A Guide to Chinese Interior Design

26 November, 2024

If your interiors are in need of an update and you want to create a rich, elegant look, taking inspiration from Chinese interior design can be a great way to shape and transform your space.

Chinese furniture is full of character and charm, providing the perfect opportunity to infuse your interiors with a sense of warmth and personal style. Discover the common aspects of Chinese design and the best ways to bring it into your home.

What is Chinese Interior Design?

Like the other elements of Chinese culture, interior design in the country has a proud and lengthy history. You can see this heritage shine through in various contemporary pieces, as many designs nod to the styles and concepts present in traditional furniture and decor from across the dynasties.

Ideas of balance, harmony, intricate craftsmanship and positive energy flow are often associated with Chinese design. The influence of Chinese interior design can be seen in European styles such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco and other contemporary styles.

Ultimately, there’s a certain timelessness about the qualities favoured by Chinese design, making it quite easy to embrace alongside other interior design styles and trends.

Chinese Interior Design Characteristics

As it spans various regions and eras, Chinese interior design can be quite nebulous and can’t really be boiled down to one particular look. However, several key characteristics certainly evoke the feeling of traditional Chinese design.

Rich, Bold Colours

Traditional Chinese interiors make good use of rich colours that add depth and vibrancy to a space. Striking red, yellows and blacks are commonly found in Chinese design.

In Chinese culture, the symbolism each colour holds can be particularly important, with various colours being embraced to reflect certain things. For instance, red is a powerful colour signifying prosperity, good fortune and happiness. Yellow can represent wealth and power.

Both of these colours can be used in your interiors to add warmth, opulence and playfulness while paying homage to their symbolic meaning.

Simplicity & Functionality

While Chinese design can often showcase ornate decorative elements, simplicity and functionality remain at its core. Both traditional and contemporary styles blend aesthetics with practicality, prioritising furniture that serves the space.

These notions of simplicity and functionality feed into ideas about balance, flow and spatial harmony.

Lacquer Furniture

Lacquering is a traditional decorative and protective technique whereby furniture or other items are coated in resin made from tree sap, which leaves a smooth, shiny finish. Lacquered furniture has become synonymous with Chinese design thanks to the number of incredible pieces being produced in the country over the centuries.

Red and black Chinese lacquer furniture is commonly embellished with hints of gold, adding an instant hint of luxury to your interior. These pieces also signify expert craftsmanship and give you the perfect opportunity to proudly display traditional Chinese motifs and decorative patterns.

Cloisonné Details

Another decorative technique often seen in Chinese design is cloisonné. This involves decorating metal items with coloured enamel and metal wires that have been hammered or soldered in place to create intricate designs.

You’ll often see this technique on things like vases, jewellery boxes, plates and bowls to stunning effect. Incorporating pieces that use this ancient technique alongside traditional Chinese patterns and designs is an easy way to add a bit of Chinese artistry to your space.

Natural Materials

Natural materials like stone, bamboo and other woods are another key element of Chinese design. As a symbol of resilience, moral integrity and virtue, bamboo is a popular material to incorporate into the home, helping to set you up with a positive space.

Other woods inspire a sense of warmth and connection to nature – you’ll find a great variety of Chinese furniture made from all sorts of woods, including things like elm, camphor, cypress, walnut, rosewood and much more.

Chinese design may also make good use of other natural elements like silks, indoor potted plants and even small water features to further embrace a sense of peace and tranquillity.

Latticework

Latticework is yet another Chinese design staple that is ideal for introducing patterns, texture and functionality to a space. You may see latticework incorporated into doors, windows, screens and wall partitions, providing a barrier of sorts while still allowing plenty of light through.

These kinds of features were typically hand-carved from wood and adorned with a range of geometric or symbolic patterns.

Decorative Screens

Decorative screens can provide additional privacy or serve as a foldable room partition. While being incredibly functional, traditionally, the screens are also amazing art pieces.

Many are decorated with intricate paintings, latticework, carvings or murals, showcasing stunning natural scenes. If you like the idea of wallpaper but aren’t able to incorporate it into a particular room, decorative Chinese screens can make a lovely alternative.

Porcelain Vases

Other things that likely come to mind when thinking about Chinese design are porcelain vases, perhaps with the iconic blue and white patterns. Chinese porcelain has a fantastic reputation and layered historical significance, so is often seen incorporated into a number of interior styles.

Chinese porcelain and ceramic pieces can add a hint of sophistication to your space and provide a good point of reference for other patterns, colours and shapes you might want to include in your interiors.

Feng Shui

Feng shui is an ancient concept and practice that shapes many of the general layouts and aesthetics seen across Chinese design. Feng shui is all about arranging items in your living spaces to optimise the flow of energy (chi or Qi), creating a sense of balance that promotes health and happiness.

Good feng shui is also concerned with balancing the five elements (earth, water, air, fire and metal) which come with their own associated colours, shapes and qualities.

Keeping the principles around feng shui in mind when you’re decorating your space is a good way to start building up a Chinese-inspired design.

How to Embrace Chinese-Inspired Interior Design

The timeless beauty of traditional Chinese interior design makes it an attractive style to embrace in the contemporary home, allowing you to create spaces of elegance and character. There are so many ways to get inspired and incorporate various elements into your interiors.

Utilise vibrant colours: Embrace pops of traditional Chinese colours like red, yellow or gold to evoke core elements of the style.
Embrace antique furniture: Genuine pieces of antique Chinese furniture allow you to showcase authentic craftsmanship and create eclectic spaces that seamlessly blend modern and traditional aesthetics.
Incorporate classic patterns and motifs: Embrace different traditional patterns throughout your space, whether it's through bigger pieces of furniture, artwork or trinkets and decorative pieces.
Prioritise natural materials: Make plenty of room for natural elements and houseplants to centre a connection with nature.
Consider layout: Think carefully about your layout and the position of pieces of furniture to remain mindful of feng shui.
Take inspiration from traditional Chinese design: Ultimately, one of the best things you can do is reflect on the key characteristics often associated with Chinese interior design and consider how they can best be brought into your home.

If you’re particularly interested in bringing antique pieces into your home but are not sure how they’ll work alongside your current style, see our guide on styling antique Chinese furniture in a modern home.

As one of Europe’s largest retailers of antique Chinese furniture, we hold a great appreciation for Chinese interior design and work hard to ensure our customers can find the perfect pieces for their home.

Whether you’re after genuine antiques or stunning reproduction pieces, we stock an extensive range of Chinese furniture to help you achieve your design vision.

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