Elegance, opulence, grandeur – just a few words to describe these decor ideas inspired by Crazy Rich Asians, the blockbuster movie!
“These people are so posh and snobby; they’re snoshy.”
Have you ever been in a house of someone so rich that you’re awed the minute you enter the front door? Well, that’s what can be expected if you enter the home of the Young family, who are the equivalent of royalty in the movie!
The movie was released in 2018 and is set in Singapore, a city that’s already among the most expensive cities in the world. But besides being known for its luxury, Singapore is also a country that has a mix of Chinese, Malaysian and Indian heritage.
As a result, the homes in Crazy Rich Asians feature some amazing Southeast Asian design, combined with luxurious elements that one is sure to find in the residences of the uber-rich!
Decor Ideas Inspired by Crazy Rich Asians
As the movie’s name suggests, all the decor ideas inspired by Crazy Rich Asians can be described in a few words, like opulent, elegant, luxurious and of course, expensive! Production designer Nelson Coates and set decorator Andrew Baseman worked hard to create the sets from scratch and bring in multiple design elements to reflect Singapore’s multi-cultural heritage and prosperity.
Peranakan design elements
Peranakan design refers to a traditional Singaporean architectural style that incorporates Chinese, Malay, European and even some Indonesian elements. If you look closely, you’ll find many such design elements in the homes of the Crazy Rich Asians, especially in the tiling. Perenakan tiles are colorful and patterned, and it’s easy to incorporate this style in your kitchen or bathroom.
Another feature of Perenakan design is the use of hand-carved wooden pieces, whether it’s furniture, pillars, doors and windows. A handmade wood chair with elaborate details instantly makes your space look expensive – after all, that’s the look we’re going for! Peranakan style also uses symmetry a lot, and it’s an easy way to bring this design style to life in your home.
Bold colors
Many people tend to think that an expensive look means all beiges, browns and whites. However, that’s not what a crazy rich Asian home looks like! The homes in the movie whole-heartedly embrace the richness of the culture and it’s colors, especially jade, turquoise, pink, green and yellow.
In Peranakan design, bright colors are symbols of good fortune and wealth, so its only natural that rich people would want these colors to continue being rich! Go ahead and include these colors in your home, and if you’re wary and want to choose just one, we recommend a bluish-green turquoise – perfect way to represent Peranakan design.
Mix of prints
Like colors, patterns are an another example of how western sensibilities differ from Asian ones when it comes to what looks ‘expensive’ or ‘luxurious’. The rich homes of the Crazy Rich Asians are practically bursting with patterns on every surface – carpets, walls, upholstery, curtains and art. And no, all the prints don’t have to match!
Mixing prints is what gives these homes its own charm, provided it’s done intentionally. Stick to a simple color scheme, so everthing looks cohesive while maintaining interest. Done well, you can mix stripes, damask, floral, geometric and more. You can also go with animal motifs for a bolder look.
Asian art
Well, we are talking about decor ideas inspired by Crazy Rich Asians, so it’s only natural that their homes will feature Asian art! Many frames of the homes in the movies have large framed Asian paintings on the walls, along with paper lanterns and jade statuettes.
Another prominent feature in many scenes is the presence of large Ming vases, which are an unmistakeable sign of wealth. Some of these are quite large, and are placed on the floor by furniture. You can hunt for more affordable versions of these vases at flea markets or thrift shops, and try making your own Asian-themed art.
Luxurious rugs
The Young family loves covering their floors in large rugs, and you’ll find that they don’t have a lot of bare floors visible. If you’ve ever gone rug-shopping, you know how expensive large carpets can be, and that’s why they’re a sign of wealth!
The Youngs have large carpets that contain almost all the furniture of that room, and even their stairs are covered in beautiful rugs. They’re a great way to add warmth, color and pattern along with the ‘expensive look’, of course. If you’re only beginning to decorate your room, start with the colors of your rug, so you can keep everything in balance.
Plants and flowers
Singapore is a tiny island-country, but it is literally brimming with greenery every corner you look. The government has taken great pains to ensure that the city’s biodiversity remains intact, setting up several parks and nature reserves, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Well, this abundant flora and greenery is beautifully represented in several frames of Crazy Rich Asians. Nearly every table has a vase of flowers on it, and we all remember the pavilion with gorgeous flowers and of course, that wedding scene! Flowers are also believed to be a way to balance energy according to feng shui, so that’s another advantage!
Signs of abundance
Eastern and Asian cultures don’t promote minimalism like Western cultures do, and this is very obvious in the Young family’s home. You could say that they take it a step further – there are very few empty spaces! You’ll find that most surfaces are full, whether they’re coffee tables, dining tables, end tables or console tables.
The interesting thing is that despite being a lot, these surfaces don’t look cluttered. And that’s because they’re decorated carefully, with intention and sticking to the overall theme. Flowers, candles, vases, decorative bowls and boxes all come together to create beautiful vignettes.
Golden details
There is nothing that screams wealth like gold, and it has been the case for centuries now! It’s no wonder then that the Youngs go all out with the golden details, both indoors and outdoors. And these aren’t mild or subtle accents, they’re quite bold and unmissable!
Of course, you don’t have to install a golden fountain in front of your doorway, but you can still boost your home’s luxury-factor with gold accents. Gold picture frames, lights, vases and candlestands are an easy way to bling up your space. You can also find antiques with gold trimmings that add a beautiful touch without being too much.
Unique pieces
In the movie, the Young family didn’t come into wealth recently; they’re what is known as old-money, and their homes respect that aesthetic. This means family heirlooms and unique pieces that no one else has, and which are often handmade by talented craftsmen.
Besides decorating their lavish homes, another thing rich people do is travel. As a result, their homes often have little symbols of their various trips, which sit right beside traditional Asian artefacts. This mix of old and new is what gives homes that well-curated, expensive look, and is one you can easily get by visiting antique shops.
Yes, the homes of the Crazy Rich Asians are positively brimming with money, but these decor ideas inspired by Crazy Rich Asians don’t have to cost a bomb! There are many ways to become creative so that you can create this look in your home, even if it’s just a modest apartment. After all, ‘richness’ is all about the vibe, and not at all about the bank balance!
This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026.
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2 Comments
I haven’t watched the movie. But the way you narrated the art aspects will push anyone to watch it. Btw, when talking about peranakans – there is an Indian version too. The Chitty Melaka (or Indian Peranakans) are unique ethnic group in Malaysia/Singapore. They are descendants of Tamil traders from South India who settled in this region and married local Malay woman. While the term “Peranakan” is most commonly associated with the Straits Chinese (Baba-Nyonya), the Chitty are Indian counterpart to this mixed heritage. Their language is a mix of Malay and Tamil. Their traditional attire blends Indian and Malay style. While they generally follow Hinduism, social rituals have been heavily influenced by Malay tradition. The food too – is a fusion of Indian and Malay spices and ingredients. The word ‘Asians’ in your title pulled me to this post. I had a satisfying read. All the best.
Wow, I did not know that!! It’s amazing how different cultures intersect, isn’t it? Thanks for reading and commenting!