How to Style Daikin's Ultra-Slim risora XJ Air Conditioners, According to Interior Designers

Ditching the bulky, eyesore designs of old, Daikin's latest FTXJ R32 inverter cooling and heating wall-mounted split unit (risora XJ series) boasts an ultra-slim silhouette that's an absolute breath of fresh air for your home. The risora XJ comes in a variety of 10 different panel colours, allowing you to instantly enhance the look and feel of any room. Consider our interiors game well and truly stepped up.

The risora XJ series air con is so svelte, it'll slip right into your living space without cramping your style. At just 185mm thick - the length of your palm - this beauty not only saves precious space, but it also streamlines your look, giving your room a clean, elegant vibe. It's a stylish addition to your home that you'll love showing off.

The design team at Daikin has really raised the bar with the variety of customisable panel colour options for its risora XJ series. Users can choose from 10 different colours and materials, including Frosty White, Glowing Black, Maple Brown, Brushed Gold, Spring Green, Serene Blue, Honeydew Mint, Dusk Beige, White Oak and Titanium Copper. It's no wonder the design has earned recognition from numerous international awards, including the 2018 Red Dot Design Award, 2018 iF Design Award and 2017 Good Design Award. By allowing users to tailor the panels to their individual tastes, the risora XJ series is able to integrate into a wide range of home decor styles, creating a more personalised home.

In terms of functions, the risora XJ air con uses the eco-friendly R32 refrigerant to reduce energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. The series also comes packed with all sorts of innovative technology and a user-centric approach, including a mobile app that allows you to conveniently control everything from your smartphone, putting total comfort at your fingertips. For those concerned about indoor air quality, the risora XJ is equipped with DryShock antibacterial cleaning technology. This system uses condensed water to clean the heat exchanger, effectively killing off harmful bacteria and unpleasant odours, ensuring a clean and fresh living environment. The risora XJ is also well-suited for Hong Kong's humid climate, thanks to its Hybrid Cooling technology that maintains a stable indoor temperature while actively dehumidifying the air, providing a comprehensive solution.

To showcase just how seamlessly the risora XJ can integrate into different design styles, we invited two leading Hong Kong interior firms to select two panel colour options and create a home design surrounding it.

De Stijl Interior Design — Serene Blue and Titanium Copper

When it comes to air conditioner installation, the risora XJ impresses with its palm-width profile. As for the advantages of this slim design, De Stijl Interior Design's Sam Ho and Tommy Ho reckons, "The slim profile seamlessly integrates into any space, making it particularly suitable for small rooms or narrow areas. This allows for greater flexibility in furniture arrangement and helps save space. Additionally, the sleek design reduces visual clutter, creating a more open feel."

For interior design, there are a few key considerations when it comes to air conditioning units. As Tommy and Sam put it, "You need to choose the right placement to ensure good air circulation and avoid blocking the airflow. It's also recommended to pick an air conditioning unit that matches the colours and materials of the interior, so it blends in seamlessly with the overall design." Speaking of the latest Daikin risora XJ air conditioner and its 10 interchangeable panels, the designers have some savvy tips. "If you've got a modern minimalist style with wooden furniture, go for a lighter panel colour like Frosty White or Serene Blue to create a bright, airy feel. For a kid's room, the vibrant Spring Green or Dusk Beige shades can inject some playful energy."

The designers have tastefully incorporated the soothing, soft Serene Blue panels from the series into this living and dining room. Paired with a clean white colour scheme and light wood flooring, the result is a fresh, pleasant atmosphere. When selecting air conditioning units for the living room and bedroom, the designers chose the Serene Blue model. As they note, "This colour allows the unit to stand out as an intentional design element, without being overpowering. Integrating the Serene Blue air conditioner creates a comfortable, relaxing ambiance in both the living and sleeping spaces."

For a modern luxurious interior design, the designers have incorporated another striking option – the Titanium Copper panel. As Sam Ho and Tommy Ho explain, "The metallic sheen of the Titanium Copper lends a high-end, premium feel that complements a contemporary, lightly opulent aesthetic. Integrating the Titanium Copper air conditioner into the living room and bedroom designs creates a space that is both modern and luxurious."

They believe the most appealing aspect of the risora XJ air conditioner is its diverse colour options. As they explain, "The risora XJ offers a wide range of colour choices, allowing it to pair with various interior styles and cater to the client's personal preferences. Plus, the slim profile of the unit helps it blend into the space more discreetly, enabling more flexible placement options."

Mstudio — Spring Green and White Oak

The risora XJ offers 10 different panel colours, providing ample opportunity to personalise the air conditioning unit. "For a modern minimalist look, you can't go wrong with a classic white main unit paired with a bright, airy panel colour like the fresh Spring Green or warm White Oak. Or, make a bold statement by opting for a high-contrast pairing, like the vibrant Honeydew Mint or Dusk Beige panels," shares Keith Choi, a designer from the Hong Kong interior design firm Mstudio. "You could also coordinate within the same colour family, but in varying depths. Matching the Titanium Copper and Brushed Gold panels, for instance, creates a sophisticated, on-trend aesthetic. This allows you to play with tonality and achieve a stylish look."

What should you consider for air cons when considering a home renovation? According to Keith, "When undertaking a full home renovation, choosing the air conditioner design is crucial. The placement of the units can have a significant impact, affecting factors like lighting and ensuring adequate coverage of the entire space. Equally important is ensuring the exterior design complements the overall interior theme." Regarding the slim profile of the Daikin risora XJ air conditioner, the designer thinks this feature allows for easier integration into the overall aesthetic while offering greater flexibility in furniture and layout planning. As Keith notes, "Daikin's risora XJ air conditioners strike an excellent balance, maintaining a compact, lightweight design without compromising on powerful cooling performance."

In one of Mstudio's design concepts, the designer incorporated a Spring Green air con into the living room and study. As Keith explains, "The overall interior colour scheme is built around various shades of green to create a youthful, vibrant atmosphere. Using an appropriate amount of contrasting colours adds visual interest, but we've maintained balance throughout the design to avoid feeling overwhelming."

In another design, the living-dining area and bedroom feature a white-dominant palette with light wood flooring. For the air conditioner, they selected a White Oak unit, which Keith says, "When selecting the White Oak air conditioning unit, our goal was to achieve seamless coordination with the overall design while infusing a comfortable, woody aesthetic. We've paired it with a matching wood-grained base, complemented by minimal stone and metal accents, to present a unified, cohesive style. This combination brings a harmonious, natural ambiance to the space."

As a designer, Keith finds the Daikin risora XJ's multiple colour options and slim profile to be its most appealing aspects. "The diverse colour choices allow users to select the perfect style to suit their personal preferences and interior theme, adding personality and visual interest. The slim unit design also offers an elegant, modern look that not only saves space, but infuses the space with a sophisticated, high-tech feel." This design approach not only satisfies aesthetic preferences, but also addresses functionality and practicality, making the risora XJ well-suited to contemporary living needs.