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African Decorating
By:
Published: November 29, 2006
If you are looking to give your home a bold, exotic flair, African decorating is a great choice. It includes rich, large patterns, strong colors, dark woods, exotic animal prints and authentic cultural artifacts from African tradition.
Incorporating African decorating into your home can liven up a bland palette, add excitement and give you an escape into a unique and rich culture. It can create a daily trip across the ocean into one of the biggest and most varied continents on Earth.
Accessories
Much of Africa's history is comprised of centuries of different tribes and smaller civilizations. This tribal heritage shows up in mostly handmade artifacts. African clothing, textiles, artwork, furnishings, masks, statues and animal prints are a significant part of the hunting community and close-knit tribal life constituting the traditions passed down through generations.
African decorating combines tribal masks and figurines hand-carved from ivory and dark woods with safari creatures of the African jungles, plains and deserts like snakes, exotic bugs, zebras, cheetahs, lions, tigers and elephants. Spears and clay pottery also help to recreate a rich African interior in your living space.
Animal prints can be used as drapes, rugs or pillow coverings. Furs can be hung on the wall as art or to highlight a particular section of the room. Statues, pictures of animals and mythical figures also work well for wall decorations or on tables and mantles. Carvings or paintings of exotic fruits and plants make great additions as accessories to set the exotic mood. For a great finishing touch, big, wild plants or small trees lend a tropical safari sensation to the room.
Colors
Vivid colors, bold shapes and exotic animal prints are the driving force of African decorating. The best palettes for this decorating scheme, however, will have an earthy or dusty natural tone to them. Maroon, forest green and jewel blue should be incorporated. On top of this palette, punches of brighter yellows, reds, greens and blues can be built in with accessories or textiles. The natural browns, blacks and creams of the animals' furs, woods and ivories weave nicely in and out of the richer colors.
Furniture
African decorating is a unique combination of natural and raw styles. It also provides a polished and exotic décor. Because this style is based on combining natural and man-made ways of life, many of the materials will also have this feel. Lots of carved and painted wood is a great way to add richness to the interior. Wood can be natural and rough, or polished if you want a more glamorous safari-hunter's bounty suite. Carvings of trees, people or animals are common in African-themed furniture. Wicker and rustic looking curvy metals also are a nice choice.
Search local stores and the Internet for unique pieces to begin creating your African decorating scheme. Do not be afraid to look in unexpected places like T.J. Max for clearance-priced elephant-themed plates. If you are lucky, you may find some authentic pieces actually originating from Africa!
Be creative with the pieces you find. For example, use a large African figurine as a side table by adhering a piece of glass to the top. Create a centerpiece for your dining room table out of a collection of tribal masks. Hang ivory carvings from a rustic chandelier. Create a personal escape or safari trip by having some fun mixing and matching to create your own rich and vibrant look.
Sources:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_design_themes/articl e/0,,HGTV_3383_2953177,00.html
http://www.africanwalldecor.com/
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_styles_other/article /0,,HGTV_3526_1384210,00.html
Incorporating African decorating into your home can liven up a bland palette, add excitement and give you an escape into a unique and rich culture. It can create a daily trip across the ocean into one of the biggest and most varied continents on Earth.
Accessories
Much of Africa's history is comprised of centuries of different tribes and smaller civilizations. This tribal heritage shows up in mostly handmade artifacts. African clothing, textiles, artwork, furnishings, masks, statues and animal prints are a significant part of the hunting community and close-knit tribal life constituting the traditions passed down through generations.
African decorating combines tribal masks and figurines hand-carved from ivory and dark woods with safari creatures of the African jungles, plains and deserts like snakes, exotic bugs, zebras, cheetahs, lions, tigers and elephants. Spears and clay pottery also help to recreate a rich African interior in your living space.
Animal prints can be used as drapes, rugs or pillow coverings. Furs can be hung on the wall as art or to highlight a particular section of the room. Statues, pictures of animals and mythical figures also work well for wall decorations or on tables and mantles. Carvings or paintings of exotic fruits and plants make great additions as accessories to set the exotic mood. For a great finishing touch, big, wild plants or small trees lend a tropical safari sensation to the room.
Colors
Vivid colors, bold shapes and exotic animal prints are the driving force of African decorating. The best palettes for this decorating scheme, however, will have an earthy or dusty natural tone to them. Maroon, forest green and jewel blue should be incorporated. On top of this palette, punches of brighter yellows, reds, greens and blues can be built in with accessories or textiles. The natural browns, blacks and creams of the animals' furs, woods and ivories weave nicely in and out of the richer colors.
Furniture
African decorating is a unique combination of natural and raw styles. It also provides a polished and exotic décor. Because this style is based on combining natural and man-made ways of life, many of the materials will also have this feel. Lots of carved and painted wood is a great way to add richness to the interior. Wood can be natural and rough, or polished if you want a more glamorous safari-hunter's bounty suite. Carvings of trees, people or animals are common in African-themed furniture. Wicker and rustic looking curvy metals also are a nice choice.
Search local stores and the Internet for unique pieces to begin creating your African decorating scheme. Do not be afraid to look in unexpected places like T.J. Max for clearance-priced elephant-themed plates. If you are lucky, you may find some authentic pieces actually originating from Africa!
Be creative with the pieces you find. For example, use a large African figurine as a side table by adhering a piece of glass to the top. Create a centerpiece for your dining room table out of a collection of tribal masks. Hang ivory carvings from a rustic chandelier. Create a personal escape or safari trip by having some fun mixing and matching to create your own rich and vibrant look.
Sources:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_design_themes/articl e/0,,HGTV_3383_2953177,00.html
http://www.africanwalldecor.com/
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_styles_other/article /0,,HGTV_3526_1384210,00.html
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