Mood Monthly: Modern Chinoiserie

Today we are diving into the Chinoiserie interior design style and all its traditional and modern applications. As a style that has been around since the 17th century it is anything but new and you’d be hard pressed not to find some element of it in a traditional space. However, as design does, it has evolved and been revived into new and modern forms.

Chinoiserie History

So let’s dive in and see what Chinoiserie is all about! It is a style that developed in the 17th century as a European interpretation of Eastern designs as trade with the East became more established. The design pulls inspiration from China, Japan, and other Eastern cultures, and is created into more fanciful versions of Eastern aesthetics by Western artisans. This Chinoiserie aesthetic ranges from eastern motifs, to decorative artifacts, wallcovering, furniture, and even architecture. Chinoiserie gained a lot of traction during the Rococo period, which features elaborate and lavish design details. Think gilded flourishes galore! It is often is paired with more traditional and formal elements still today as it was often done in fashionable Europe at its conception.

Chinoiserie has some pretty recognizable elements, and even shares some motifs that you may think belong to other cultures and design styles. Would you be surprised if I told you the Greek Key, also known as a meander, was also widely used in China? Design overlaps like these help us design using multiple inspirations and combining them into cohesive spaces. Take a look at our list below– do you have any of these elements in your spaces already?

Chinoiserie Now

Traditionally, and what we are seeing a bold return of nowadays, is the use of a Chinoiserie wallcovering in a formal room. Like the spaces below, you’ll find a ton of inspiration for this all over the design world in dining rooms, living rooms, powder baths, and bedrooms. These rooms often use bold color choices paired with traditional lines and ornate detailing. And the base, crown, window, and door moldings are never overlooked– they loom large around the wallcovering, crisp white or color-matched to the wallcovering.

While we love a fully wallpapered room, we also think a touch of wallcovering, or painted mural, or Chinoiserie art in a space can create a beautiful bold moment in a space. The designs below really capitalize on a small area to make a big, tone-setting statement. The spaces below are great examples of how to take advantage of those niches, small corners, or feature walls to make color and pattern a focal point in a room.

Some more modern takes on the Chinoiserie style are appearing on the scene and we are loving the fresh feel of this age-old look. We are seeing clever uses of color, placement, and style combinations that are taking this formal look to a more playful place. There are more neutral palettes with no loss of formal trim, and on the other end of the daring spectrum, some very bold contrast trim that takes the wow factor up a notch. Chinoiserie scenes are also popping up in unusual spaces– like all over a kitchen wall, or adorning shower curtains and a mirror in a simple, tailored space. Lastly, modern spaces with clean, simple lines are popping up with chinoiserie imagery–void of the ornate detailing and trim we usually see.

Chinoiserie For Your Home

We love when a timeless design style gets refreshed and reinvented to feel new and relevant. Who doesn’t love to find their grandma’s antiques are suddenly en vogue again? Or, if you’re like some of us, you always thought they were classically stylish but have been re-inspired to find the right way to use them. Well if you don’t have a ginger jar from grandma or a dragon print pillow ready to style with, we can help you! We’ve pulled together a few color palettes full of chinoiserie furniture and accessories so you can tap in to this timeless aesthetic.

1 | Bamboo Chair   2 | Planter  3 | Antique Armoire  4 | Bamboo Candlesticks  5 | Bolster Pillow  6 | Giclee Wall Art

7 | Tiger Pillow  8 | Vanity  9 | Bamboo Mirror  10 | Ceramic Lamp  11 |  Chow Leg Table  12 | Tray Table

1 | Armoire   2 | Hand-Painted Wallpaper  3 | Ming Stool  4 | Upholstered Bed  5 | Vintage LaBarge Mirror

6 | Lacquered Grasscolth Nightstand  7 | Jaguar Pillow Cover  8 | Bamboo Buffet Lamp  9 | Ginger Jars 10 | Vintage Prints

1 | Pagoda Etagere   2 | Ceramic Umbrella Stand  3 | Asian Print Pillow  4 | Pagoda Lantern  5 | Ceramic Garden Stool

6 | Bamboo Trellis Mirror  7 | Sling Beach Chair  8 | Ginger Jar  9 | Canvas Wall Print  10 | Lacquered Dresser  11 | Tiger Ottoman

Inspired to get a little Chinoiserie in your repertoire? When you start looking, you’ll find its simply everywhere! You’re probably not ready to create a gilded roccoco boudoir dripping with Chinoiserie, but we’ll bet there’s room for a ginger jar or lacquered piece of furniture somewhere in your space!

Thanks for tuning in,