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Today’s post is about Chinoiserie decor and how to add it to your home. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you may be thinking, uhh, what’s this have to do with your Euro-centric decorating style? Well, let me explain. First, what is Chinoiserie? It is a French word that means “in the Chinese style”. It is a European style of decorating that reached its height of popularity in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was made extremely popular by Louis XIV and his Petit Trianon.This post may contain affiliate links.
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Pure Louis XV style with Chinoiserie decor. Chateau de Haroue in France , photo from the Vendome Press
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy. |
That’s why when decorating with French design in mind, using Chinoiserie is totally acceptable! A lot of it is from France! One of the prominent artists was Jean-Baptiste Pillement. He is the artist that is most widely known for popularizing Chinoiserie and is also known for French Rococo. He designed for many of the royal courts of Europe.
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| Jean Baptiste Pillement’s chinoiserie panel |
Most people do not know that Chinoiserie is not from China! Most of the works that the artists created were influenced by original Chinese works and then stylized with a whimsical European spirit! This significantly cheaper than importing the real deal! Owning a piece of Chinoiserie made you the ultimate style icon. That’s one reason why the Chinoiserie style is so versatile – it’s a mix of real and fake!
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| Louis XIV marquetry chest with chinoiserie silk wall paper |
There are ways to add some Chinoiserie style into your home, French-style or not! The style had a huge repertoire: wallpapers, porcelain, silk, fans, fabrics, faux bois bamboo furniture, and lacquered furniture!
While it seems like Chinoiserie is becoming a popular decor trend, I see it more as a timeless decor trend… it’s been around for hundreds of years! Now, don’t get to themed with this style. A piece or two of it in the room and that’s it!
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| Louis XV canvas panels from Paris |
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| Reconstruction of how Madame de Pompadour’s room looked like |
So, let’s look an some examples of how to incorporate Chinoiserie style into modern times…
1. Adding Porcelain Plates
You can arrange blue chinoiserie plates on the wall, like the two pictures below.
Don’t you just love this French kitchen below and the painted walls and ceiling?
2. Decorating with interesting vases
A popular way to add Chinoiserie to your home is decorating with the blue and white vases. I like how they are styled in the picture below. Notice the French settee!
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| source: chinoiserie chic from Carolyne Roehm |
However if the blue and white porcelain is not your thing, you could always decorate with a pretty vase like this below! I love the colors of this.
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| Louis XIV terracotta vase |
Or for a more minimalist look, prints of blue vases are displayed on the gallery wall. Notice the bamboo frames.
3. Decorate with Wallpaper
Now, this is my favorite option however it *is* the most expensive option!! It makes for such a pretty room. Using the wallpaper in a powder room is your most cost effective option!
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| source – The Enchanted Home |
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| Suzanne Kasler – Design in Canterbury |
Below, this pretty pink room is adorned with pink Chinoiserie wallpaper which brings out the pretty pink hues in the Swedish settee. They also added some Chinoiserie fabric pillows. Adding a few pillows is another option!
4. Decorate with Chinoiserie Panels
I liked this room below in a hotel in Paris. It is mid-century modern style which I’m sure appeals to many people, as well as a Chinoiserie panel in the background. You can spot it in the back left with black and gold.
Below is a panel of chinoiserie wallpaper. I love the French day bed in front of it!
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| grisaille wallpaper |
Decorating with panels is a cheaper way to add the wallpaper look to your room. Just purchase one panel and frame it!
5. Add Chinoiserie fabric
Another way to add the Chinoiserie look to your house is to add some fabric somewhere. This house below has some Chinoiserie blue-vase curtains – a modernized version of Chinoiserie.
This French Louis IV chair below is covered in a pretty chinoiserie toile!
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| Fauteuil a la reine, c 1755 |
6. Add a piece of Furniture
Here, you can see a fabulous Louis style cabinet in the Chinoiserie style black and gold lacquer!
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| From the Chamber de la Dauphine, Palace of Versailles |
Below are some of my Chinoiserie style pieces… an antique Mora clock! It blends in well with the French painting and cabinet to the right.
I also have a Chinoiserie style tulipiere (vase). It blends in well with my little French bud vases.
Like this post? Check out my other posts about Chinoiserie Wallpaper HERE.
What do you all think? Do you like Chinoiserie?
Sources for the writing: Posh Surf Side, Essential
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