When it comes to ones home or office someone who may not normally be picky might change their attitude, which is completely understandable. For many these are the places that one may spend most of their time, so why not create an atmosphere that you want to be in. A home should be a place where one can feel comfortable and safe, as well as feel proud of. A home is also a space where one can let their creative side come out. You can tell a lot about a person when you look at their home. How they decorate it, what it smells like, and the type of atmosphere they have created. There are 7.6 billion people in the world and each person has a different style, or a different taste. One persons boho chic room may not appeal to another, or a modern sculpture may be a work of art to one and make another roll their eyes in the back of their head. It is our goal at Oriental Furniture to have products that appeal to many different tastes. There is one style that will never go out of trend and will always be high in demand, and that is simplistic, or minimalistic. A simplistic piece can easily fit into a minimalistic or a shabby chic home.

Many people are in favor of living a minimalistic lifestyle, and it actually makes a lot of sense. There are many ways that having a minimalist home decreases stress levels. If you think about it, how often do you find yourself frazzled by the amount of “stuff” you have laying around the house. It is quite easy to make a home feel cluttered with too much furniture and decorative items. Not to mention the more furniture means more places for dust to settle which naturally leads to more cleaning. No one wants to come home after a long day of work to a disarray of chores and clutter. Honestly, that is enough to make me want to simplify my home ASAP. 

If you are looking to add some pieces to your home that will help to create a minimalistic environment or just simply like simple things look no further. Our simplistic pieces of furniture are ideal for all spaces and tastes. 

Simplistic Pieces

Lets talk about about the containers that we typically use to store our beloved jewels, also known as Jewelry boxes. Jewelry boxes have been use through out centuries and with good reason. No one likes to have their precious jewels scattered around like they mean nothing, they are called Jewels for a reason. However, just because these special boxes are branded as Jewelry boxes does not mean they solely have to be used for jewelry. They can be used to keep anything that is of great importance to you. May it be some trinket that you have had for years, or a photo of your grandparent. These boxes are a place to store your sacred belongings. Having a place to store your cherished belongings a sign of care and respect for those objects.

It just so happens to be Mother’s Day this coming Sunday. Give your mother something that you know she will use. Everyone has some thing that is special to them, so it is a guarantee your mother will find some use for these gorgeous Jewelry Boxes.

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There is no denying the signs of Spring here in the Northeast. We are finally able to shed our Winter layers and bask in the warm balmy sun. Blossoms are protruding out of the ground and the trees are expanding, pushing new leaves out from their branches.

            Cherry Blossoms are bursting open and with that we feel the full power of Spring. The blossoms are filling the air with a light, sweet scent and the landscape is being swiftly dusted with a pink hue. For me, Cherry Blossoms invoke a feeling of warm breezes that washes away all of the coldness that built up in our bodies and homes over the course of the winter. I feel revitalized and eager to spend my time outside in the flowering beauty.

            Not only are Cherry Blossoms easy on the eyes and nose, but they hold quite a lot of symbolism. Cherry Blossoms go back hundreds of years in the Japanese culture. They represent more than just a beautiful fragile flower. In Japanese culture  Cherry Blossoms represent a form of beauty that is life itself. They see the fragility in the flower and it reminds them that life is precious, and short. The delicate blossoms inspire one to take a minute in the day to stop and look at what is growing around you and recognize the beauty those small buds hold. Before we know it, it will be summer, then fall, and soon after that the snow will cover the landscape. If Winter is especially hard for you, don’t fret, we offer exquisite pieces adorned in Cherry Blossoms that will make Spring last all year long right in your very own home.

Cherry Blossoms

At Oriental Furniture we are delighted to announce that we are officially selling Tansu Chests. These chests are truly one of a kind, serving great purpose as well as being aesthetically pleasing. The simplistic wood work in combination with the detail of the metal embellishments is genuinely exquisite. There is more that meets the eye when looking at these pieces, the decorative trim has intricacies that one may not catch at first. But when properly looked at one will see how magnificent the detail is.

Tansu is the Japanese word for chest, or, a mobile storage unit. These chests have been noted in Japanese history as far back as 1657. Their original use was for storing food and carrying firewood and were use later for storing everything from clothing to documents. It was concluded that at first they were not made from wood, they were most likely constructed of Bamboo. Over time the Tansu chest became a distinct feature of Japanese culture as well as daily life. Soon enough different kinds of wood began to be incorporated into the making of Tansu chests. You could find the chests made from different types of wood such as Elm, Chestnut, Pine, Cedar, Paulownia, and Cypress.

