Exploring the Unique Charm of Oriental Furniture Style
Faith Led Interior Design Show | Episode 17
Two weeks ago, I started to talk about the 3 Ethnic Furniture Styles. We’ve touched on the Country French and Bohemian furniture styles. Today, I will talk about the Oriental Furniture Style, sometimes called the Asian Furniture Style. This refers to furnishings that originated in the continent of Asia. This Oriental Style has a classic, timeless appeal and will never go out of style.
Today’s episode is also the last of a 12-part Interior Design Furniture Styles Series, “What Is My Furniture Style?”. Ultimately, you may want to go through all 12 styles and see which one, two, or three styles fit you and speak to you the most. Which styles speak to your heart and the heart of your family? Write down your 1,2 or 3 styles in the order of preference.
Now, talking about these ethnic styles, you may be from somewhere else in the world and want touches of your home country in your home. It can bring comfort, add familiarity and represent a part of who you are at your core.
Or you may just feel drawn to a style from a country that you love.
Years ago, I was so drawn to the Italian style. I loved the Venetian plastered walls. They were very textured, which I loved at the time. I had traveled to Europe several times and fell in love with the Italian countryside, architecture, and ultimately the Italian Interior Design Style. I felt so good in that house! It was a reflection of my family and me!
Or, perhaps you love one of the three ethnic styles: the French, Bohemian, or Oriental style, or again you may want your ethnic style to be from your native country.
Many times these ethnic styles start with a simple transitional base as we discussed in Episode 6. This transitional base style looks great with almost any other style and modernizes it.
Again, one of your styles may be a transitional base, and then add, a maximum of two more of your favorite styles. This is the easiest way if you like a simplified, more modern design in your home.
If your heart yearns for your home far away, you may then utilize items you brought from your heart country, items you found here or abroad that represent your country, and/or items you inherited from your family or others.
So if you want to learn more about the wonderfully beautiful and stylized Oriental style, this episode is for you!
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Exploring the Unique Charm of Oriental Furniture Style
If you are new to my show, you may not know that I start every episode with a bible verse. This episode has one of my very favorite Bible verses:
Be Blessed Verse:
Zephaniah 3:17 Passion Translation
“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
It would be possible to spend a whole day discussing this beautiful verse.
There are a few amazing things about this verse.
The Lord is with us, and He is mighty to save us.
He takes delight in us.
He will quiet us with His love. He has done this for me daily. This world can really play with our emotions, scare us and make us feel insignificant. But He loves each and every one of us sooooo much and a “Big Wow”,
He rejoices over us with singing.
That is sooooo amazing to think that the Lord of all the universe sings over His children.
Wow, I love this verse; it makes me smile every time I read it! Thank you, Lord, for saving us, being with us, loving us, praying over us, delighting in us, and singing over us!
Origins of the Oriental Furniture Style
The history of Oriental Furnishings can be traced back more than 7,000 years. The Chinese furniture styles originally reached their height in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, beginning sometime in the 13th century. There was a rise in these styles in the 16th century, and their popularity continues today.
China is a huge country with too many varieties of furniture styles, forms, and craftsmanship of the work to mention them all. Instead, we will concentrate on the general characteristics of this style instead of the hundreds of specific styles that make up this vast Oriental style.
This Asia Oriental style is an elegant and simple style. It is an ancient style at its core. Many of the original characteristics have made it through the centuries and are valid participators in the current love of the Oriental Furniture Style.
Through the years, I have had a few clients that loved the beauty of Oriental Furnishings.
One of my clients, Susan, was so funny when I first met her. She loved the Oriental Furniture style, but she clearly stated that she did not want the Oriental style so strong that her husband would feel like he needed to wear a Kimono around the house.
Susan is the sweetest person, a beautiful mom, wife, and friend. I absolutely loved working with her and her husband. Her style has a transitional base with a strong Oriental influence.
Another client is Steve and Dona. I have worked on many homes with them, starting in Reno and then in Fiji. Much of the furniture that we bought for the first residence in Reno, and then Fiji, was later used in their residence in Vancouver.
Once they sold their Vancouver Penthouse, Steve and Dona moved back to Reno. I just visited them in their current Reno home. It has much of the original furniture that was bought years ago. It still looks brand new.
10 Characteristics of a Person Who Likes the Oriental Furniture Style
People who love this style may be from Asia and may love the elements of romantic adventure that this style provides. That said, there are many people from all over the world who also enjoy this furniture style.
Their home is classic and lasting as people inclined to this style love the nostalgia of ancient days gone by.
This person has exquisite taste and attention to detail. Lasting quality and materials are signatures of this style.
People who love this beautiful authentic Asian or Oriental Style love authentic accessories. These accessories are oftentimes accented with or filled with precious and semi-precious gems.
This person is family-oriented and loves great natural food from the land.
This person, many times, like furnishings that have been inspired by the original Oriental pieces. An example of this is a traditional, oriental style called Chinese Chippendale.
