How to Decorate With a Red Lacquer Desk

Red lacquer is an element used in many Asian-influenced furniture pieces.

A red lacquer desk commands attention in any room. When you focus your room design on complementing the color and style of the desk, you create a coordinated space that looks worldly and warm. Whether the desk is to be placed in a living room or home office, you can design the room to make the most of this stunning statement piece.

Things You'll Need

• Sage green eggshell finish wall paint
• Sheers
• Wrought iron curtain hardware
• Oriental rug
• Rattan chair
• Bookshelves
• Cream semigloss paint
• Oriental accessories
• Black metal desk lamp
• Glass vase
• Sofa set
• Pillows
• Accessories

Instructions

1. Paint the walls in the room to accentuate the shiny red surface of the desk. Use a sage green to create a peaceful space to showcase your desk.

2. Hang cream sheers over windows using black iron hardware. The sheers will keep the space bright and provide space for the eye to rest.

3. Lay a large oriental area rug in the center of the room. The rug will feature red, black and green elements in the design.

4. Place the red lacquer desk in front of the windows in a living room or in the center of the rug in a home office.

5. Use a rattan or black wood office chair to complement the desk color and Asian style.

6. Build or paint existing bookshelves near the desk a rich cream color. This color will brighten the sage green walls and coordinate with the red lacquer desk.

7. Accessorize the bookshelf with black, sage green and cream items with Asian influences. Use some highly ornate oriental paper boxes to tie the carpet in to the wall decor.

8. Top the desk with a black metal desk lamp and a sage green glass vase. Keep the desktop decor minimal to allow the desk itself to be the focus.

9. Fill a living room space with an overstuffed cream sofa and side chair. Place a few sage green or pillows with Asian designs. Add one bright red pillow on the sofa as well to tie in the desk color.

10. Complete the space with dark rattan, oriental carvings and green jade statues to layer the color palette throughout the room.

Tips & Warnings

• Pull the red lacquer color into other rooms of the house by placing small lacquered accessories on shelves or Asian-style artwork where red is the dominant color on walls.

• Make your space more neutral and less Asian by using solid complementary colors on the bookshelf and in the accessories.

• Add more drama by placing the desk in front of a dark charcoal gray accent wall. Light the wall with corner up-lights to add spotlight the desk.

• Do not over accessorize a space with a red lacquered desk. The desk itself is decorative so leave spaces around it bright and clean.

References

• Traditional Home: Tropical Traditional Home

Resources

• Apartment Therapy: Richard's Favour of Friendship