The Edo period which was between 1603 and 1868 when Japan was under the rule of Tokugawa Shogunate, the period was known for being a time of economical growth and strict social order. There were many different types of Tansu chests and they mainly reflected the class and the occupation of the owner rather than the regionally inspired originality. Post Meiji restoration which was the revolution, and with the dissolution of the harsh class structure, the regional characteristics of Tansu chests were able to flourish. The various types of chest began to spread through the classes and no one was shunned for which one they had.

A Tansu chest is a charming focal point that also offers ample storage space, as well as surface area. These chests are optimal for any home that is seeking to be revived with contemporary oriental furnishings. They are so elegant that you only need a few things to complete the vignette. We hope you enjoy our Tansu chests as much as we do.

Tansu Chests

In the last few weeks the great outdoors has gone through many changes. The snow has melted away, and there has been ample amounts of rain, which has powered the growth of new spring foliage. There is a color that has become more prominent and will be staying with us for the upcoming months, that color is Green. If you were to look outside right now what would you see? Probably some trees with bright green leaves that have just begun to unfold, and lush grass that is finally pigmented with chlorophyll. We can all come out of our shells to let the sun willfully rid us of the inevitable winter gloom that has hung over our heads these past months. It is easy for one to feel a wave of new life developing within, almost as if we have a new start. There is a sense of rejuvenation and excitement as we begin to truly feel the warm weather approaching.

The color green has various key traits that make it an optimal color. Green falls directly in the middle of the color spectrum making it the easiest color for the human eye to see. Our bodies go through less strain when trying to perceive the color green which results in a relaxed nervous system.Being such a calming color green is ideal for color therapy, and is usually found in schools and hospitals. It is instinctual for humans to know that when vegetation is green it is most likely safe for consumption. This is why green symbolizes freshness, and good health. Green also embodies the natural world which represents growth, fertility, energy, tranquility, and luck.

Green is an exceptionally powerful color and if being around the color does so much for us then we should certainly have more of it close by. Luckily at Oriental Furniture we are highly enthusiastic about having a large assortment of products in all the colors in the spectrum.

All things Green

Bamboo is a flowering evergreen perennial from the grass family known as Poaceae. Along with other grasses fro the Poaceae family Bamboo tends to be hollow on the inside and has a wood like texture. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Some species of Bamboo can grow up to 36 inches in 24 hours, that is 1 inch every 40 minutes.

Having a higher compressive strength than wood, brick or concrete  Bamboo also has a  tensile strength that rivals steel. Because of this Bamboo has economical significance. Through out Asia Bamboo is used for building materials, as a food source, and a versatile raw product. Bamboo is also great for filtering gout airborne toxins such as carbon dioxide, formaldehyde and Benzene. It is amazing how versatile Bamboo is and it is a relatively easy crop to grow.

In Chinese tradition Bamboo the significance of lucky Bamboo depends on how many stalks you have. I am talking about the variety of Bamboo that you out inside your home, not the kind that you see along side the road that grows in voluptuous crops. There are different meanings associated with the arrangements of Bamboo. Two stalks represent love, three represent Fu (happiness), Lu (wealth), and Soh (long life), four stalks represents the parts of life that impact wealth. The arrangements go up to ten stalks and ends with twenty one which represents a powerful blessing.

Bamboo is highly momentous and is consistently sought after. There is high demand for house plants nowadays and Bamboo is a plant that you will find in most peoples homes. Bamboo is also used for many decorative designs, as well as furniture. It is important to know have the knowledge about something that we as people use so frequently and in many ways. In a way by educating ones self in even the smallest things such as what kind of house plant one has in their home, or the Bamboo chair they own, we are showing respect for the materials we are lucky to have. It also creates more of a personal significance, and I can certainly tell you that after learning more about Bamboo I would love to have more pieces in my home crafted from it. The Bamboo pieces that we sell at Oriental Furniture are special to us because we feel that they represent a culture and a style that we hold high respect for. We are also simply  captivated by the hues of Bamboo, it is not easy to miss the various shades of green and tan.

We offer alluring pieces made from Bamboo that will compliment any and all spaces, adding a simple touch of nature to your space. Take a peek at what we have to offer!

The Wonders of Bamboo

There is no denying that creating art is marvelous for one’s brain. For some it is a mediation and for others it is a form of therapy, there is a long list of benefits one gains from art. Art has been used to help relieve stress as well as to boost ones self esteem. Overall ones quality of life is drastically improved when one is creative. If making art is so powerful for the creator isn’t it valuable to the viewer as well?

Van Gogh once said “Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painters soul.” There is deep sentiment within a painting for an artist and in turn the art also provokes emotion and thought inside a viewer. Your brain goes through diverse changes when you look at a work of art. By looking at art your brain becomes stimulated as it tries to organize patterns and making sense of shapes. There is also increased blood flow to the brain by as much as 10%. That is the equivalent of looking at someone you love. Hopefully most of you can imagine exactly how you would feel looking at someone you love. Maybe a little warm, excited, and certainly happy. 

