Decorating
How to Try Chinoiserie Style at Home
This beautiful and timeless motif is inspired by East Asia. Here are 10 ways to work it into your design
Chinoiserie style, which includes lacquered finishes, silks, dark woods and patterned textiles featuring stylised nature motifs, originated in the 17th and 18th centuries as a romanticised version of the Chinese aesthetic, adapted for Western audiences. Its appeal has endured in interiors for a reason: it works wonderfully in bedrooms, halls and living rooms, adding a pretty and sophisticated element that’s timeless and elegant. Here are 10 ways to give it a go at home.
2. Go classic
Chinoiserie prints often feature stylised figures, traditional Chinese buildings and exotic animals. This classic print (Palais Chinois by Osborne & Little) has wading birds, palm trees and pagodas for a luxurious effect.
It looks opulent here teamed with a black lacquer four-poster bed dressed with silk pillows, which also contribute to the chinoiserie theme. Why not add a tray and teapot for some jasmine or green tea to complete the look?
Chinoiserie prints often feature stylised figures, traditional Chinese buildings and exotic animals. This classic print (Palais Chinois by Osborne & Little) has wading birds, palm trees and pagodas for a luxurious effect.
It looks opulent here teamed with a black lacquer four-poster bed dressed with silk pillows, which also contribute to the chinoiserie theme. Why not add a tray and teapot for some jasmine or green tea to complete the look?
3. Love some lacquer
For a chic chinoiserie look that doesn’t necessarily rely on floral wallpapers or fabrics, consider a lacquered Chinese wedding cabinet. These elegant pieces, which feature golden handles and locks, were historically the centrepiece of a bride’s dowry, filled by her parents with new clothes for their daughter’s married life. Traditionally they were red, but this black version looks bold and eclectic teamed with flashes of pink and electric blue.
Try a Chinese cabinet in your living room or dining room instead of a sideboard, and use it to store table linens and dinnerware. These pieces are also great for stashing spare blankets and pillows in a guest bedroom. Authentic Chinese cabinets are beauties that can run into the thousands, but you can also find attractive, less pricey reproductions.
Sneaky Spots to Store Your Winter Warmers
For a chic chinoiserie look that doesn’t necessarily rely on floral wallpapers or fabrics, consider a lacquered Chinese wedding cabinet. These elegant pieces, which feature golden handles and locks, were historically the centrepiece of a bride’s dowry, filled by her parents with new clothes for their daughter’s married life. Traditionally they were red, but this black version looks bold and eclectic teamed with flashes of pink and electric blue.
Try a Chinese cabinet in your living room or dining room instead of a sideboard, and use it to store table linens and dinnerware. These pieces are also great for stashing spare blankets and pillows in a guest bedroom. Authentic Chinese cabinets are beauties that can run into the thousands, but you can also find attractive, less pricey reproductions.
Sneaky Spots to Store Your Winter Warmers
4. Try a modern update
While chinoiserie lends itself to a more formal or traditional look, you can easily work it into a modern design, as this bedroom shows brilliantly. Choose just a couple of interesting elements for a contemporary twist. The patterned blue-and-white bedspread here looks lovely with the vivid blue wall, while the chic plate display echoes chinoiserie’s love affair with decorative ceramics. The Tulip side table keeps things simple and more contemporary, as does the fresh white wood trim.
While chinoiserie lends itself to a more formal or traditional look, you can easily work it into a modern design, as this bedroom shows brilliantly. Choose just a couple of interesting elements for a contemporary twist. The patterned blue-and-white bedspread here looks lovely with the vivid blue wall, while the chic plate display echoes chinoiserie’s love affair with decorative ceramics. The Tulip side table keeps things simple and more contemporary, as does the fresh white wood trim.
5. Opt for a dark background
Chinoiserie’s whimsical illustrations can often be found on darker backgrounds, lending a dramatic effect. They typically feature animals and birds, traditional motifs in Chinese designs, as well as botanicals.
Invest in one or two standout pieces if you can afford to, rather than cramming every corner with accessories. This intricate bedhead featuring trees and birds serves as both furniture and artwork.
Chinoiserie’s whimsical illustrations can often be found on darker backgrounds, lending a dramatic effect. They typically feature animals and birds, traditional motifs in Chinese designs, as well as botanicals.
