One of the recent trends in home decorating is the influence of the Far East. With its simplicity and attention to space, this lends itself well to our hectic Western lifestyle. A lot of the elements of Asian home decorating can be trace back to two schools of thought, one originating from China and the other from Japan.

Feng Shui

Feng Shui is a Chinese concept of space and object placement. Feng Shui associates the home with both health and prosperity. There are various rooms in which Feng Shui is more prevalent. The kitchen is one of them. Couple this perspective with the role of the kitchen as "the heart of the home," and you can see that any feng shui in this room can have a significant impact on your family. A few things you can try are to place Buddha statues at strategic places. Buddha statues are known to add vibrant chi power to your home. Especially the Laughing Buddha statue. Buddha statues can be made from various stones. Jade as well as bronze are the most popular choices. Quan Yin is the female version of Buddha.

Dragons

Common Feng Shui gifts include Chinese dragons. These dragons are said not only to provide powerful chi energy, but also keep evil spirits from entering your home. For better wealth, riches and prosperity, one can turn to Chinese Feng Shui money frogs. These frogs are made from either jade or agate. They symbolize fortune and good luck with your hard work and clever mind. If you’re looking for a healthier frame of body and mind, an Asian Feng Shui crystal globe might be your answer. This is one of the most commonly used cures and produces amazing results. When sunlight hits these crystals, beams of colored light radiate in all directions activating chi energy, and can also be used to slow down chi. Incidentally, various Asian animal figures such as jade horses can also be used to the same effect.

Attract and Repel Energies

The Japanese perspective of home decorating and home furnishings is quite different. Rather than concentrate on objects to attract or repel energies, the Japanese focuses on spatial matters. It uses room dividers known as Shoji screens to separate form and function within a living space. A single Shoji screen can transform a dull square room into practical, attractive living areas. These oriental screens are often made with rice paper and can have vibrant colors or symbols. Some common designs are bamboo tree shoji screen, cherry blossom shoji screen or Geisha shoji screen. Light also plays a vital role in Japanese home design. Japanese lanterns are known for their boxy shape which reflects strength and substance. The thin rice paper allows ample light to shine through while displaying the intended images, much like the way silk paintings are. In fact, Japanese lanterns are sometime made from silk.