Discover Chinoiserie Style for Your Home
Here's how to work this timeless decorating style into your rooms
Cheryl F
7 February 2018
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing for the UK's top interiors titles. I love shopping for quirky accessories, have a passion for rummaging through vintage stores and I'm ever-hopeful of finding that elusive perfect paint shade.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a London-based journalist with years of experience writing... More
The chinoiserie style, which includes lacquered finishes, silk and dark woods as well as patterned textiles featuring stylised nature motifs, originated in the 17th and 18th centuries as a romanticised version of Chinese aesthetics adapted for Western audiences. Its appeal has endured in interiors and fashion for a reason and 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.
Chinoiserie Style, Decoded
Chinoiserie Style, Decoded
Blossom out
There are plenty of chinoiserie wallpapers featuring pretty blossom, and it’s easy to see why they are such a popular choice. They add a romantic softness to schemes, and work particularly well in bedrooms. A typical chinoiserie wallpaper will have a silky finish. In this room the neutral colourway is easy to live with and coordinates with other accessories.
There are plenty of chinoiserie wallpapers featuring pretty blossom, and it’s easy to see why they are such a popular choice. They add a romantic softness to schemes, and work particularly well in bedrooms. A typical chinoiserie wallpaper will have a silky finish. In this room the neutral colourway is easy to live with and coordinates with other accessories.
Choose a wonderful wallpaper
As well as chinoiserie’s typical blossom-filled boughs, look for prints that feature stylised figures, traditional Chinese buildings and exotic animals. This classic chinoiserie print (Palais Chinois by Osborne & Little) has wading birds, palm trees and pagodas for a luxurious effect.
Here, it looks opulent teamed with a black lacquer four-poster bed dressed with silk cushions, items that follow the chinoiserie theme through. Why not add a tray and teapot for some jasmine or green tea to complete the look?
As well as chinoiserie’s typical blossom-filled boughs, look for prints that feature stylised figures, traditional Chinese buildings and exotic animals. This classic chinoiserie print (Palais Chinois by Osborne & Little) has wading birds, palm trees and pagodas for a luxurious effect.
Here, it looks opulent teamed with a black lacquer four-poster bed dressed with silk cushions, items that follow the chinoiserie theme through. Why not add a tray and teapot for some jasmine or green tea to complete the look?
Love some lacquer
For a chic chinoiserie look that doesn’t necessarily rely on floral papers 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 the 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.
Install a Chinese cabinet in your living room or dining room instead of a sideboard, and use it to store table linen and dinnerware. These cabinets would also make a great place to stash spare blankets and pillows in a guest bedroom. Authentic Chinese cabinets are beauties but can run into the thousands, but you can source attractive but less pricey reproductions if you hunt around.
For a chic chinoiserie look that doesn’t necessarily rely on floral papers 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 the 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.
Install a Chinese cabinet in your living room or dining room instead of a sideboard, and use it to store table linen and dinnerware. These cabinets would also make a great place to stash spare blankets and pillows in a guest bedroom. Authentic Chinese cabinets are beauties but can run into the thousands, but you can source attractive but less pricey reproductions if you hunt around.
Give it a modern update
While chinoiserie lends itself naturally to a more formal or traditional look, you can easily work it into a more modern scheme, as this bedroom shows brilliantly. Choose just a couple of interesting elements for a contemporary twist. The patterned blue and white bedspread looks lovely teamed with vivid blue walls, while the chic plate display echoes chinoiserie’s love affair with decorative ceramics. However, the Tulip side table keeps things simple and more contemporary along with fresh white woodwork.
While chinoiserie lends itself naturally to a more formal or traditional look, you can easily work it into a more modern scheme, as this bedroom shows brilliantly. Choose just a couple of interesting elements for a contemporary twist. The patterned blue and white bedspread looks lovely teamed with vivid blue walls, while the chic plate display echoes chinoiserie’s love affair with decorative ceramics. However, the Tulip side table keeps things simple and more contemporary along with fresh white woodwork.
