Six amazing ways to include Oriental style into your home

Lily Cichanowicz Lily Cichanowicz
Eaton Square: Belgravia, Roselind Wilson Design Roselind Wilson Design Modern style bedroom
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One of the best ways to celebrate the richness of human cultural expression is to incorporate elements of these aesthetics into your interiors. We often hear about Scandinavian design or French provincial furniture and seek out these styles for our homes. One of the largest and most expansive aesthetic persuasions is that of orientalism. 

Orientalism specifically refers to depictions or expressions of Middle Eastern, East Asian, African, and South Asian cultures. Naturally, that spread of cultures from around the world covers a lot of ground. It can be overwhelming to decide which oriental items to include in the home, and answers will certainly vary wildly depending on whom you ask. Still, there are some pretty clear-cut examples of orientalism that you can add to your home right now. Here are a few of our favourites.

Egyptian inspired chaise

One kind of oriental décor we love to see included in the home is the Egyptian inspired chaise or fainting sofa. Ancient Egypt was a thriving metropolis with advanced understandings of science, spirituality, health, architecture and aesthetics. Egyptian revival architecture, which features classic arches and pillars, is something worth exploring in itself. 

As for the famed chaise, this piece of furniture originated in Egypt as a daybed. Early versions were often made from palm sticks held together with cords. Over time, chaises became more lavish and often had ebony, ivory, or gold veneers. Adding an upholstered chaise in the bedroom will help make it feel more romantic.

Choose some Chinese ceramics

Chinese porcelain and ceramics have undoubtedly been celebrated for centuries. Western occidental cultures were willing to trade some pretty precious goods for the stuff. The blue and white dishware became known simply as china, and you have probably encountered some of these ceramics reserved in the homes of your relatives for special occasions. 

A recurring hallmark of Chinese ceramics is that it’s often glazed in a tin substance, which gives it its shining white appearance. Chinese pottery is quite timeless, and we recommend incorporating a bit of it into your home, whether it’s a full set of dishware or simply some quirky sculpture, like these two Chinese ceramic statues.

Turkish style in decorative arts and textiles

Turkey has long been the final easterly destination of the famed Orient Express, a train that made journeys between Istanbul and Paris during the early 20th century. Turkish aesthetics are lavish and ornate. They often conjure images of colourful mosaic bathhouses and rich tapestries. 

This room by Hakan Helvacioglu/H2C depicts some of the ways you can bring the look of Turkish style décor into your home in a revived way. For starters, try incorporating area rugs and window dressings with vibrant, traditional Turkish designs. Furniture ought to be carved with plenty of small, artful details as we can see in the chairs and table in the foreground of the room. Also, try seeking out some Iznik pottery, which features entrancing painted scenes and designs.

Islamic arabesque ornaments

One more specific element that influenced Turkish aesthetics, but that certainly exists beyond this particular country and culture, is Islamic arabesque style décor. Islamic arabesque refers to a specific type of artistic expression that originated in the Middle East. Notable features of this style include swirling and intercepting lines that often depict flowers and foliage in a way that could be described as visually rhythmic. The designs can often be likened to calligraphy. 

Many of the patterns have a sacred significance within the Islamic religion. One of the best aspects of Islamic arabesque is that it can take many forms, making it a very versatile decorative element to include in your interiors. This style can be found in rugs, carvings, lanterns, tapestries, paintings, and more.

Chinese lacquer

Another iconic element of Chinese décor is Chinese lacquer furniture. Usually these pieces are done in black or dark brown with detailed murals of feudal life in China superimposed over them. The images are usually either engraved or painted. The furniture is then covered with a thick coat of special lacquer finish. The resulting look of these pieces is unmistakable—they truly stand alone in the design world. 

Adding such a piece to your home will give it a sense of sumptuousness or even a more vintage appeal. Plus, the furniture comes in many different forms, from chests and cabinets to tables and chairs. This display cabinet, for instance, is ideal for housing precious mementos and dishware in the living room or dining room.

Japanese woodblock inspired art

Japanese woodblock prints have made a big comeback in recent times. They are highly beautiful works of art with widespread notoriety even serving as desktop screen savers and used in advertising. Originating from the Chinese art of woodblock printing, Japanese woodblock painting refers to the use of carved wooden stamps painted with different colour ink and imprinted onto a single sheet of paper. These paintings and drawings feature archetypal aspects of traditional Japanese life including cherry blossoms, Japanese castles, samurai, geishas, hoi fish, temples, the sea, mountains, birds and more. 

You can certainly order Japanese woodblock prints as originals or reproductions in many shops online. They are stunning, and sure to enhance the depth and cultural sophistication of your home.

If you found this guide useful, you may also like these tips to achieving pure elegance by bringing baroque style to your home.

What elements of Oriental style have you included in your home? Tell us your thoughts using the comments section, below!

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