Chinese Interior Design Style Overview and Description

The interior in each house fulfills an important function that boils down not just to decorating and achieving ideal from the aesthetic point of view indicators but is a way to achieve comfort, harmony, coziness, and practicality. Therefore, faced with the choice of interior solutions, we go through all the possible options: high-tech, rococo, fusion, minimalism, avant-garde, pop art, etc., trying to find the golden mean that will help you to live in your house and enjoy, feel pacification. This means is the Chinese style in the interior for many people today, which is based on the principles of simplicity, energy, and nature.

Contents:

• Features
• Colors
• Flooring
• Wall decoration
• Ceilings
• Furniture
• Accessories
• Nuances
• Who will appreciate the style?

History of Development

Even at the end of the XVIII century, the traditions of Europe began to intersect with Chinese art – more attention was paid to the products of applied art of Chinese masters who won attention with their exotics and luxury. People from the upper layer of society had created whole collections of expensive and mysterious Chinese porcelain. And only in 1707 D. Bettger started porcelain production in Europe.

But more influence of the Chinese style inflicted on the furniture art of England (mid-18th century). The style found his admirer – it was the famous English furniture maker Thomas Chippendale.

It was in his works where a combination of traditional techniques with Chinese decorative bars and slats could be observed. China became the founder of lacquer technology, while European furniture was made according to Chinese models. It is not surprising that Russia, which is close in geographical location, has adopted the Chinese traditions even faster.

But, being so famous in the era of rococo, the Chinese style soon succumbed to oblivion. And only our days, there has appeared an excessive interest in Chinese culture and the artistic tradition over the world. It is because China while remaining a conservative state for millennia, developed sustainable customs, canons, which to this day remained unchanged, integral. It is the world perception of the Chinese, which found its reflection in bronze casting, ceramics, porcelain and carpet products, painting, fine silk, all the time has been attracting a European man.

Chinese Style: Distinctive Features

Having carefully studied the interior features of Chinese dwellings, you begin to understand that it differs significantly from the traditions of other Eastern peoples. The whole reason – the search for a philosophical beginning in everything around and the peaceful way of life of the Chinese.

The interior in Chinese style is the absence of sharp corners, excessively cumbersome furniture, but its great variety.

The main material for the manufacture of interior items is elastic, but strong bamboo. When creating furniture, masters use a complex multi-layer varnishing technique as a decorating element. And carving on black varnish remains the best method of decoration to this day.

The ceremonial furniture in the Chinese interior was harmoniously combined with ordinary objects – cabinets, complemented by exquisitely decorated lacquer tables that served as a stand for luxurious vases and ornaments.

The use of the intarsia technique, which is known to Europeans, is another distinguishing feature of Chinese furniture. In fact, the technique is an inlay decorated from thin plywood of various shades, for the surfaces of cabinets and tables. But from the European (which is carried out on a level with the plane), it is distinguished by its location. In the Chinese, it stands above the level of the surface. The main interior items – tables, chairs, and beds were made of natural materials (mainly bamboo) and had a rectangular shape.

The main interior items among the furniture were a deckchair, chairs, and tables. All items were made using bamboo and usually had rectangular shapes. Another distinctive feature of the Chinese interior, which has survived today, is the absence of curtains and drapes on the windows.

Interior in the Chinese style always means harmony, exotics, conciseness, – everything that helps in creating a relaxing cozy atmosphere.

Chinese Interior Design Style. Colors

The Chinese style is a combination of characteristic accents, therefore such interior not only reveals the individual features, tastes, and preferences of its owner but also creates a suitable atmosphere, becomes the environment of influence for each guest. Not the last role in this is played colors, which are symbolic and meaningful for the Chinese.

Yellow is considered the color of the emperor, national color. Green means tranquility, and blue is a sign of nobility, which is carefully, unobtrusively applied in the interior by the nobility. Of course, the choice of this or another color depends on the preferences of the owners, their tastes and views.

