Asian-style Interior Designs: Does Modern = Western?
Is There a Fusion of Western and Asian Design Influences?
‘Modern’ interior design back in the 60s was typified by Scandinavian design influences which became famous throughout the world for their clean lines, use of open space, and minimal flourishes.
At least it was in the ‘western’ world of Europe and the Americas. But didn’t Japanese interior design also feature these same spare touches into their own design aesthetic?
In fact the Japanese had been featuring their own design style for thousands of years before the west became infatuated with the Scandinavian design style and named it the de facto ‘modern’ style.
Sharing Cultures since Marco Polo
Ever since Marco Polo journeyed to Asia and brought the treasures of that continent back to Europe, explorers and traders around the globe have made it a business to share and trade on the best aspects of another country’s culture and traditions.
As the opportunities for being educated abroad have increased exponentially through the years, young interior designers and decorators are embracing the traditions of those ancient traders and studying different design influences from different parts of the globe.
These designers are taking design cues and influences from all over the world and incorporating them into a singular vision that accentuates the globalist era that we’re now living in.
The boundaries of a singular design style are being broken down and designers are exploring what is possible to create their own design aesthetic. They are creating a re-definition of the term ‘modern design’.
Multi-Cultural is Not the Same as Homogenous
Some purists resent these designers for simply doing the inevitable – making use of the different styles they encounter to create one of their own. But they are just following in the footsteps of the explorers before them.
Purists would also see little conflict with having a Persian rug on the floor of a room in a contemporary, western-style home. So it’s obvious that this trend is not actually new. It’s been going on for many years. It’s just that the designers of today have so many more influences to choose from.
What they’re creating can in no way be called homogenous. It isn’t synthesizing these design aspects down into something unrecognisable. Rather, it’s appreciating these design elements for their own uniqueness and juxtaposing them to create new and exciting interior designs which may, perhaps someday, become the new standard for ‘modern design’.
People of today are more open to trying new foods and experiencing other aspects of a culture they’ve rarely seen before. Just as it’s becoming more common to have a Mexican taco for lunch and enjoy a plate of Japanese sushi for dinner, people are beginning to become just as comfortable appreciating different influences in the décor around them.
The designers of today are simply reflecting the changes in the world around them and making a statement that the world is becoming more multi-cultural. This will prove to serve a benefit in our design sense and broaden our horizons to all the beauty that the world offers.
