When one thinks of Africa, one thinks not of cities but of jungles and lions. Yet there are cities there. When one thinks of England one thinks not of cities but of castles and knights on armor. So it is with Japan – one thinks of castles and samurai, but not of modern day decorative trends. If you’re looking for authentic Japanese furniture, there are quite a few sites on the web where you can see what’s on offer, what they look like, and how much they cost. But ask yourself. . . what is authentic Japanese furniture? There are the classic designs everyone thinks of – the mats, the screens, the pillows, the futons. But Japanese furniture design has not stood still, any more than any other country’s furniture design has, and there is plenty of modernistic looking stuff out there with just a soupcon of the oriental flair about it. Asian Culture If you see an interesting piece of sculpture or ornamentation, or an excitingly designed piece of furniture, purchase it by all means. It all comes down to what you like. But, your appreciation of these pieces can be enhanced if you know the history behind each piece (if any). So do a bit of research into the history of the domestic life of these countries. A Few Sample Web Businesses Haiku Designs offers furniture, bedding and artwork, in both traditional and modern Japanese designs. All of their offerings are illustrated with large photos so you can get a good idea of what you’re looking at. I really liked their Kyoto Japanese Style platform bed, which comes with shoulder rests so you can sit up and read before retiring for the night. Very elegant looking. Among other offerings is the Kenso Platform bed, which is what one typically thinks of when thinking of Japanese beds! Haiku Designs also offers indoor water fountains, but oddly enough not the Lotus Pool that set off their Europa bedroom set, in the descriptive photo! Greentea Design also offers exclusively Asian-inspired designs for all rooms in the house. I thought it was interesting that they offered Maru Tables, which are constructed from “original slabs of century-old Korean flooring”. These boards are three inches thick and were “used in aristocrat’s homes for their main rooms and porches. ” Well. . . better that these antique boards should still see use than be burned to create fuel, but what a pity that the buildings from which they come must no longer be in existence. . . I like the fact that all of their furniture is made from salvaged wood, however – that is a point of pride with them and I think it makes a lot of sense. “Keep it green” is their motto. Oriental Furniture is another of the many sites on the web that offer furnishings and decorations – statuary, etc. from Japan and China. I particularly liked their statuary and silk paintings, and they also have jade carvings.

Designing your Modern Home with Asian Furniture decorating ideas

Asian furniture is always a consideration in interior decoration and individual pieces of furniture, antiques and artefacts are sought after from countries such as India, Malaysia, Singapore, China and Japan. Asian furniture, whether new or antique, brings color and life to homes decorated in any style. Even in modern homes, Chinese dynasty pieces or intricately carved statues from India can fit in perfectly with the decor.

When designing a modern interior, the process usually involves looking at Japanese furniture which is extremely functional and minimalist in nature. The furniture has very little ornamentation or carving and is solid and more modern than the other varieties of Oriental furniture. Japanese furniture can harmonize with almost all decor styles and types of rooms.

The appealing features of Japanese furniture is its simplicity and the obvious quality of the wood and craftsmanship. The furniture is famous for its extraordinary joinery. Elm, gingko and kiri wood is normally used and forged iron is used for ornamentation.

Chinese furniture, on the other hand, is better known for its traditional, ornate pieces reflecting rich history, culture and religion. It can vary with changing dynasties but the artisan ship handed down over the generations remains of the same high quality and can easily be recognized.

Over the past few decades Asian decorating has been growing more and more popular in the western world for its simplicity and subtle materials such as bamboo and silk, as well as the elegance of the darker woods. All styles and origins of Asian furniture is taken into consideration and people who decorate their homes in a modern style prefer to look for simple, liquid lines, high quality and, above all, functionality.

The furniture needs to reflect minimalism and space. Plain furniture in dark wood tones or black tend to be used in designing modern rooms as the darker colors give space a sophisticated and classy air. Instead of small pieces and clutter there are very few decorative items and these are large and prominently displayed in the rooms. This decorating style is inspired from all types of Asian traditional decoration and people who like this style usually spend a lot of money on carefully chosen unique pieces, preferably handcrafted and imported.

To find out more about Asian Furniture, log onto http://www. Furniture-Asian. com