African decor is a unique style that will add a primitive yet sophisticated feel to any home. A home decorated in this style gets its inspiration from a safari vacation. With many elements from nature and animal inspired, it has a rich sexy appeal that will look good in anyone's home. Colors, textures, furniture and accessories will be the four main elements to help depict this exciting style.
Colors - Black, brown, cream, and burnt orange make a wonderful color palette for this jungle inspired motif. Colors found in African animals and the bleeding colors of an African sunset are ideal. Try adding splashes of green and blue to bring in more depth. Think of a desert you envision of all the natural burnt and brown colors. The blues and greens represent the sporadic water found in a desert. Faux leather hides will also add some character to your space. Elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and zebras are all animals found in Africa with unique patterns that will look amazing. Using zebra print throw pillows to accent your cream and brown painted walls sets the tone for your jungle paradise.
Textures - Since most of your inspiration will come from nature, use strong heavy textures. Add texture anywhere from the walls and ceilings to the upholstery and drapes. A few examples include bamboo picture frames, anything made of straw, and a splash of greenery such as plants or small tress placed in your room corners to give you the jungle atmosphere. Made of cotton material and painted with die mud in tribal patterns, mud cloth is a unique fabric to Africa. You can use this cloth to make beautiful wall hangings or place mats, which will go well when combined with natural textures like wood, rope, wrought iron, and sisal.
Furniture - Again you will receive your inspiration for your furniture from nature. Wood or wrought iron furniture will fit in with this style. Look for large hand carved pieces of furniture that replicate the lines of nature, semi-curvy and clean. When using larger pieces of furniture in a room, keep it limited to highlight your accent pieces. Use one to two large wood hand carved pieces and smaller, quieter accent pieces to avoid the feeling over being overcrowded.
Accessories - The options for accessories in this space are endless. Hand-woven baskets, vases, and picture frames are a wonderful addition to any African inspired home. Drums are a unique and functional accessory to African culture which can be source for conversation or fun. Try using a larger drum as a unique end table or place a small drum on a coffee table for decoration. Any tapestry with heavy patterns unique to the African culture will look fabulous draped over a couch or hung over a window.
This style of design is very special because it represents a very deep-rooted culture. It is sexy yet mysterious and pays homage to the wonderful animals of the wilderness. These are few key elements that will ensure you are on the right path to creating your own African jungle behind closed doors.
