When merchants and missionaries traveled to China in the 1600s, they returned with books and journals filled with accounts of their visual impressions. The European intrepretation of these accounts form the basis of the "Chinoiserie" style. It means "Chinese-esque" in French.
Amazingly this imaginative, highly decorative style has continued to thrive for four centuries and is now enjoying a revisit from interior designers everywhere. A recent Apartment Therapy post spotlighted the trend and you can see touches of it in the Hollywood Regency style which is also in the midst of a resurgence.
If you want further inspiration, check out this pictorial from the LA Times.
Here are a few items which add the exotic touch of Chinoiserie to a room:
