens & Accessories - If you have a studio or open plan apartment you can create separate living sections by the use of screens which create the illusion of smaller, intimate areas.
You can incorporate Asian themed accessories to really complete your desired look. Hand painted and carved wooden accessories are prevalent to creating an Asian décor. Beautiful carved coasters and matching trays can look fabulous on your coffee table while also serving to protect them. Introduce bamboo or even a bonsai tree in a pretty pot or vase.
Look for a stunning piece of wall art to add some warmth and colour to your room. If you want something unique original Indonesian wall art is worth a look alternatively a rustic teak reclaimed mirror will reflect light and open your interior whilst also providing a focal point. No two pieces of wood are weathered in the same way so every reclaimed teak mirror is completely unique.
Asian Furniture - Get the look in the living room
Introduce a stylish Asian inspired bookcase to display your key pieces. This will create a stunning focal point in your living room. The cubic display and cubist library are certainly worth considering especially as the asymmetrical designs are so striking. The Mandarin bookcase also offers a beautiful showcase.
Your coffee table will create a centrepiece in this room and both the Jaya and Bali coffee tables feature straight clean lines. These pieces incorporate two-toned textured fronts and will add warmth and texture to any living room.
For those who prefer lacquered furniture the Shanxi Coffee table has been lacquered seven times and features a stressed edge design. Its brass handles are a feature within themselves and this piece offers four practical storage drawers.
Hand painted cabinets make a lovely Asian addition to your room. Finished in red, these pieces will add a splash of accent colour. For that luxurious feel nothing can beat hand made furniture statement pieces.
The colonial side unit and carved trunk are our most prized carved pieces of furniture. Their rich colour and intricate carvings blend well within the simple styles and will add a rich texture to your living room.
The round donut rattan chair and love seat are reminiscent of the Philippines and their natural texture will really help complete the look.
Asian Furniture - Get the look in the bedroom
With a few new accessories, a lick of paint and some imagination you can begin achieving an Asian infusion. The colour on your walls should be a soft shade of ‘sage green' or a delicate ‘off-white'. These colours tend to work best, as an Asian inspired bedroom should be tranquil and inspiring. There are many reasons for this décor being such a popular choice. It's rich colours, fabrics and textures create a wonderful sensual feel in this intimate room of the home. Furniture here should display clean flowing lines and all provide a function. Storage chests and drawers will include simple yet stunning handles and eye catching features without being overwhelming.
The bedroom is a room in which people go to relax, sleep and unwind. This room is an excellent place to really incorporate your desired Asian theme. Candles, Asian artwork and hand made mirrors will all make excellent touches.
Furnishings in the room should be sparse and uncluttered. Your bed is a central and focal element look for a bed frame that blends well with this décor.
For those who like a romantic theme you can use fabrics to create a soft and intimate atmosphere. A four poster bed is hugely romantic and will naturally be the focal point of your bedroom.
The lumber cubic bed will bring an air of calmness and harmony to any bedroom with its simple lines and minimal design. The mattress is sunken into the frame and its open ends give this bed a very unique feel.
Once you've chosen your bed its time to consider how best to dress it. Asian inspired bedding can add elegance and luxury to any bedroom. The vibrant colors and rich fabrics for which inspired bedding Asian is renowned will make your bed feel especially inviting and relaxing. Introduce luxurious silk and satin cushions and even a throw to drape over the end of your bed.
Often, Asian inspired bedding is thought of as being only made from silk or satin fabrics. While some beautiful Asian bedding does consist of these fibers, there are many choices of Asian inspired bedding which are cotton, cotton blends, polyester, and natural fabrics.
A rustic teak blanket chest will make a beautiful extra seat whilst providing storage space for more bulky items this can sit at the end of your bed if space is limited.
Texture and natural fibres that are key in the Asian style can be added with a rattan laundry basket and for those who have the space, a rattan love seat can make an amazing window seat.
Here at Puji we take inspiration from Asian furniture and create solutions for the modern western home, in both contemporary and traditional styles. We use traditional construction methods and high quality reclaimed wood. We make sure all of the timber used is ethically sourced and use recycled timber wherever possible.
At Puji our store is simple and elegant, rustic and hand made. We design and look for fabulous styles that you will love for a lifetime. Some of the one off unique pieces that we collect such as trunks, screens and Buddha statues are not always available on our website but are displayed within our North London showroom. Why not give us a visit, or call or request images by email.
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