Homes with an Asian or Oriental theme, once thought to be tacky and dated, are once more in vogue in interior design.
The theme captures an excellent, almost inimitable mix of extravagant design in a very neat package.
It also has this trait of creating a calm and serene space, no matter where you place it.
Although the aesthetic is made up of simple lines, the overall effect is simply breathtaking.
A lot of people - even interior designers themselves - suffer under the idea that the Asian style is one that's complex and costly to bring about.
In fact, Asian decor is relatively cheap to do because you can achieve the effect with very few pieces and additions.
Just a few new pieces and a little work will be enough to recreate the Asian style.
Pick dark woods for furniture, for example, and then keep the lines clean and simple.
Clean shapes like squares and rectangles work best for tables, which must be kept as close to the floor as you can afford them to be.
Most of the color in a room should come from the accessories that you use.
Keep your walls in some neutral color and then add something bold like bright scarlet pillows in a living room.
The Asian theme just thrives on bold colors, so don't be afraid to reach for those glittering golds, eye-catching blues and rich reds in the store.
Keep textures simple, such as with the plain, imperturbable smoothness of satin or silk.
Bamboo is one material that has a place of honor in the world of Asian design since it grows abundantly in the region.
Adding bamboo touches to your decor adds a very natural and earthy feel to a room.
Its smooth, unadorned surface gives great contrast to the rough, messy earth that it represents.
Best of all, you can use bamboo virtually anywhere; from coffee tables to photo frames, you can be sure they'll be made of it.
Oriental rugs give the richness of the Asian theme to the floor in order to round out the feel of the room.
Deep colors accented or complemented by accessories around the room should work particularly well.
Ideally, a sleek design with clean lines works well with the theme.
You could also go with florals or designs that imitate prints from Asia.
Just remember that it'll be a focal point, so be very careful in choosing a rug.
Elements of nature - water, in particular - are very important in the Asian theme.
Whether you're going to do a fish pond for 20 koi complete with a waterfall or a fishbowl for a single goldfish, just make sure that you put water at least somewhere in the room.
It could even turn the serenity of your room into an audiovisual experience with the calming burbling of running water.
Lastly, paper is a signature Asian item that will really give your decor a feel of the region.
Paper lanterns, for example, make for great centerpieces on coffee tables, while ink prints on traditional paper are perfect for walls and large blank spaces.
It's a classic Oriental touch!