When it comes to decorating small spaces, Asian interior design is not only attractive, but highly functional too. The influence of Japanese design is important when it comes to the clean and sophisticated look of modern design.
But for people who like to design with a little more personality, asian interior design has plenty to offer. There are lots of ways to turn a tiny apartment into a cute and refreshing living space. In this blog, we take a look at 6 cute asian apartment decor ideas.
1. Budai Statues (Laughing Buddha)
Used heavily in feng shui, people commonly place Budai statues at the entrance of a home, being one of the first things a person sees when arriving. They exemplify joy and well being, and are believed to help bring good luck and fortune.
Image via flickr
According to legend, Budai is based on 10th Century Chinese monk who was well known for his loving and jovial nature. He traveled carrying only prayer beads and a small cloth sack of personal belongings, being content with what he had. Laughing Budai statues are also believed to bring positive energy and joy.
2. Platform Beds
The simple and minimalist look of Japanese platform beds makes them a great part of a cute bedroom design. Not only do they look great, platform beds are great for saving space and money because they don’t require a boxspring. The Orchid Platform Bed features a soft caramel finish and a simple clean design.
3. Wall Art & Decals
For people with an artistic side, wall art is a great way to incorporate cute and original motifs. Pandas are a popular theme in asian wall art, as well as trees and flowers, but you are only limited by your imagination.Thanks to websites such as Fathead.com, decorating your walls in an artistic fashion is as simple as applying a decal. Check out these bonsai tree tiles designed by Martha Stewart.
4. Shoji Screens
The distinctive look of Japanese shoji screens makes them immediately recognizable. They are usually made of paper, with semi-translucent screens held in place within a wooden frame. Made up of 3-4 panels, shoji screens are very useful for dividing a room, creating a private space, or diffusing light throughout the room. The lightweight design makes them easy to move around and store away if necessary. From large studios to tiny apartments, there is a screen to match because they come in many styles and sizes, such as the Kang Ji Three Panel Screen.
5. Cute Household Accessories
Thanks to the popularity of Japanese culture, cute home decor accessories are easy to find. Websites such as Etzy and Cafe Press make original handmade accessories that you won’t find anywhere else. Take for example, this cute sushi clock and panda pillow case. Or these posters of Japanese dolls that are extremely cute. My personal favorite are these adorable pillows from Cotton Food.
Image via Kao-ani
6. Neko Cat Statue
Maneki-neko, which literally means “beckoning cat” is a popular good luck charm for small business owners and is a common fixture in Japanese restaurants. For this reason they are also popular in household kitchens, bringing their good luck into the home. Story goes that a struggling business owner discovered a starving cat outside his shop and decided to care for it despite his dire financial situation. To repay the kind gesture, the cat would stand outside his shop beckoning customers to come in. Thanks to this, the shop owner became prosperous from that day forward.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
If you’re looking to breath some life into your apartment, cute asian apartment decor is a great way to add personality to your living space. The art of Japanese and Chinese culture is great because it can be both playful and sophisticated. For more cute decor ideas, check out our previous blog with 20 Teen Bedroom Ideas That Anyone Will Want to Copy.
Such an interesting post! 🙂