Are you as obsessed with blue and white as I am?! I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember, and it’s still the color combo I come back to every single time I redecorate. Lately I’ve been swooning over chinoiserie decor, and I can’t stop saving rooms to my Pinterest boards!
Chinoiserie (pronounced sheen-wah-zuh-ree) is basically the European take on Chinese and East Asian art and design – and it’s been charming decorators for centuries. The good news? You definitely don’t need a house full of antiques to pull it off. A few pretty pieces can totally transform a room!
Here are 20 of my favorite chinoiserie decor ideas from rooms I keep coming back to – from plate walls and ginger jars to dreamy wallpaper and blue and white tables. Plus a few mistakes to avoid and answers to the questions I get asked the most!
What Is Chinoiserie Decor? Ideas to Love
Back in the 1600s and 1700s, Europe totally fell in love with the porcelain, silk, and painted wallpaper arriving from China and East Asia. They became major status symbols, so European artists started making their own versions! The result is this romantic, whimsical style full of pagodas, garden scenes, birds, blossoming branches – and of course, lots of blue and white.
If you want to dive into the history, the Wikipedia overview of chinoiserie is a great place to start. I also shared the story behind one of my favorite pieces in my post on elegant ways to decorate with ginger jars!
The Signature Elements of Chinoiserie Style
- Blue and white porcelain: ginger jars, temple jars, vases, bowls, and plates.
- Hand-painted or printed wallpaper: think flowering branches, birds, and garden scenes.
- Garden stools: the barrel-shaped ceramic seats that double as side tables.
- Fretwork and lacquer: lattice patterns on chairs, mirrors, and cabinets.
- Nature motifs: cranes, peonies, cherry blossoms, and bamboo.
Why Blue and White Never Goes Out of Style
Blue and white has outlasted pretty much every trend I can think of! It works in a formal traditional home, a breezy coastal cottage, a French country kitchen, and even a modern apartment. Because the palette is so simple, you can go as bold with pattern as you like and it still feels calm. That’s why I think it’s one of the safest looks you can splurge on – it never goes out of style!
1. Chinoiserie Decor Ideas: Hang Framed Panels as Art
Not ready to wallpaper a whole room? Frame a single panel of chinoiserie paper or a pretty bird-and-branch print and hang it just like a painting!
You get all the romance of a hand-painted mural – and you can take it with you when you move. I love how the blue velvet sofa and ottoman pick up the blues in the panel here. Pure eye candy!
Shop the look: VEELIKE Chinoiserie Bird and Branch Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper · HLNIUC Blue and White Bird and Flower Framed Wall Art · Christopher Knight Home Jaymee Navy Velvet Ottoman
2. Chinoiserie Decor Ideas for a Blue and White Plate Wall
If you only try one idea from this list, make it a plate wall! Hanging blue and white plates is one of the most budget-friendly ways to bring in chinoiserie charm – and it fixes an awkward empty wall at the same time. (If that’s you, I have a whole post on unique ways to fill a blank wall.) My tip: lay the plates out on the floor first, start with your biggest platter, and mix sizes and patterns while keeping the blue the same.
Shop the look: Flatirons Disc Adhesive Plate Hangers, 3-Inch (Set of 4) · Flatirons Disc Invisible Plate Hanger, 4-Inch · Blue and White Ceramic Wall Plates, Set of 10
3. Shape Your Plates Into a Wreath
Once you’ve got a stack of plates, have fun with the shape! A circle of plates over a console looks just like a wreath – and it’s so much more playful than a grid. Add a pair of little topiaries and a pitcher of fresh flowers below, and you’ve got a vignette you can enjoy all year long!
Shop the look: Blue and White Ceramic Wall Plates, Set of 10 · MyGift 15″ Faux Boxwood Topiaries, Set of 2
4. Hang Plates Above the Bed
Who says plate walls are just for dining rooms?! Above the bed, a loose cluster of plates is like an oversized piece of art – especially against a patterned wallpaper. Just use sturdy spring hangers or adhesive plate discs, and keep the heavier plates up top.
5. Pair a Plate Wall With Patterned Wallpaper
Hanging plates on top of wallpaper sounds like a lot, I know! But it looks so wonderfully layered. The trick is choosing a small-scale print with a quiet background so the plates still pop. It’s such an English country house look, and honestly my favorite way to show off a mismatched collection!
6. Group Ginger Jars on the Table
Ginger jars are the heart of chinoiserie decor, and they look even better in a group! I like to work in odd numbers and mix up the heights. On the dining table, pop the lids off and fill them with garden roses or tulips for an easy centerpiece. I shared even more ways to style them in my post on elegant ways to decorate with ginger jars.
Shop the look: GaLouRo 15″ Blue and White Lidded Ginger Jar · Galt International 10″ Floral Chinoiserie Ginger Jar
7. Light the Room With Ginger Jar Lamps: Easy Chinoiserie Decor Ideas
A ginger jar lamp is one of my favorite ways to sneak in porcelain without adding clutter. Use a pair on nightstands or a sideboard for that classic symmetry. I especially love the pop of orange on the shade in this bedroom – and that navy velvet headboard? Swoon!
Shop the look: JONATHAN Y 25″ Blue and White Ginger Jar Table Lamp · SAFAVIEH Paige Blue and White Ginger Jar Table Lamp · Navy Velvet Upholstered Headboard
8. Chinoiserie Decor Ideas for Wallpapering Your Entryway
Your entry is the first thing everyone sees, so why not have a little fun?! A blue and white floral wallpaper, a door painted in a matching soft blue, and a striped bench cushion feel so fresh and welcoming. Bonus: it sets the tone for the whole house!
