8 Key Ingredients of an Asian-Style Kitchen
Embrace the serene, organic simplicity of an Asian-inspired kitchen design
The appeal of an Asian-style kitchen lies in its fundamental sense of serenity, spiced with a touch of the exotic. Materials with a strong connection to nature, smooth and harmonious lines, and an unexpected surprise or two add up to a space that exudes peace and balance yet whispers of an underlying strength. Here’s how to translate the look for your kitchen.
So Your Style Is: Asian
So Your Style Is: Asian
2. Organic materials
Surfaces with a connection to the earth feel most at home in Asian-style kitchens. Consider woods, subdued stone or even a butcher block. More contemporary materials, such as concrete or glass, have a place here as well, but be sure to balance them with natural ones so that the kitchen doesn’t feel cold or harsh.
Surfaces with a connection to the earth feel most at home in Asian-style kitchens. Consider woods, subdued stone or even a butcher block. More contemporary materials, such as concrete or glass, have a place here as well, but be sure to balance them with natural ones so that the kitchen doesn’t feel cold or harsh.
3. Elements from nature
Asian design places a strong emphasis on bringing the outdoors inside through plants and natural motifs. Consider adding touches of glass or acrylic that has bamboo, grasses or leaves embedded within it, as in the shoji screen–style panels that front this kitchen window. You could also line cabinet panels with split bamboo stalks or add potted bamboo plants or wheatgrass to infuse the space with a sense of life.
Asian design places a strong emphasis on bringing the outdoors inside through plants and natural motifs. Consider adding touches of glass or acrylic that has bamboo, grasses or leaves embedded within it, as in the shoji screen–style panels that front this kitchen window. You could also line cabinet panels with split bamboo stalks or add potted bamboo plants or wheatgrass to infuse the space with a sense of life.
4. Minimalist design
Asian interiors are about simplicity, and that includes the kitchen. An Asian-style kitchen should feel serene and understated. Keep the layout sleek and streamlined, with no visual clutter to interrupt the sight lines. A galley kitchen, as shown above, works particularly well, but any configuration can be successful as long as it has a smooth flow.
Asian interiors are about simplicity, and that includes the kitchen. An Asian-style kitchen should feel serene and understated. Keep the layout sleek and streamlined, with no visual clutter to interrupt the sight lines. A galley kitchen, as shown above, works particularly well, but any configuration can be successful as long as it has a smooth flow.
5. Simple cabinetry
Cabinetry in an Asian-style kitchen has clean lines and is free of ornamentation. Some cabinets have a Shaker-like quality, while others are frameless. Keep hardware crisp and minimal to match.
Cabinetry in an Asian-style kitchen has clean lines and is free of ornamentation. Some cabinets have a Shaker-like quality, while others are frameless. Keep hardware crisp and minimal to match.
6. Dramatic contrast
Asian kitchens often contain an element of drama, such as the black refrigerator panels against the pale cabinetry of this space. Consider adding an unexpected element to spark the room: a touch of gilt, an unusually shaped island, a statement lighting fixture.
Asian kitchens often contain an element of drama, such as the black refrigerator panels against the pale cabinetry of this space. Consider adding an unexpected element to spark the room: a touch of gilt, an unusually shaped island, a statement lighting fixture.
7. Natural flooring
Flooring in an Asian-style kitchen feels organic and warm. Bamboo is a fail-safe choice, but consider slate or another natural stone as well. Exotic hardwoods also look appropriate.
More: Everything You Need to Know About Bamboo Flooring
Flooring in an Asian-style kitchen feels organic and warm. Bamboo is a fail-safe choice, but consider slate or another natural stone as well. Exotic hardwoods also look appropriate.
More: Everything You Need to Know About Bamboo Flooring
8. Dabs of red
Red is a strongly symbolic colour in many Asian cultures, signifying happiness, good fortune and auspicious beginnings. Although Asian décor tends toward the monochromatic, a few hints of bold colour can energise a kitchen done in this style. Limit them to small accents such as crockery to avoid disturbing the serene feel.
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Red is a strongly symbolic colour in many Asian cultures, signifying happiness, good fortune and auspicious beginnings. Although Asian décor tends toward the monochromatic, a few hints of bold colour can energise a kitchen done in this style. Limit them to small accents such as crockery to avoid disturbing the serene feel.
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The Asian aesthetic places a strong emphasis on harmony, in terms of materials as well as design. Pay attention to balancing visual elements such as colour, form and weight. In this kitchen the dark range hood offsets the island, and the lighter ceiling beams echo the cabinetry.