Creating a Killer ‘White Lotus’ Vibe in Your Home With Thai Decor

The HBO show’s production designer talks about the local motifs and design inspiration that were woven into the sets

“The White Lotus” is a murder mystery set at a luxury resort, but the HBO series is also a visual ode to the posh locales where each season has been set—first Maui, then Sicily, and now in season three, Thailand.

The third season of the HBO series takes place amid the lush forests and pristine beaches of Thailand, and the sets embody the natural beauty of Thai interior design. Each episode is a sumptuous display of earth tones, intricate woodwork and nature motifs.

“Nature wasn’t just a backdrop but instead a living presence, almost like a character in the story,” said production designer Cristina Onori.

If you like what you see on “The White Lotus,” you can infuse Thai design into your own home. We spoke to Onori and some interior design pros for ideas on how to integrate Thai-inspired looks into any home.

Go All out With Burnt Orange

Designer’s Take: “Our guiding color was burnt orange,” Onori said. “The color palette was inspired by Thai monks’ robes in all their different variations, based on monks’ ranking and structure.”

How to Pull It Off: Dress your space in burnt orange and deep red textiles or upholstery, like this serene sanctuary from Maryland-based Anthony Wilder Design-Build. The rich colors complement the warmth of the cedar and ipe decking. “Our goal for this project was to provide an outdoor retreat large enough to sit under while enjoying the beautiful piece of art the homeowners procured,” said architect Sean Mullin of Anthony Wilder Design-Build.

Add Wood Panels

Designer’s Take: Onori incorporated wood accents throughout the set interiors, including the wood panels that you’ll spot in many of the hotel rooms. “For the wooden panels that stand in each of the hotel rooms, I used local teak wood, inspired by northern Thai architecture,” she said. “Additionally, rosewood furniture and mango wooden frames and screens were used in the hotel set.”

How to Pull It Off: A panel of louvered wooden wall is a nice touch in this beach-toned apartment designed by Miami-based House of One. Creative director Brittany Farinas sought to incorporate “elements of nature, such as the louvered wooden walls, sandy color palette and tropical botanicals.”

Bring Nature In

Designer’s Take: Thai design is all about seamless transitions between the indoors and outdoors, whether it’s through expansive glass doors or bringing flora right into the home. “Nature really is everywhere in the design,” Onori said “Luscious greenery creeps into every hotel room view, and sometimes actually finds its way inside.”

How to Pull It Off: In this dining room, designer Palmer Weiss of San Francisco-based Palmer Weiss Interior Design kept the furnishings and color palette minimal in order to bring nature into focus. The oak table and chairs, block print upholstery, wool carpet and woven silk curtains all enhance the natural beauty. “One of the very central goals in this build was to sit soundly within nature,” Weiss said. “Browns and blues are obviously two very key colors found outdoors, and I think selecting those helps the space feel more indoor/outdoor.”

Lean Into Feral Patterns

Designer’s Take: Onori incorporated wild animals into the set designs to create a heightened sense of drama. “Part of the story draws strength from the fact that these characters are immersed in nature and in such close proximity to animals for what feels like the first time, which provokes various emotions in them—fear, unease and suffocation to name a few,” Onori said.

How to Pull It Off: Wildlife motifs are everywhere in Thai design, including tigers, elephants and monkeys. A bold, feral wallpaper that spotlights these animals is an easy way to evoke drama—like this powder room with an exotic Thai-themed silk wallpaper. Joy Chao, principal interior designer at Vancouver-based JHA Architecture + Interior, picked the wallpaper for its earthy jewel tones and vibrant pattern.

Balance Traditional and Modern

Designer’s Take: Onori credits set decorator Letizia Santucci with designing furniture that balances traditional and modern elements of Thai design. “The common rooms for each hotel room were all redesigned using Thai craftsmanship reinterpreted in a modern way by new artists,” Onori said.

How to Pull It Off: “The key to Thai-inspired design is balance,” said Quách Thái Công of Thái Công Interior Design and author of “A Passion for Aesthetics.” “I always suggest blending traditional Thai elements with modern design to create a sophisticated and timeless space.” This penthouse dining room from Thái Công balances opulent light fixtures and gilded accents with teak walls, tropical wallpaper and deep earth tones. For traditional Thai color themes, Thái Công recommended deep reds, golds and rich browns.

Brilliant Pops of Color on a Neutral Palette

Designer’s Take: Building on the theme of mixing modern and traditional, Onori recommended adding traditional textiles to a contemporary setting: “Another idea could be adding colorful vibrant textiles produced by Thai brands who work with traditional patterns but also bring them into the contemporary space.”

How to Pull It Off: Thái Công adds vibrant tropical curtains and wallpaper to this modern beige dining room. He recommended adding pops of brilliant colors to a neutral color palette to achieve a modern look. “If you prefer a modern interpretation [of Thai design], a neutral base with accents of saffron, emerald green or royal blue can work beautifully,” he said.

Embrace Thai-Inspired Art and Wallcoverings

Designer’s Take: What you put on your walls can say a lot, and Onori dressed the walls with Thai art to emphasize traits in each of the show’s characters. “We decided to characterize spaces through textures, paintings and colors to express the characters,” Onori said.

How to Pull It Off: Tropical motifs are abundant in Thai design, so don’t be afraid to go bold with tropical wallpaper. “Having visited Thailand many years ago, I was captivated by its sultry air and lush landscapes,” said Weiss, who picked this Thai-inspired panoramic wallpaper to make you feel “enveloped in nature.” The gold accents and deep red curtains are a nice contrast to the lush fronds in the “Chao Phraya” wallpaper pattern from Ananbô.

(via Mansion Global)