7. The people who love the Oriental Furniture style love finding vintage pieces. Many times they are very, very old and expensive. These hard-to-find pieces can be exciting to discover, especially if the furnishings, accessories, and fabrics are original.
8. These people focus on natural raw materials, such as refined wood, brick, stone, old-looking tiles, and marble.
9. This person likes eastern philosophies, such as a type of balance called yin and yang. This can be thought of as complementary (rather than opposing) forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the individual pieces.
10. This Oriental-style person likes fine finishes on their furniture pieces. Shiny or matte lacquers, crackled or smooth and glossy, are common finishes in this style. There is a lot of black, orange, and red in the base color schemes of this style. Often, the additional colors in this color scheme are a variety of warm, muted shades of almost any color.
Styling Ideas for a Person Who Designs Using the Oriental Furniture Style
Oriental rugs are special and always hand woven. By definition, only hand-woven rugs can be called Oriental Rugs. Authentic oriental rugs have a distinctive feature that no machine can replicate - the weaver attaches the nap to the base threads with special types of knots that can only be made by hand.
Many times precious and semi-precious stones are used in these accessories. Think of the beautiful gem-filled oriental screens.
The use of ceramic utensils, chopsticks, paper lanterns, and unique lighting are among the many distinct characteristics of Oriental design.
Oriental furniture is mainly symmetrical and inspires a sense of harmony, unity, balance, and stability.
Nature plays a big part in the patterns of this Asian style. Chinese floral patterns, shorebirds, and the use of plants finish the ambiance in this room.
Chinoiserie is characterized by its exemplary blue and white color schemes and traditional East Asian subjects.
Architecture in the Chinese provincial life is the notorious Pagoda.
Classic furniture styling depended on joinery, not nails and glue. These interlocking joints were strong and simple. This perfect joinery left room for the woods to swell and move in response to the region's humidity. Many times the furniture could be taken apart for easier moving.
Upholstered furnishings can be Oriental-style wood framed or a modern transitional style. Down and feather seats and backs can add to the softness and coziness of this Oriental style.
Most Oriental Furniture pieces were hand–made using wood from their region. Species such as Chinese beech, birch, paulownia, alder, maple, rosewood, padauk, and mahogany are used for furniture and other high–quality hardwoods. These woods' common features are beauty, durability, hardness, and resistance to corrosion.
In architecture, exposed wooden ceiling beams and hardwood floors are common, Among those hardwoods, huanghuali was especially popular in the Ming dynasty because of its texture, color, and odor.
Remember, only collecting what you love will make you happier. This style is best completed with the final look being reminiscent of the Orient.
I lived in the San Francisco Bay area. One thing that I remember as sensational is the Oriental furnishings and food. It is some of the best in the world. I always said if it makes my nose run and my eyes water, it is fantastic. Yes, I like it spicey, Kung Pao, but not too spicy, and Soooo Goooood!
What Is Your Design Personality Style?
If you have not taken the Design Personality Style Quiz, go to Episode #3 to take it.
It is important to determine both your Design Personality Style and your Furniture Style.
The personality quiz is designed to work along with your furniture style. It is important to establish your interior design personality style first because it helps to determine your interior design furniture style.
Once you determine both your Interior Design Personality and your Furniture Style, it makes shopping so much easier and less stressful. The reason is that you now shop only for your personality and furniture styles. It eliminates all the other personality types and furniture styles that really are not yours.
Determine your personality style and furniture style or styles first and then continue with your interior design plan.
What’s Next For You?
Next week, I will discuss: Should You Renovate Your Home Before Listing? What about Pre-Forclosure, how can you handle that?
As our verse for this week says, I pray that the Lord is with you, delighting and rejoicing over you with singing this week.
He is mighty to save.
If you have never asked the Lord to be one of His children, see the show notes to do that. Please let me know if you asked Him to be one of His children. The bible said the angels are celebrating in heaven over everyone who gives their life to Him and I would love to pray for you and celebrate with you too!
Stop Dreaming, Start Designing your luxury home in your personality style and in your furniture style, and within your budget!
Blessings and See you next episode…
Examples of the Oriental Furniture Style
If you want to see examples of furnishings that go along with this Oriental Style, visit Sheree’s Shop on my website and scroll down to the My Country - Oriental Furniture Style. There you will see sofas, sectionals, chairs, coffee tables, lamps, area rugs, and accessories in this style.
You are welcome to browse and enjoy and hopefully get some great pieces and ideas for your home and design.
A Prayer to Receive Jesus Christ as Savior
The most important relationship for everyone is our relationship with Jesus Christ. Choosing to believe that he is who he claimed to be—the Son of God and the only way to salvation—and receiving him by faith as your Lord and Savior is the most vital act anyone will ever do. We want life. He is Life. We need cleansing. He is the Living Water. Here is a simple prayer if you have not yet given your life to Jesus and invited him into yours:
Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father. I choose to turn from my sins, self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you. I choose you. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving—a person like you. Restore me, Jesus. Live in me. Love through me. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