Invest in one or two standout pieces if you can afford to, rather than cramming every corner with accessories. This intricate bedhead featuring trees and birds serves as both furniture and artwork.
6. Upgrade period style
Chinoiserie prints were popular in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries, and in a formal drawing room like this one, the overall feel is that of a traditional English country house. If you live in a period property, choose a wallpaper in a heritage shade that fits the era of your home. The spring green here really lifts the room and contrasts well with the warm woods of the antique furniture and rust-red Persian rug.
See Australian homes with an Asian influence
Chinoiserie prints were popular in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries, and in a formal drawing room like this one, the overall feel is that of a traditional English country house. If you live in a period property, choose a wallpaper in a heritage shade that fits the era of your home. The spring green here really lifts the room and contrasts well with the warm woods of the antique furniture and rust-red Persian rug.
See Australian homes with an Asian influence
7. Urn your keep
Chinese-style porcelain can be a great way to inject a little grandeur and character into a space. Try mixing in classic blue-and-white patterns, which work surprisingly well in a modern kitchen.
In this bright space, the line of blue urns on a high shelf adds a more decorative ambiance to the room, along with the low-slung chandeliers and floral curtains.
Chinese-style porcelain can be a great way to inject a little grandeur and character into a space. Try mixing in classic blue-and-white patterns, which work surprisingly well in a modern kitchen.
In this bright space, the line of blue urns on a high shelf adds a more decorative ambiance to the room, along with the low-slung chandeliers and floral curtains.
8. Work it in a hallway
A cluster of chinoiserie elements can make a formal hallway come to life. This trio of lacquered wedding cabinet, porcelain umbrella stand and vintage Chinese artwork go together beautifully.
Many Chinese cabinets feature stunning hand-painted designs of delicate flora and fauna. Choose a pattern you love to add extra romance to your life.
Why Your Hallway Needs a Focal Point
A cluster of chinoiserie elements can make a formal hallway come to life. This trio of lacquered wedding cabinet, porcelain umbrella stand and vintage Chinese artwork go together beautifully.
Many Chinese cabinets feature stunning hand-painted designs of delicate flora and fauna. Choose a pattern you love to add extra romance to your life.
Why Your Hallway Needs a Focal Point
9. Follow the silk road
If you love silks and satins, you’re in luck. Shimmery fabrics or finishes are part of the chinoiserie look, whether in the form of wallpaper, throws or curtains. Silk’s light-reflecting properties also lift rooms that feature darker woods, another common element in chinoiserie interiors.
In this pared-back bedroom, the chinoiserie influence is subtle but definitely present. The textured wallpaper is neutral but has a silk finish that goes perfectly with the blossom-patterned pillows. The dark floor and lacquered black cabinets add to the sophisticated look.
If you love silks and satins, you’re in luck. Shimmery fabrics or finishes are part of the chinoiserie look, whether in the form of wallpaper, throws or curtains. Silk’s light-reflecting properties also lift rooms that feature darker woods, another common element in chinoiserie interiors.
In this pared-back bedroom, the chinoiserie influence is subtle but definitely present. The textured wallpaper is neutral but has a silk finish that goes perfectly with the blossom-patterned pillows. The dark floor and lacquered black cabinets add to the sophisticated look.
10. Express your eclectic side
If your style is eclectic, then chinoiserie will fit right in. A couple of quirky pillows featuring Chinese-influenced patterns can work brilliantly amid a variety of shapes and colours.
Don’t be afraid to dip your toe into the chinoiserie trend. Pillows are a particularly good way to incorporate this look with limited commitment.
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Read about more decorating styles
If your style is eclectic, then chinoiserie will fit right in. A couple of quirky pillows featuring Chinese-influenced patterns can work brilliantly amid a variety of shapes and colours.
Don’t be afraid to dip your toe into the chinoiserie trend. Pillows are a particularly good way to incorporate this look with limited commitment.
Tell us
If you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Read about more decorating styles
Lots of chinoiserie wallpapers feature blossoms, and it’s easy to see why. They add a romantic softness to a design and work particularly well in bedrooms. Chinoiserie wallpaper typically has a silky finish. In this room, the blossoms amid the neutral colour palette are calm and soothing.