Eastern Influences On Western Interiors: Japanese Decor - Part I of II - Color, Texture and Contrast

The topic of eastern influences on western interiors is a very broad subject. Many countries, such as China, Japan, Tibet, etc., have had an influence. Therefore, I have chosen to focus on one country for this article, Japan.

Characteristics of Japanese Interiors

1. COLOR:

Japanese interiors generally use neutral, natural colors, to provide a simple background. Interiors emphasize architecture, and as a result, provide a sense of geometric order. In addition, natural colors minimize a feeling of clutter, which is also essential to eastern design and its philosophy of simplicity. When a statement is made in a Japanese interior, it is usually through a single strong exclamation of color or a predominant texture.

Eastern art colors are pure. Unlike western art, which mixes color and refines sketches, eastern art is original. This means the initial color and/or brush stroke is the final result. Western art is often complex, whereas eastern art is simple, strong, and graphic.

Black is often considered a "non-color" in western society, yet, it is very important in eastern interiors. The use of black in oriental rooms lends definition and form. For example, black is a color in its own right, when used with white rice paper in a shoji screen.

2. TEXTURE & CONTRAST:

Some Japanese textures and materials that immediately come to mind are cedar, rice paper, maple, bamboo, stone, and woven wicker. One might also think of textured silk, tatami floor mats, and the elaborate needlework of kimonos and obi's.

Japanese culture seeks to balance opposites in all aspects of life (yin and yang), and interiors are no exception. Interior finishes can be highly opposing and contrasting, and yet achieve balance. Examples are, highly polished floors with heavily textured mats, a lacquered box displayed on top of a rough wooden table, or white pebbles on a polished black granite ledge around a tub.

3. DISPLAY:

Western homes typically use an object on the perimeter as a focal point, such as a fireplace, a painting, or an elaborate window treatment. Eastern interiors, on the other hand, focus on a central object, such as a hearth (irori), a garden, an altar, or an elaborate still life composition.

Japanese homes also commonly have display alcoves, called tokonoma. Objects placed in these alcoves generate two types of feelings, either (1) a natural or organic feel, by displaying an odd number of objects together, or (2) an ordered and disciplined environment by using an even quantity. For example, three calligraphy brushes in a cup would be organic, and four pebbles on a dish would be disciplined.

Japanese displays are fluid. In other words, a Japanese alcove may display a scroll one-week, and a set of pots the next. Eastern cultures tend to store and rotate objects. (This is probably for two reasons; (1) limited space, and, (2) visual pollution, outside the home, as the population increases.) Japanese displays are a reflection of the season, celebration, or honored guest. This minimal approach focuses on the quality and craftsmanship.

Instead of rotating objects, westerners tend to "display it all." (I guess its because they we're afraid someone whose given us something may come over and we won't have it out?) A westerner would also tend to add to a display to create a balance, whereas an easterner would create harmony by taking away. To easterners, less is more, order is harmony, and there is a place for everything and everything is in its place.

This concludes Part I. Part II of Eastern Influences on Western Interiors: Japanese Décor will focus on the Tea Ceremony, Furnishings, and Antiques or Reproductions.

Interior Design For a Small Apartment

Apartments demand a special interior decorating touch. You must take away the feeling of an apartment by decorating your space without running afoul of the landlord.

Most rentals are often faced with the same lighting fixtures, wall colors, carpet, flooring and cupboards. You can express your creative idea by add in touches that look permanent but actually are not.

Since your landlord might not even let you paint, you can apply large wall stickers, such as poppies that reach from a floor to ceiling to add color to bland walls while giving your space a hand painted effect.

Maybe you need to ask permission to hang up curtains for a homey touch. Many landlords will ask that the lining of the curtains be white so it matches the rest of the window treatments in the building.

One simple thing that adds a huge change for overall appearance is making a statement with furniture. You should spend a little more money to get pieces with style. Look at the overall area building design to take the idea of your furniture and decorating style.

For example, if you live in an art deco building or sleek pieces, just look for curvy line. If you are decorating a building in a modern style for a cohesive look, try to stick with stainless steel legs.

You may be able to get a smaller scale sofa that won't overwhelm the space. Try to use one ottoman instead of two or fewer side tables and floor lamps to free up the floor plan. Having a platform bed may make a room feel bigger than a regular four poster bed that is important so your space does not feel like an interior design living room.

Achieve the look of color. Even when you do apartment interior decorating you might feel like your house is still white and bare. Select for painted furniture pieces with color so the white walls look intentional such as pottery or hanging colorful plates on the wall.

