Oriental style in interior design: 60 photos

Oriental style in decoration and interior design can be different: Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Moroccan and Moorish. The atmospheric aesthetics and color remain unchanged, which are created in the interior thanks to national techniques of painting on fabric and glass, ceramics, mosaics and other interesting decorative elements!

Indian style in the interior of the living room

Chinese lamps, textiles and upholstery in the home interior

Ethnic kitchen interior in white

Moroccan style in the bedroom interior

Moorish style in the living room interior

In our article we will show you many examples of how you can use oriental style to decorate your apartment or country house. You will find it very original, glamorous in places, but always very beautiful.

Indian style bedroom interior

Indian style in bedroom interior design

Oriental style bedroom in lilac tones

Chinese colonial style with art deco elements

Living room interior in oriental style

Thanks to the colonial era, which owes its origins to the development of shipbuilding, the British, Dutch and Spaniards brought to Europe an incredible amount of unique objects of art and everyday life - from Moroccan glass lamps to Arabic mosaics, Chinese silk-screen printing and vases.

Living room in Moroccan style in a small apartment

Oriental style in interior design is not specifically Japanese or Chinese style, but rather a collective image of oriental traditions and crafts. You can combine Moorish tables made of carved wood with Indian fabrics against the backdrop of neoclassical European furniture and get an oriental interior.

Chinese wallpaper in black and white

Design in the oriental style is usually characterized by a large number of ornaments, openwork elements and ornate details, since the national characteristics of decoration in the countries of the East are exactly like this.

Moroccan ottomans in the living room

Oriental style in a modern interior

Adding oriental decorative elements to a modern interior should be done carefully and gradually. It is best if the base of the interior is light and neutral, like the main furniture. And curtains, lamps, tiles, dishes, textiles, including carpets, can be ethnic.

Ethnic chic style in the interior design of a European living room

Living room with ethnic elements in eclectic style

Main style directions

Interior design options, united under the concept of “oriental style,” are divided into several directions and each of them has its own characteristic features. So the similarity between the Chinese and Arabic versions is very small, and it is completely impossible to confuse the African with the Indian or Mauritanian.

Therefore, before decorating your home with an oriental theme, you need to clearly define the desired result.

Arabic

Basic features of the Arabic style in its interior interpretation:

smooth lines, dome-shaped shapes;
an abundance of home textiles, decorative details (heavy curtains, draperies, soft carpets and rugs, handmade accessories, etc.);
a taboo on the depiction of people and any other living creatures, while floral subjects, geometric patterns and Arabic script are allowed in any quantity;
wealth and luxury of finishing solutions (decorative plaster, artistic painting, mosaic masonry, embossed or textile wallpaper, stone borders, carved wooden panels, etc.);
the predominance of a bright palette of saturated colors (red, green, blue, golden, lilac).

Middle Eastern interiors are extremely demanding of free play of light and vaulted high ceilings. To create the effect of the breadth of space, ordinary doorways are replaced here with voluminous carved arches.

As for decoration, Arabic motifs are characterized by bold color combinations and bright contrasts. The accessories include organic ceramics, soft sofa cushions with fringe, metal and forged lamps that repeat the shape of the minaret dome. You can decorate the room based on your own taste and preferences. But there should be just enough detail so as not to irritate the eye.

African

Exotic African style is considered the most original of all design trends of the oriental genre. Swift, dynamic and energetic, he is more predisposed to ethnic motifs than to history.

Decorating a living space in African style is a kind of personification of the inextricable connection between a person and his natural beginning. The interior decoration may contain scenes of natural phenomena, images of animals and plants, and animal prints. In finishing, preference is given to materials of natural origin - stone, wood, ceramic tiles, sandstone tiles, bamboo fiber, cork, clay-like plaster.

The color palette for African interiors is the warmest, deepest and richest tones of a natural range, creating a feeling of unity with nature. These include sand, green, red, terracotta, yellow, blue, as well as a variety of earth tones and black.

As for the furniture, these are light products of simple shapes, made of natural wood or rattan. It is unacceptable to use massive armchairs, voluminous sofa groups, an abundance of chairs and tables - only the most necessary. But the variety of decorative elements is only welcome - all kinds of baked clay products, African tribal masks, animal figurines create that special ethnic flavor that is rich in African style.

Indian

Oriental interior in Indian style is a special harmony of simplicity, rigor and luxury of room design. This interior decoration impresses with its brightness. There is no clutter of decorative details; preference is given to simple forms. This creates a feeling of coziness and comfort, indicating the hospitality of the owners of the home.

The Indian style is characterized by the use of a rainbow palette of colors, an abundance of ornaments and inlays. The walls can be covered with silk wallpaper with images of scenes based on birds, animals or deities.

