If you use the right furniture, your patio can become a useful extension of your home in summer and your deck building activities would not have gone to waste. Like any room in your home, your deck has the potential to evoke an atmosphere if you decorate it properly. An oriental theme fits in well outdoors because it is understated and naturalistic and can be accompanied by an oriental rock garden or fountain. You can undertake the Asian design yourself by stenciling flower and bird patterns on existing painted furniture and adding bold reds and blues and silk scatter cushions to your deck furniture. Outdoor Chinese paper lanterns, for instance, are inexpensive and an essential touch for oriental themes and outdoor parties. However, if you decide to go the whole hog, you can buy customised deck furniture with an oriental theme. We’ve chosen some of our favourites which are all available to buy online.
Fish watering can by Global Amici, available on amazon.com
Ornaments and paintings don’t do well outdoors – they stand in the way and get broken and damaged easily by the elements, but how about buying attractive oriental ornaments which complement your deck furniture set and are also useful in your garden? Global Amici sells an oriental fish-shaped watering can which is both decorative and useful for your pot plants. You can even buy a few and place one near each of your large pot plants and the kids will love them.
Peacock Patio umbrella by orientaldécor.com
Every summer deck needs a large outdoor umbrella to protect your furniture and keep you cool. Oriental décor.com does a range of exquisite oriental umbrellas to make you feel like you’ve just stepped onto the stage of Madame Butterfly when you walk onto your deck. You can choose from a selection of understated whites and beiges, or rather opt for bolder colours such as crimson red and royal blue. Our favourite was the peacock umbrella; in China the bird stands for the prosperous Ming Dynasty and is a symbol of beauty, rank and power. You can also complement your outdoor deck furniture with a traditional Japanese shoji screen. The screens have been used in Asia for over a thousand years and were traditionally used for tea ceremonies and outdoor processions.
Luna Outdoor Wicker Daybed by Tansu.net
Even though oriental outdoor furniture can be elaborate and colorful, there is also a large element of simplicity in oriental designs, particular if you have a weakness for Japanese house design. Tansu.net does a range of contemporary wicker furniture which is suitable for patios and pool decks as its poly rattan material is both waterproof and easy to clean.
The wicker daybeds are perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon tea and give a blank canvas for more colourful décor such as scatter pillows and throws for those cooler evenings. Just make sure you store all soft furnishings inside to keep them looking new. Teak is also a good option for attractive deck furniture sets if wicker doesn’t appeal to you.
Cherry Blossom Tung Chi Vase by Vase Showcase
No Asian theme is complete without an oriental vase or two. The advantage of using them outdoors is that you can replace the boring terracotta plant pots your mom gave you with intricately designed oriental vases. However, if you’ve invested in a genuine Ming vase, please keep that indoors instead, preferably in a bullet-proof glass case. Replication vases can be bought cheaply from various online stores and are also useful to support your outdoor party decorations and they match most wooden deck furniture; a good party idea is to put bamboo or wood sticks in the vases and hang fairy lights around them.
And once you’ve completed your oriental design, you will even find Chinese takeout a new experience; grab a blanket and enjoy an oriental picnic in the fading twilight.