You can find another interior design ideas for your small apartment, get in interior design room.

Learn About the Materials to Look Out in Interior Designing

We all want our houses to look the best at any cost. We use the best quality paints, furniture items, carpets, curtains, window blinds etc just to have a good looking house. We even go to the length of paying extra for hiring an interior designer. But these may not be enough to give shape to your dreams. You have to take care of a number of things to make sure your vision becomes a reality. Following a few steps here and there can help you a long way in helping you with the house decor.

Before we begin about how to design or redesign your house one thing has to be mentioned here. The entire ordeal takes some time and lot of attention. Therefore indulge in interior deigning only if you have the time and patience on your side. Designing or redesigning a house can be done only when you have a definite plan in your mind. Don't panic if you don't. The World Wide Web can be your savior in this respect. A number of websites offer valuable guides and advice on how to go about designing one's own house. While you are online also check out the online stores that offer decorative items for bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms etc. You can also buy products from these online stores only if you are sure the website is genuine and not a fraud.

Many people choose their local market as a source of interior decorative pieces like door handles, curtains, draperies, mirrors, washbasins and much more. They consider these sources to be much safer than the online one. Be sure to check out the maximum number of home decor shops in the area before you make the purchase. Once you have good knowledge of the prices of products you can start buying them.

Never try to design the entire house's look at one go. Concentrate at one section at time. However you must always have a clear idea about the basic decor theme of the house. Most of us end up overdoing things that makes house look too congested. So try and stick to minimal purchase of goodies when trying to decorate the interiors of your house. This theory becomes even more critical when it comes to adorning bathrooms. Bathrooms should have enough space as that adds to the experience while you take a shower or relax after a long day's work.

Another mistake that people do is they end up ignoring their kitchens. You should never overlook the decor of your kitchen as it is one of the most important rooms of any house. Don't install too many gadgets as that might make the kitchen look congested. In fact a number of interior designing experts will opine you to try out compact gadgets and furniture goods for your kitchen. Whatever you modify or buy always remember your goal is to make your house look good without wasting too much money. Now that you know what to do get your ideas together, put them down on a piece of paper and start redefining interiors of your dream home.

Terrys Fabrics specialize in the distribution of blinds, roller blinds, vertical blinds and Roman Blinds within the United Kingdom.

Different Ideas For Home Interior

Home Interior is defined and understood by many as an action being done by a person or group of persons who wants to redesign the present picture or portrait of a given structure with a more beautiful ambiance, making it more conducive in an aroma of love and care and more comfortable to live in. Sometimes this idea encompasses the fact that they want to build a home and not of a house, where because of the changing times house interior is used as a means to improve the quality of the lives of families living under one roof.

Today, there are a lot of different ideas and strategies in decorating your home. But as a preliminary idea, what you should understand about Home Interior is that action where a designer makes a house turned into a home. In one study that has been conducted there are certain conditions that you should understand in trying to achieve the said goal. One is that you should first have to scale the wideness of the certain building. The purpose of this is for you to know what should you and should you not buy as materials in order to avoid spending. Also, you should be aware of the color that you want to apply on certain walls and ceilings to avoid incompatibility that might arise in the future.

Moreover, you should also remember that in trying to buy and purchase certain furniture and various decorative materials, you must avoid acquiring materials that are not suitable for the kind of color and texture of the place that you are in. An example of which is when you are in a small place then you must not buy large and big furniture so as not to ruin the image and picture of the home that you are making. In addition, if you plan to buy a bigger material then you must be sure that there must still be a space left for you and your family to gather and play.

Basically, the main point that you should focus on is to make the home cozy, elegant and pure. In trying to make your room cozier you should buy materials that are soft and has a heavy texture, which is intended for the drapes and covering of some of your furniture. Also, to add a little coziness and style in your designated place put some lighting in proper places. With this kind of style surely you will attract a good air and will also give you the calmness and will definitely augment the sense of soothe that is present in the place.

Finally, Home Interior is also helpful in some ways that you can ever imagine. Home interior will teach you also to improve your imaginary thinking. Some of the tools and gadgets that are being used in decorating their houses are stainless glasses that are made of rocks and gems. With this fact, you can already see the benefits that Home Interior has just presented. The decision now is up to you whether or not to follow the said facts that are already used not only be mere persons but also by famous celebrities. Start your own Home Interior Decoration with the given information and it will be fun.