9. Use Hand-Painted Wallpaper in a Hallway
Hallways are so often forgotten, but you walk through them every single day – which makes them the perfect spot for chinoiserie wallpaper! I’m obsessed with the gold background here paired with an antique mirror and a fern. If hand-painted paper isn’t in the budget, a peel-and-stick version gives you a really similar look.
Shop the look: YENHOME Gold Chinoiserie Peacock and Floral Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper · Howard Elliott Contessa Venetian Wall Mirror
10. Bring Chinoiserie Decor Ideas Into the Bathroom
Powder rooms and bathrooms are the perfect place to try chinoiserie wallpaper – they’re small, so you can take a risk without spending a fortune! The warm gold background feels so cozy, and simple white vanities with black arched mirrors keep it from feeling fussy.
Shop my favorite chinoiserie finds below – just tap any product to see it!
11. Try a Sunny Yellow Background
Who says chinoiserie has to be blue?! Yellow, green, and blush backgrounds feel fresh and a little unexpected. I love how this sunny paper looks with a slim modern desk and a lilac chair – proof that chinoiserie plays so nicely with simple, modern furniture!
12. Chinoiserie Decor Ideas for a Mural Dining Room
The dining room is where chinoiserie really shines! Wrap the walls in a soft blue mural, add a round table and upholstered chairs, and every meal feels like dinner in a garden. A crystal or brass chandelier adds just the right amount of sparkle.
Shop the look: ReWallpaper Blue and White Chinoiserie Peel and Stick Wallpaper
13. Go Grand With a Scenic Wallcovering
Want a total showstopper? Go for a scenic wallcovering that wraps all the way around the room. This dining room by Tristan Harstan uses a blue and white de Gournay scene, a palm leaf chandelier, and ivory silk curtains – it feels grand and breezy at the same time! The porcelain on little wall brackets is such a fun touch, too.
14. Layer Patterned Linens on the Table
A blue and white tablescape is one of the easiest ways to make a dinner party feel special – no chinoiserie walls needed! Mix a printed tablecloth with patterned napkins and add woven chargers to keep it relaxed. And that bowl of lemons? The perfect pop of color!
Shop the look: ATOSII ‘Blue Lotus’ Hand Block Print Cotton Tablecloth · Two’s Company Chinoiserie Blue Block Print Napkins, Set of 4 · 13″ Round Woven Rattan Chargers, Set of 12
15. Use Blue and White Vases and Candlesticks as a Centerpiece
Instead of one big arrangement, line the table with a mix of porcelain vases and blue and white candlesticks. Keep the flowers simple – white roses or ranunculus – so the porcelain stays the star. Add tall taper candles and it’s instantly holiday-dinner ready!
Shop the look: Soaoo Blue and White Porcelain Candle Holders, Set of 3 · Blue and White Chinoiserie Taper Candles, Set of 6
16. Layer Floral Plates With Woven Chargers
Build each place setting in layers: a woven rattan charger, a pretty patterned dinner plate, and a smaller plate or bowl on top. I love the idea of a printed menu or name card at each seat – plus a few wildflowers in tiny vases. Your guests will feel so special!
Shop the look: Blue Floral Dinner Plates, Set of 6 · 13″ Round Woven Rattan Chargers, Set of 12
17. Chinoiserie Decor Ideas: Bird and Blossom Wallpaper for the Bedroom
Blue is such a calming color, which makes it perfect for a bedroom. A pale blue bird-and-blossom wallpaper with a matching upholstered headboard feels so dreamy and romantic. Floral pillows and a pink throw keep it soft. If you love this look, check out my French country bedroom ideas too!
18. Soften the Look With Blush
For a sweeter take, try a chinoiserie paper with blush blossoms on a cream background. Pair it with a pink upholstered headboard and floral pillows – so pretty! It would be adorable in a guest room or a little girl’s bedroom.
19. Lacquer the Walls in Cobalt
Feeling bold? Paint the walls and ceiling a glossy cobalt and keep the bedding crisp white. A few blue and white accessories tie it back to chinoiserie. It’s definitely a statement – and it feels so elegant and cozy at night!
20. Keep the Backdrop Light and Classic
My biggest tip for making chinoiserie decor feel elegant instead of busy? Give it room to breathe! White walls, classic moldings, and a natural fiber rug let the blue and white fabrics, porcelain lamps, and tiled fireplace really shine. Chinoiserie also mixes beautifully with the looks I wrote about in Parisian apartment decor and Italian interior design ideas!
Shop the look: Red Lantern 18″ Floral Blue & White Porcelain Garden Stool · A&B Home 23″ Chinoiserie Porcelain Ginger Jar · JONATHAN Y Juliana Blue and White Chinoiserie Urn Table Lamp
Common Chinoiserie Decorating Mistakes to Avoid
Using Too Many Competing Colors
Blue and white works because it’s simple! If you add a bunch of other bold colors, things can start to feel chaotic. Pick one accent color – like pink or yellow – and repeat it.
Spreading Pieces Too Thin
One lonely vase on every surface can start to look like clutter. Instead, group your porcelain into a few pretty vignettes!
Ignoring Scale
Tiny jars on a huge console get totally lost. Mix in at least one big piece – like an oversized ginger jar or a large platter – to ground the look.
Forgetting Texture
All that glossy porcelain can feel a little cold. Warm it up with linen, rattan, wood, and lots of fresh greenery!
Ready to Bring Some Chinoiserie Decor Ideas Home?
Chinoiserie decor is all about a home that feels collected and a little romantic! Start small with a pair of ginger jars or a plate wall, and add pieces as you fall in love with them. Which idea are you trying first? Happy decorating!
Shop the Look
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