If looking at art is so good for you then what is holding you back from surrounding yourself with beautiful pieces of art. One of my favorite painters is Monet and when I look at his paintings I feel a sense of ease. Naturally I put one of our room dividers with a Monet print on it to good use in my office. What is art to you? What moves you?

At Oriental Furniture we have an abundance of items with prints of famous artists to pictures of trickling streams. We offer alluring furniture with engravings that are not only of good use but they are works of art. There are plenty of options to choose from.

When it comes to the container where we put our office or bedroom waste one usually let’s down their decorating game. Picking out a waste basket is commonly the last task following decorating endeavors, or rather, and after thought. Following your precious time spent brightening up an office space, or your bedroom, how many of you settle for either the waste basket that was there prior, or one of those small unappealing silver flip top cans? From my personal experience after moving three times over the last four years I seem to always end up with the same wiry waste bin that has gum stuck to the bottom of it from who knows how long ago. I can sincerely say I have no reasoning behind keeping it, and no clue as to why I haven’t thrown it out as of yet. Can anyone relate?

When I first began working for Oriental Furniture I was amazed by the waste bins we have to offer. I quickly came to realize that ones waste bin does not have to be ugly. The wast bins we sell may seem slightly pricier than your typical Target waste bin, however ours are works of art, and they are well made so they will last a long time. Plus they are also relatively on the smaller side which will cause you to empty it more often, preventing any distasteful odors filling the room. It is a win win bin!

So, if you are ready to upgrade your waste bin we promise you won’t regret it. Not only will you be less ashamed of your waste bin, but you will enjoy gazing upon your it as you toss your chip bag in.

Waste Bins

Today a majority of furniture and household items are made out of materials other than wood. Plastic is one of the most common materials used now days due to it’s convenience. Plastic lasts a long time and it usually calls for less repairs, unlike wood, plus it is commonly cheaper. However, despite the effort companies have made to replace wood, it is a task that will never fully be done. There is much more beauty and sentimental value when it comes to wood.

A majority of items like furniture and tools were originally crafted from wood partially because one had minimal options for materials and wood was and still is extremely useful. There are copious varieties of wood that offer different benefits from color, to strength, and even to durability. For example, the hardest wood in the world comes from what is called an Ironwood tree, which goes by the name of Australian Buloke, it comes from Eastern and Southern Australia. The second strongest wood actually comes from a flowering plant in the cashew family, it goes by the name of Schinopsis Brasiliensis, it is native to Brazil. Wood has other unique values that you simply cannot replicate with other materials, such as the particular patterns. The pattern one sees in wood comes from what is known as wood grain which is the longitudinal layout of wood fibers. The complex markings are completely natural and are unique to each piece of wood. Wood can be bent into a curve, or cut and chiseled into a pattern. As hard as wood is it is a clay to craftsman that can be molded into what ever they desire.

Wood goes with an array of tastes and can easily fit in with any style. Switch out your plastic chairs for some wooden ones and notice how the space changes. Replace the shelf you bought from Ikea with a alluring shelf made from Mahogany. Each piece you purchase will hold history within it. From it’s past owner to the person who created that unique piece. These are characteristics that you find in wood will not appear in pieces made my plastic or industrial materials.

Check out what wooden Home decor we have to offer, we have thousands of unique pieces that will adorn your beautiful space.

Wooden Pieces

Everyone should own a trunk. I am not talking about the trunk of a tree or the trunk of an elephant. I am regarding to the trunk you would most likely find in your parents attic. They have wistfully been branded as the dusty old trunk when really they are highly useful and can even be aesthetically pleasing.Trunks are not only the easiest source of organization, but they also serve for multiple purposes. One could use a trunk as a coffee table, or a bedside table. I am sure one could come up with many different uses for a trunk.

I can easily say one of my most beloved belongings is an old black trunk with my grandmothers initials printed on the side in red ink. I consider it to be an heirloom as well as a nifty piece of furniture. My favorite place to put it is at the end of my bed to give a shabby chic kind of vibe in my bedroom. For a long time I kept my trunk in the back of my car and used it for clothing when I did a great deal of traveling. I am constantly finding new uses for the trunk.

Sadly not everyone has the opportunity of receiving a family heirloom, however, there are many considerable alternatives on our website. No matter what your style is we guarantee that we have a trunk that you will fall in love with. From a vintage-looking pattern, to a slick black leather trunk. Good luck with picking just one!

Trunks