Chinese art comes in many forms, both traditional and modern, but all carry the theme of tranquility, lore and reverence for nature. Decorating a room with Chinese art means conscious use of deep colors, highly stylized paintings and ornately carved accessories. If you want to decorate a room with Chinese art, here's how to get started.
Flank a fireplace with framed Chinese calligraphy. Chinese calligraphy is beautiful and graphic with its rich black brushstrokes on delicate rice paper. Frame with a white matte and black wood frame and hang on both sides of a fireplace for balance.
Use a hanging scroll to set the color palette of your room. Classic colored ink on paper or silk scrolls with traditional images of emperors, delicate trees, lotus flowers or scenes from small Chinese villages can create a mood you can enhance by selecting complimentary colors for walls and furnishings. For example, a traditional silk scroll may have a lot of gold in it, which you can compliment with reds, sage greens or blacks in your furniture, pillows or accessories.
Go with a modern Chinese drama print of a Buddha to create a focal point for your room. Whether a high-contrast black-and-white print or a color image of a Buddha's face, a large Chinese print will instantly transform the room. Accessorize with some smaller Buddhas nearby on side or coffee tables.
Use Chinese styled painting reproductions to decorate a bamboo tray. Take an inexpensive Chinese print and decoupage it to a bamboo tray to serve as an accent piece on an ottoman or side table. Apply a layer of the decoupage glue to the tray surface, apply the print and smooth down. Finish off with another layer of the decoupage glue. When dry seal with a spray lacquer to waterproof.
Use ancient Chinese carving reproductions in stone or wood to decorate fireplace mantles, entry tables, countertops and bookshelves. Reproductions of primitive stone warriors, carved dragons or foo dogs (temple lions) can add a lot of interest to a dull storage or functional table and helps to carry the Chinese art theme around a room or throughout a home.
Add drama to a black bookshelf with cinnabar pieces. Cinnabar is red lacquerware that comes in vases, plates and boxes. Highly carved with traditional Chinese dragon motifs, the rich red color looks great against black tables or shelves and can be highlighted with white candles at night.