Go for a dark background
Chinoiserie’s whimsical illustrations can often be found on darker backgrounds, giving a dramatic effect. They typically feature animals and birds, traditional motifs in Chinese designs, as well as botanicals.
Invest in one or two beautiful standout pieces if you can afford to, rather than cramming every corner with accessories. This intricate bedhead featuring a stylised tree and birds works as artwork as well as a piece of furniture.
Chinoiserie’s whimsical illustrations can often be found on darker backgrounds, giving a dramatic effect. They typically feature animals and birds, traditional motifs in Chinese designs, as well as botanicals.
Invest in one or two beautiful standout pieces if you can afford to, rather than cramming every corner with accessories. This intricate bedhead featuring a stylised tree and birds works as artwork as well as a piece of furniture.
Upgrade period style
Chinoiserie prints became popular in the UK during the Georgian era, 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 paper in a heritage shade, such as this spring green to fit the era of your home. The colour here really lifts the room and contrasts well with the warm woods of the antique furniture and rust-red Persian rug.
Chinoiserie prints became popular in the UK during the Georgian era, 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 paper in a heritage shade, such as this spring green to fit the era of your home. The colour here really lifts the room and contrasts well with the warm woods of the antique furniture and rust-red Persian rug.
Urn your keep
Pretty painted Chinese-style porcelain can be a great way to inject a little grandeur and character. Try mixing in classic blue and white patterns, which work surprisingly well in a more modern kitchen.
In this bright space, the line of blue urns on a high shelf add a more decorative ambience to the room, along with low-slung chandeliers and floral curtains.
Pretty painted Chinese-style porcelain can be a great way to inject a little grandeur and character. Try mixing in classic blue and white patterns, which work surprisingly well in a more modern kitchen.
In this bright space, the line of blue urns on a high shelf add a more decorative ambience to the room, along with low-slung chandeliers and floral curtains.
Work it in a hallway
A cluster of chinoiserie elements can really help 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, like this one, feature stunning hand-painted designs, with delicate flora and fauna. Choose a pattern you love for some extra romance in your life.
Create a welcoming hallway when you don’t have one
A cluster of chinoiserie elements can really help 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, like this one, feature stunning hand-painted designs, with delicate flora and fauna. Choose a pattern you love for some extra romance in your life.
Create a welcoming hallway when you don’t have one
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 that’s wallpapers, throws or curtains. Silk’s light-reflecting properties also lifts rooms featuring 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 and goes perfectly with the fringed silky features of blossom and patterned cushions. The dark floor and lacquered black cabinets add up to a sophisticated look.
Take advantage of chic dark wood floors
If you love silks and satins, you’re in luck. Shimmery fabrics or finishes are part of the chinoiserie look, whether that’s wallpapers, throws or curtains. Silk’s light-reflecting properties also lifts rooms featuring 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 and goes perfectly with the fringed silky features of blossom and patterned cushions. The dark floor and lacquered black cabinets add up to a sophisticated look.
Take advantage of chic dark wood floors
Express your eclectic side
If your interiors style is eclectic then chinoiserie will fit right into the mix. A couple of quirky cushions featuring Chinese-influenced patterns can work brilliantly amid a variety of shapes and colours.
Don’t be scared to just dip your toe into this trend. Cushions are a particularly good way to add the look with limited commitment.
TELL US
Do you love the chinoiserie look, and if so why? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
If your interiors style is eclectic then chinoiserie will fit right into the mix. A couple of quirky cushions featuring Chinese-influenced patterns can work brilliantly amid a variety of shapes and colours.
Don’t be scared to just dip your toe into this trend. Cushions are a particularly good way to add the look with limited commitment.
TELL US
Do you love the chinoiserie look, and if so why? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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We recently downsized to a 560 sf studio and wanted it to have a cozy jewel box vibe. We used Chinoiserie and English pieces with Asian art. we are really pleased with the results.
Wow! They should be using your place as an example of what is the right way to incorporate Chinoiserie & English elements. Bravo!