Flooring

The arrangement of flooring is reduced in the Chinese interior to the use of a large stone tile or a massive board of light or dark saturated color, sometimes with an unobtrusive red tint. The ideal option is bamboo flooring. As an alternative, they use a carpet of a cinder type or a laminate.

In the case of the use of ceramic granite or tile, the color solution is selected according to the same principle as for wood – unobtrusive light / dark tones, absence of “garish” drawings.

Wall Decoration

Interior in the Chinese style, as a rule, involves painting or plastering walls, but there is a place and for paper-based wallpaper (it was invented in China). It is acceptable to use wall painting: dwarf trees, flowering plants, birds, mountains, etc. Each figure carries a semantic load, so you should choose them carefully.

The trendy is the decoration of the walls (as a rule, it is one wall) with dark wood; less often with light one. A successful solution is to use dark patterns made of wood, which create a sense of contrast thanks to a light wall. You can choose patterns in the tone of the floor or ceiling decor.

An important moment in the creation of the Chinese interior is the use of exclusively natural finishing materials.

Ceilings

Ceilings, as a rule, are performed in light colors and have a multi-level design that allows creating an illusion of volume and to simulate the light of the sun or sky by using the lighting.

In addition, various wooden decorative elements are often used, matched in contrast to the basic tone. Rectangular shape, decorated with lighting, is often allocated on the ceiling.

 

Furniture

Furniture is an important part of the Chinese interior. It is comfortable and practical, made of wood with the use of all kinds of techniques. Decorative furniture with elements of carving, encrusting, and varnishing, mainly black and red shades is actively used along with ordinary furniture. Bulky furniture with brightly expressed sharp corners is not an option for the Chinese interior as they try to avoid sharp corners and rectangular shapes as much as possible. For this purpose, use tablecloths and pillows to hide the corners.

Light floor couches and sofas, bamboo chairs, lacquered stools, and round tables for tea drinking – these are the main options for furnishing the interior in the Chinese style.

Decor lockers are carried out using a technique of complex multilayer varnish, carving on black lacquer, intarsia. For the purposes of zoning, stationary and mobile screens, screens are often used.

The lockers are decorated with a sophisticated technique of multi-layer varnishing. Carving of black lacquer, intarsia (incrustation), and incrustation with mother of pearl, tortoiseshell, or valuable wood species are used for decoration. And, for zoning, you can use painted covers and screens.

Interior decoration in the Chinese style strictly follow feng shui, so placing similar items of the interior is taken in pairs, in a certain composition. For example, it can be a table where on both sides located the same lacquered stools.

The Chinese are one of the exceptions among the eastern peoples – after all, they traditionally eat, sitting on a chair, and sleep on the bed.

To achieve the ideal result in the creation of the Chinese interior can be not only with the help of furniture made in China. European and US factories produce decent analogs that can be supplemented with accessories and details to achieve the goal.

Accessories

Products of porcelain, wood, and bronze, chrysanthemums, orchids and peonies, lanterns, smoking sticks, magnificent Chinese painting, satin cushions with embroidery, quaint supports, fans, vases with hieroglyphics, dwarf trees, bamboo, candles, Chinese umbrellas – all these accessories become unchanged companions of the Chinese style.

With their help, you can set a special mood and atmosphere in the interior, show a taste, and reveal the inner world.

A worthy addition to the interior will be mirrored, which are located exclusively by the canons of feng shui.

Some more Nuances

The house in Chinese interior traditions is personified in the prototype of Heaven – it is in unity with the garden zone, thereby organizing the unity of the inner and outer world.

Particular attention in the Chinese interior is given to the decoration of windows and doors, their location. Often they are quite fanciful forms.

Who will Appreciate the Chinese Style?

Chinese style in the interior is, above all, the choice of people who are peaceful, traditional, and extraordinary. It is ideal for fans of unusual solutions, laconism, and bright colors. Lovers of philosophy in all its manifestations, including the organization of home space, will certainly appreciate this oriental tradition.

If you are a man or a woman with a refined taste, a connoisseur of rare accessories and luxury items – you should give preference to the Chinese style!