Style Spotlight: Chinoiserie

We know not every style is worthy of your time and attention. Some aren't worth spotlighting at all. Styles come and go, afterall. Chinoiserie is not one of those styles. It’s everywhere we look lately and, when a motif has been around as long as Chinoiserie has, it’s definitely an artform and not a trend. And what a fabulous artform it is. 

A Rich History of a Bold Design

The word “Chinoiserie” derives from “chinois,” French for “Chinese.” In the 17th century, European designers and craftsmen sought to imitate unique Chinese arts, silk, and pottery. Around this time, we began to see European interpretations of Chinese styles in interior design, furniture, pottery, and porcelain. 

Perhaps the most recognizable example of Choiserie in decor is in wallpaper. The patterns are often pagodas, floral designs, wildlife, and other scenes of fantastical Asian imagery such as dragons. Original Chinoiserie wallpaper was hand painted by highly sought-after artists. The style arrived in America in the early 1900s, when hand-painting factories were developed in China for the specific purpose of producing items in this style. It can take 15 years to train an artist in China, and they traditionally spend eight to ten years copying someone else’s work before an artist can do their own.

A Modern Guide to a Timeless Style

Today, Chinoiserie decor is still very popular. There was a time when this style, particularly wallpaper, was exclusively for the rich; as hand-painted three by ten foot panels sell for $600-$1000 or more from companies like de Gournay and Gracie. Luckily, due to its extreme popularity, wallcoverings and Chinoiserie in many other home furnishings and fixtures have become widely available and much more affordable to the masses. 

That said, we wouldn’t encourage anyone to throw up some Chinoiserie wallpaper, incorporate some Asian-influenced lighting, shove in some bamboo furniture and call it “good.” This is a bold style with often vivid colors and striking patterns, it should be approached deliberately. For example, we really love the idea of combining modern furniture with Chinoiserie lighting elements. Victorian bathroom fixtures set against a Chinoiserie wallpaper background speak to old-world charm. Traditional furniture pieces flanked by Asian-inspired sconces on a Chinoiserie accent wall create a stunning focal point in any room.

Chinoiserie Wallpaper

Fortunately for those of us who like to update our homes frequently, wallcoverings have come a long way and are easier to apply and remove than ever. Some categories of wallpaper even allow you to reuse them in a different space. Choose from peel and stick, unpasted, peel and stick vinyl, prepasted, woven, and nonwoven wallpaper. Some of our favorite Chinoiserie patterns are botanical prints but we also love grasscloth and paintable wallpaper for adding texture to a space. 

Wallcoverings are everything in Chinoiserie. You can add furnishings and light fixtures, even bathroom sinks and hardware...but if you really want to dedicate a space to this look, start with exquisite Chinoiserie wallpaper.

Chinoiserie & Asian-Influenced Lighting

You’ll find that lamps painted in the Chinoiserie style are quite common. Once you start noticing them, you’ll see them everywhere. They most often come in rich blues and reds and are a great way to add a little bit of a vintage look to an end table or nightstand. 

Asian-influenced light fixtures, on the other hand, have a decidedly more modern feel. They are suited to a contemporary decor style with a more subtle Chinoiserie wallcovering providing a backdrop. Try pendants centered over a table in a modern dining area with an understated wallcovering.

Chinoiserie Furnishings & Decor

Chinoiserie furnishings don’t need to have the bold patterns of their wallpaper counterparts, although some do. These furnishings often have a distinct flare at their edges referred to as a pagoda style. Still others have intricate overlays carved in detail or painted in gold, accentuated by gold hardware.

Silks were some of the first fabrics to be done in the Chinoiserie style. An ottoman in a gorgeous pattern, centered under an ornate mirror with a bold wallpaper backdrop is our dream entryway setting! 

Another way to incorporate this style is to place a scenic room divider behind a sofa. Also, group Chinoiserie pottery pieces like ginger jars together to create a focal point.

Whether you refer to this style as Asian-influenced, Chinoiserie Chic, Modern Chinoiserie, or something else; this style is as enduring and timeless as it is colorful and ornate. Creating a canvas using Chinoiserie wallpaper gives any space a beautiful start.