Styling a Drawing Room with Naqshi Lacquer Décor
How to style a drawing room with handmade naqshi lacquer urns, vases, surahis and accents, without overcrowding the space.
The drawing room is where guests are welcomed, and in many homes it's where the best pieces are kept. Naqshi lacquer, the traditional craft of our area, is made for this room. Its glossy colours and hand-scratched patterns catch the light and give guests something to admire. The trick is choosing a few pieces well, rather than filling every surface.
What makes naqshi special
Naqshi pieces are turned from wood and coated in layers of coloured lac. Patterns are scratched through by hand to reveal the colours underneath, so every piece is slightly different. Learn more in What is naqshi lacquer woodcraft?
What is naqshi lacquer woodcraft?
Start with a colour story
Pick two or three colours that already appear in your room, in the sofa, curtains, rug or cushions, and choose naqshi pieces that match. Our pieces come in colours such as blue, teal, copper, red and gold, so there's usually a match. Sticking to one colour story makes a room feel planned rather than busy.
Statement pieces
Choose one or two of these as the focus of the room:
Decorative Wooden Lacquer Urns, Pair: a pair of tall turned urns in copper and teal lac with hand-scratched detail. Place one on each side of a console or sideboard.
Decorative Wooden Lacquer Urns, Pair
Asma-ul-Husna 99 Names Wooden Vases, Pair: a pair of lidded lacquer vases with the 99 names of Allah worked in gold. A meaningful pair for a showcase or mantel.
Asma-ul-Husna 99 Names Wooden Vases, Pair
Blue Naqshi Surahi Set of 3: three long-necked surahis in blue naqshi. Group them in a line, from tallest to shortest, on a shelf or side table.
On the wall
Naqshi Hand-Painted Wall Clock: a wooden wall clock with a hand-painted naqshi bezel. It's useful and decorative, and works well above a sofa or opposite the entrance. Our guide to choosing a wooden wall clock has more ideas.
Naqshi Hand-Painted Wall Clock
guide to choosing a wooden wall clock
Small accents
Small pieces tie the room together:
- Naqshi Wooden Waste Bin, Red and Gold: an eight-sided bin in hand-worked red and gold naqshi lacquer. The product page suggests it for a study or bedroom, and it works just as well beside a writing desk in a drawing room.
- Naqshi tissue box on a side table.
- A lacquer table lamp for soft evening light.
Naqshi Wooden Waste Bin, Red and Gold
Simple layout rules
1. One focal point per wall or surface. Let each statement piece breathe. 2. Group in odd numbers. Three surahis or one urn with two small pieces look balanced. 3. Vary height. Mix tall urns and vases with lower pieces. 4. Leave plain space. Plain walls and surfaces make the colour stand out. 5. Balance the room. Spread colour around rather than putting everything in one corner.
Mixing naqshi with other styles
Naqshi doesn't have to stand alone. It sits comfortably beside plain wooden furniture, white walls and simple fabrics, which let its colour take the lead. If your room already has carved sheesham pieces, keep the naqshi to one or two accents so the two crafts don't compete.
Caring for naqshi décor
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth.
- Keep pieces away from water and long hours of direct sunlight.
- Avoid harsh chemical sprays.
- Handle lids and stems gently.
See How to care for lacquered wood for more.
How to care for lacquered wood
Gifting naqshi décor
A pair of urns or vases, or a surahi set, makes a memorable wedding, housewarming or Eid gift. For more ideas, read our wedding and nikkah gift guide.
Order from Sillanwali Handicrafts
Every piece is handmade in Pakistan, with cash on delivery available. See each product page for current details, browse the home decor collection, or visit bulk orders for larger orders.