Furniture pieces with mirror inserts, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, decorated with ivory and marble represent abundance and wealth. The style concept is complemented by accessories - chess, jugs, statues of deities, forged chests, aromatic lamps and sets for burning incense.

Chinese

The desire for unity with nature, freedom of space, air movement and absolute compliance with the principles of Feng Shui distinguishes Chinese style in the interior. Therefore, preference here is given to simple and multifunctional wooden furniture, bamboo window curtains, screens, and sliding panels instead of doors.

Chinese motifs in the design of interior decoration perfectly support traditional patterns - subtle, made in pastel colors interspersed with color accents, depicting landscapes with flowering plants and birds. Entire panels consisting of several parts of a landscape painting look very impressive and harmonious. An equally original solution is skillful painting with calligraphy samples.

When it comes to accessories, residents of the Middle Kingdom do not skimp on decor for their homes. Porcelain items, figurines of deities, ancient weapons, ivory figurines, and wall fans are considered authentic decorative elements.

Moorish

The Moorish style in its interior embodiment is a skillfully executed combination of elements of Indian and Arabic styles, complemented by Egyptian motifs.

Houses decorated in Moorish style resemble tents. They are characterized by decoration with forged metal, the use of arches and arcades of a unique silhouette - in the shape of a horseshoe or pointed. Moreover, arched vaults decorate not only doorways, but also windows and tiled columns.

The color palette of the style consists of shades of precious stones - ruby, emerald and sapphire in an elegant combination with earthy tones of wall and floor decoration. And you can emphasize the authentic atmosphere with the help of accessories - massive pendant lamps of round shapes in forged “bracelets”, wicker baskets, wide soft pillows on the floor are suitable.

Oriental style tiles

Oriental style tiles and mosaics are perfect for bathroom or kitchen design. They will add an interesting accent both in color and in their design. There are a huge number of different variations of mosaics and tiles in the oriental style; previously they were used to decorate rich villas, temples and mosques, and monasteries.

Moroccan mosaic tiles with patterns in blue and turquoise shades

An oriental-style bathroom can be decorated with mosaics, either partially or completely, and therefore there are a huge number of design options.

Interior examples

The style of the home depends on the area, lighting and functional purpose. If the room is large, then do not hesitate to add more dark shades. In a small room, on the contrary, there should be more light.

Living room

To decorate your living room, you should take several bright colors. For example, on a light background it is worth highlighting several bright accents. Do you have a large family or do friends and colleagues often gather in your living room? Then you need to put a large sofa with many pillows, lay down a carpet, and place a small table next to it. Put the TV in a niche, arrange characteristic accessories.

Bedroom

For a comfortable stay and a pleasant pastime, it is recommended to add many light shades. There shouldn’t be a lot of furniture, and it should be made of wood with the addition of drapery made from natural fabrics.

Idea! A wide sleeping area with lots of pillows, carpets and a canopy will look beautiful and luxurious. And most importantly, there should be no technology.

Kitchen

Functionality and huge space are the components of Arabic cuisine. Decorate windows or cabinet elements with mosaics, and design the doorway in the form of an arched vault. Kitchen utensils and original accessories can emphasize the style.

Expert opinion! Classic Asian kitchen is a minimum of simple but functional wooden furniture in bright colors with carvings and inserts.

Bathroom

The bathroom does not have to be allocated huge areas; it is important that all surfaces are decorated in light shades with the presence of natural materials. You can zone the room by decorating the walls or playing with light.

Children's

Children love everything bright and colorful, so they will like the oriental style. Original design elements and colorful textiles are suitable for this. For teenagers it is easy to combine raspberry, blue, orange.

Hallway

Usually the hallway has an exit or transition to other rooms, and in terms of its dimensions it is small. That’s why experts recommend decorating it in the same style as the adjacent room. Add unusual tiles, arched ceilings, mosaic elements to the interior, and then the design can be considered complete.

Oriental bathroom interior

Expert recommendations! The design will be original with the addition of dark tiles in combination with light natural stone. A bronze faucet, a wooden sink, a snow-white font, and the presence of elements made of bamboo, shells and river stone will only emphasize the Arabic style. Add a bright cabinet with carved grilles to your interior.

Tatiana Nabokova

Interior designer since 2010. Completed more than 100 design projects for apartments and countryside real estate

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Bedroom in oriental style

An oriental-style bedroom is very romantic and colorful - it has everything to create the atmosphere of an eternal honeymoon. The interior is usually filled with small details, and even small elements - boxes, trays, lamps, rugs and pillows - look like works of art.

Bedroom with Chinese silk wallpaper

Beautiful yellow bedroom in oriental style

Moroccan headboard

Moorish style

Moorish style is a combination of Arabic, Egyptian, Indian, Persian motifs. The peak of its popularity came during the reign of Napoleon, because it was he who brought it to France.

The Moorish style is sharp, clear lines, peculiar arches in the form of a horseshoe or onion. Peculiar geometric patterns and elements of the plant world. Rich colors, marble, arabesques, and stained glass windows convey the essence of the oriental style.

Furniture in the Moorish style is represented by massive chests, octagonal tables with copper tops and chasing, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Ottomans with many pillows in bright colors, low stools with carved legs are all elements of this style.

Lamps, baskets, clay, metal, wooden pots of different shapes and sizes, copper utensils will add a unique style.

Lamps in oriental style

Oriental-style lamps are usually made of metal with openwork elements, and their shape resembles a dome, jug, drop, etc. The main part is made of glass - colored, mosaic, multi-colored or one tone.

Ethnic lamps in East Indian style

Star lamp in Moroccan style

Turkish mosaic chandelier in an oriental bedroom interior

Lamps can be divided into Indian (usually dark brown with yellow or white glass), Moroccan (openwork metal without glass), Turkish (metal with multi-colored mosaics), glass (blown glass, usually very large floor or tabletop, like vases), Mediterranean (forged, curved).

Among the many options, it is worth paying attention to multi-lane and multi-module lamps, which are one large group.

Dining room with Chinese lamps, lamps and chairs

Openwork Moroccan metal lamps

Particularly unique are the “star” lamp (see photo above one after another), which has become legendary and is actively used in modern interiors, and Gibraltar multi-colored lamps and chandeliers.

Indian openwork lamps

Oriental style lamps (wall sconces)

Choosing a color palette

The oriental theme involves turning to Arabic fairy tales. Therefore, the interior always has a wide range of colors; at least it is allowed to use several bright elements.

The combination of colors can be different, it is important to choose the direction, and also focus on the purpose of the rooms. For example, Indian style can use shiny accessories and bright colors, while Arabic style involves a combination of blue and gold. For a children's room it is easy to choose a canopy, a chest, and many small pillows, and for a living room where a large family gathers in the evenings, a combination of beige and orange colors is suitable.

Wallpaper in oriental style

Wallpaper in the chinoiserie (“Chinese”) style, which is not original, but imitates Chinese technology, deserves special attention. They can be floral ornaments, scenes from everyday life (for example, fishing or a wedding) or historical (an emperor's holiday or images of a temple).

Chinoiserie wallpaper can be an accent element in the interior - it usually attracts attention and is the focal point of the design of the entire room. Non-standard shades are very popular - cherry, steel blue, roasted coffee beans, watermelon, peach or turmeric. Such wallpaper is usually made of textiles (damask, silk wallpaper).

Chinoiserie wallpaper in oriental style

Oriental interior in light colors

Bathroom with French clawfoot bowl and Chinese-style wallpaper

History of origin

The Arab way of life is based on religion, which permeates all areas of Eastern life. Therefore, she did not ignore the rules for designing and decorating living spaces. The first thing that distinguishes the life of the East is the secrecy of the internal structure of the family. This is precisely related to the fact that for a long time the principles of the Arabic interior style were unknown to the broad masses of the world's population. And only in the middle of the 19th century Europe discovered the wealth of oriental decoration.

Unlike the constant alternation in interior design styles that are fashionable at different periods of time in the European part of the world, the Arabic style is very conservative and dictated by loyalty to tradition, and therefore has not changed for many centuries. This is not only its design, but also its historical value.
The second distinctive feature of oriental interiors is that not a single animate creature is reflected in any of the ornaments, lush patterns, or ornate elements. This rule is prescribed by the Muslim scripture. That is why the variety of oriental paintings is so rich in cyclical ornaments and patterns.

Following the traditions of the nomadic way of life still dictates peculiar rules in the decoration and design of the oriental interior: this is the wealth of textiles, the decoration of rooms in the form of tents with the help of canopies and many pillows and carpets, which were once spread right on the sands of the deserts during times of long wars or wars. trade trips.

The Arabian-style room is decorated with oriental patterns, carpets, colorful pillows and many accessories.

Oriental style in interior design: the best photos and ideas

Chinese vases on the console table in the hallway

Chinese colonial style in the living room interior

Chinese wallpaper in the hallway

Wallpaper in oriental Chinese chinoiserie style

Furniture

Maintaining the style of the East, you will have to abandon wardrobes, cabinets and walls, glass and chrome.

Furniture with low, reliable legs should have simple shapes:

in the Chinese-Japanese tradition - laconic rectangular;

in Arabic-Egyptian - rounded, smooth lines.

Versatile wicker or rattan furniture

The elegant form is combined with the material - the furniture should be made of dark wood, carved decoration or fabric upholstery looks good.

Furniture should be made of dark wood.

An oriental room must have:

a sofa or couch, littered with a large number of multi-colored pillows, decorated with embroidery or patterns;
pillows or fabric poufs on the floor instead of chairs;

An oriental room must have a colorful carpet.