East Asian Interior Design

Dear Luxury Lover, 

For many years we have been inspired by the Asian aesthetics and design emphasizing harmony, natural elements and minimalism. Asian design traditions encompass a rich cultural heritage as seen in Japanese Zen aesthetics or Chinese Feng Shui
principles.

Asian interior design favours asymmetrical balance where rooms usually feature low furniture, natural materials, lots of light, and very little clutter. Furniture has clean, simple lines, as in modern and contemporary design and are arranged to create a harmonious flow. Common natural materials include stone, bamboo, rattan, earthenware, and dark woods.

These philosophies emphasize the importance of imperfections, natural materials, and handmade textures and embracing the unique character of each piece. Asian decor has been popular as its design elements can instantly bring tranquility into a room.

What is Wabi Sabi?

Wabi Sabi, the Japanese art of impermanence, is a philosophy of finding beauty in every aspect of imperfection in nature. It calls for a change of perspective by finding beauty in the flaws of things and people and by learning to appreciate the imperfect. In wabi-sabi our imperfections make us and our surroundings beautiful - the wear & tear of physical objects, the decay of natural landmarks, the signs of aging on our bodies, natural,  raw forms of materials, unpolished finishes, modest, humble and unconventional elements and irregular textures. This creates a unique aesthetic of simplicity, comfort and authenticity, which very strongly contrasts with the westernized beauty standards and the destructive drive to perfection.

What is Japandi?  

Japandi is a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian minimalist design characterized by calming and welcoming living spaces full of clean lines, natural elements, neutral colors, warmth and brightness. Both Japandi and Wabi-Sabi focus on simplicity and natural materials, they differ in their approach to aesthetics and design principles. Wabi-Sabi embraces imperfection, and authenticity while Japandi celebrates functionality and minimalism. 

What is Feng Shui? 

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice that promotes balance, harmony and wellbeing; it’s a concept of arranging your surroundings in an intentional way to harness positive energy (Chi) flow. All five naturally-occurring elements - water, metal, fire, wood, and earth - must be present to create balance and achieve harmony. 

There are specific rules that need to be followed in order to achieve the perfect balance - a location of the bed, positioning of the mirrors, decluttering, plant types, type of decor and ornaments that enhance or block the flow of the energy.

What is a biophilic Interior Design Trend?

Biophilic design, previously discussed in Quiet Luxury Journal on the back of top trendy colours, is a trend gaining momentum globally and I couldn’t be more glad about it. I remember the first time I came across residential biophilic architecture and designs was during my travel through Asia. I was amazed how big and modern cities like Singapore include nature into the architectural and interior design projects. 

Scientific research has demonstrated the beneficial impact of nature on our psychological and physiological wellbeing and biophilic design is a design philosophy bringing nature into the living spaces. 

It’s all about connecting with nature by incorporating organic shapes and natural elements like wood, stone, bamboo and eco friendly materials. This trend features excess of natural light plants, textures, use of raw materials and indoor tropical gardens. It’s not only about aesthetics, but more importantly, it’s about wellbeing, stress reduction and promoting the calm and serene environment.

That's my current top picks in terms of the Asian modern interior trends. Stay tuned as we will be discussing these in detail and I will share some examples to help you introduce these elements to your decor to make your home more functionals and harmonious.

ALWAYS WITH LUXURY AND ELEGANCE IN MIND,