Expert Home Decor Opinions by Top Interior Designer from Interior Design Singapore.

How You Can Get The Sleek Look Of Contemporary Interior Design

You can refresh your living space with modern flair, using contemporary interior design. The sleek lines and smooth textures of this style create an inviting and interesting space. It's a mistake to think of this style as uncomfortable and spare. The new contemporary interior design is clean and smooth, but livable. Contemporary interior design can impart a modern feeling no matter what kind of living space you have.

Furniture for contemporary interior design is sleek and linear. Simply finished wood, steel, or other clean finishes are desirable. Old-fashioned or traditional pieces are out of place here. You can mix and match styles of furniture if you stay within the same tone and material range for all pieces, such as brushed steel. Wooden pieces tend to either be dark or very light to provide contrast.

Window treatments are generally clean and without frills. Blinds in wood or bamboo are popular, as are simple shades in lightly textured fabric. Using such materials as wool, slubbed silk, and linen provides a contrast to the many shiny surfaces common in contemporary interior design. Don't go overboard and use too many, or you'll risk spoiling the effect. Complicated patterns are also to be avoided, as they provide a cluttered look.

Splashes of color bring interest to the generally neutral palette in contemporary interior design. Bold tones can be incorporated in accessories and accents like lamps, artwork, and rugs. Paintings and sculpture should be chosen in styles that go with the rest of the themes. Abstracts or expressionistic work often go well. Pay attention to the colors in your artwork, so that they don't clash or interfere with what you plan to use elsewhere in the room. Accessories should generally be clean and without frills or excessive decoration. Naturalistic, organic forms provide excellent contrast to sharp edges and vice versa.

How you light your room can play a big part in how it is perceived. Track lighting, recessed lighting, and standalone lamps are popular. The old time ceiling light is less desirable. When locating fixtures for lighting your room, look for modern stylings and simple, bold finishes. Accent lamps can be bright, colorful affairs, but one or two colors in the piece is usually sufficient. You can also use simple wood or steel lamps with undecorated shades.

Contemporary interior design can be easily added to a room without breaking the bank. You can find items at sales or fix up second hand pieces. To achieve this look, you don't need very many items, too. With contemporary interior design, less is more. With only a little planning and effort, any home can be improved by contemporary interior design.

Lee Dobbins writes for Decor2Day - Decorating Tips 4 2day where you can get decorating ideas for many design styles and learn more about contemporary interior design.

Interior Design Ideas For A Beautiful Bedroom

The bedroom is in some ways the most important room in the house. It is the sanctuary away from the troubles of the world, the ultimate escape from day to day life. Behind closed doors in the bedroom, problems can be forgotten. To create a setting for restful slumber, think about what colors and styles produce the greatest happiness and peace of mind. In your bedroom, you can have the off the wall decorations you've always wanted. The bedroom is private, so the interior design of your bedroom is all about you.

Your bedroom does more than just serve the need for a place to sleep. It accommodates you at all times of day, providing space for reading, studying, watching TV, talking on the phone, eating, and using the computer. Because of this, the bed is no longer the primary piece of furniture in the bedroom. Bedroom desks, large nightstands, or a television might be a better focus for your bedroom interior design. If you watch a lot of television in your bedroom, you might want to consider a chair and ottoman for more comfortable viewing.

If you like to read in your bedroom, you should pay special attention to the lighting in your bedroom. Dim, moody lighting may be restful, but it will cause eye strain when reading. The lighting should be at a level where you do not accidentally shade it, and tall enough to shine light on the book or magazine. Bedroom interior design professionals suggest that when using lamps in the bedroom, the lower edge of the lamp shade should be around eye level when seated.

Remember to choose colors that you find restful when decorating your bedroom. Exciting colors such as red should be avoided unless you personally find them comforting. Strong colors have been said to promote insomnia. Designing your bedroom interior with a splash of a bright color will liven up a room, but it should not be allowed to dominate.

Layered curtains in the bedroom are and excellent interior design choice. This allows you to wake up to filtered light, open the curtains for full light, or black out the room for naps and sleeping in. Blackout lined draperies will protect you from morning sun, whereas sheers or thin blinds will filter light for a gentle glow in the morning. Bedroom interior design has many options, and can be tailored to your personal preferences. The bedroom should be your sanctuary, and it is important to feel comforted and restful when you are there.

Lee Dobbins writes for Decorating Tips at Decor How To where you can get tips on how to decorate every room in the house including more interior design ideas for the bedroom.