For a long time, Africa remained a closed continent unaffected by other cultures. For this reason, the interior style that has formed here has retained its archaic and original nature. The homes of the indigenous population, as a rule, were made out rather concisely, since the vast majority of local residents could not afford delights and luxury.
This simplicity is likely to cause, especially in recent years, increased interest in representatives of other cultures spoiled by luxury. The African style belongs to ethnic areas, since it uses an abundance of traditional elements, decor items, as well as national ornaments that are characteristic of the Black Continent.
Undoubtedly, today this style has incorporated the features of European trends, which are successfully combined with elements of local culture. We will talk about the intricacies of this direction and the secrets of its creation in this article. Before creating such a style in your home, you should understand its directions. It is necessary to decide what you want to achieve: to reflect as much as possible the features of the home of the native African or to bring only some elements of national color to your premises.
Style features
A feature of the African style can be considered its brightness and liveliness and some childish immediacy, which fills it with positive energy. Such an exotic variety of ethnicity always looks modern, since national motifs in the design of residential premises have passed the test of time and at the same time have not lost their originality and freshness.
Creating an African style with your own hands, it is necessary to use the most typical features of the decoration of the dwelling of various peoples of Africa. Designers distinguish two varieties of this style - Moroccan and Egyptian. Two ways of decorating a home can be distinguished - adding colorful national colors or decorative details to achieve full compliance with the interior of an African home.
The main features of this style:
- National character;
- invigorating, vibrant atmosphere;
- contrasting color schemes.
As you can see in the photo, the African style has much in common with minimalism, while being distinguished by its simplicity and some roughness. As a decor, it uses products of craftsmen and objects of applied art. Choosing accessories and textiles, you should give preference to burning, bright shades of natural colors. We will talk about them further.
Color spectrum
As you know, Africa is the hottest continent on Earth. The scorching sun shines here all year round. For this reason, the color palette of this interior style is filled with rich and vibrant colors, as well as their shades. The main shading options include:
- yellow;
- sand;
- straw;
- mustard;
- ginger;
- brown;
- orange and its fiery hue;
- terracotta;
- brick;
- khaki;
- marsh shade of green;
- blue (few accents).
The room in the African style is not just warm, but fiery and hot colors. This eliminates the use of acidic, flashy and unnatural colors - they should all be natural.
Wall decoration
The design in the African style is completely democratic, which involves the use in the design of the room not only expensive finishing materials, but also affordable. With their help, you can also create the style of this energetic and vibrant direction.
For wall decoration, there are many options:
- Use wallpaper with a pattern that mimics the color of animal skins or reptile skin.
- Plain wallpaper with plaster texture.
- A combination of plain coarse canvases with animal print wallpapers.
- Walls can be painted with saturated warm colors, shades or muted shades of white - milky, ivory color.
- The art painting looks spectacularly on the plastered surface. In this case, the national theme is used - the nature of Africa, silhouettes of wild animals.
- Often, designers use craquelure technique in the design of walls, involving the use of paint in two shades. Against the background of the main color, there is a grid of small cracks of accent shade. This finish looks elegant and noble.
- African style allows for decorative stucco walls, especially artificially aged.
- Wall decoration with African ornament in living rooms, as well as mosaic tiles in bathrooms and in the kitchen.
As you can see, from the variety of options proposed, each one can choose exactly the one that suits you more than others, and which will not be too burdensome for the family budget.
Flooring
African-style flooring is made from materials that keep the room cool. For the hot climate of Africa, such a choice is justified. Natural stone or granite can be used as a cold coating. However, we must take into account our climatic conditions, so it is advisable to take care of installing the underfloor heating system.
Other materials can be used as flooring:
- a carpet that imitates the texture of lawn grass;
- parquet;
- laminate;
- bamboo coating.
Mats made from different types of natural materials, homespun bright rugs that are knitted from the remains of yarn can become additional elements for finishing the floor.
What should be the ceiling?
There are many options for decorating the ceiling:
- Painting the surface of the ceiling with a warm shade (sand, ivory, cream, milk and others).
- Whitewashing in white is the easiest and most affordable way.
- Drapery fabric from the ceiling.
- Protruding beams made of natural wood in dark colors. Beams are exposed with varnish, which emphasizes the texture of wood.
- Reed or bamboo stems are sometimes laid on wooden beams with a thin layer. Such a simple technique allows you to create the feeling of being in a real African hut in the interior.
- Special bamboo boards used for mounting on the ceiling surface can be attached to the ceiling itself or to suspended structures. Such a detail perfectly reflects the original style of this trend.
We select furniture
This interior direction involves the use of furniture made from natural materials. You can, of course, pick up and imitation, but only high quality. The main natural materials that are used to make furniture in the African style include:
- bamboo;
- cane;
- rosewood;
- sandalwood;
- Red tree;
- rattan;
- leather;
- natural clay;
- animal skins;
- reptile skin;
- palm bark.
Most furniture is made of natural wood. They have massive dimensions and a clear geometric shape. The outlines of the furniture are simple, but its surface is often decorated with paintings or carved decorations. Nevertheless, chests of drawers and wardrobes, sofas give the impression of reliability and a certain bulkiness.
Upholstered furniture is also large, simple in shape with deliberately rough upholstery. The upholstery from smooth genuine leather of black or dark brown color will harmoniously look. Huge chests made of natural wood play a special role in the African style. For a long time they kept clothes, household utensils and household items in them. The interior design can be supplemented by racks made of wooden boards suspended on strong ropes that descend from the ceiling.
Textile
The hot climate of Africa brings its own corrections and characteristics to the interior design. This also applies to the choice of textiles - it is always extremely bright, saturated colors. The motley ornament consisting of rhombuses and zigzags looks especially impressive. This coloring is typical for cushions, bedspreads, curtains.
Upholstery of upholstered furniture can be made of dense fabric, which is painted with complex African patterns.
Decor
Applied art in Africa is famous for a wide range of various items for interior decoration. Among them are the following:
- table lamps and floor lamps made of natural materials;
- ceramic dishes painted with national ornaments;
- colorful homespun paths of bright yarn;
- carpets with typical African patterns;
- animal skins for the floor and as covers for upholstered furniture;
- clay figurines;
- bamboo curtains;
- African-style paintings;
- figures made of ivory;
- magical amulets that are designed to protect the owners of the house and their home from evil spirits;
- African masks;
- lampshades woven from vines;
- blinds made of wooden thin plates;
- hunting trophies, stuffed animals, for example;
- indoor plants (palm trees and ferns);
- photos of landscapes framed by bamboo frames;
- mirrors in frames from cork.
Ethnostyle provides an opportunity for a creative approach to design and a free combination of various elements. It is allowed to use a variety of decorative objects in any variable combinations.
Lighting
Even created in accordance with all the rules, an almost perfect African-style interior can be ruined by improper lighting. For rooms decorated in this style, cold light is excluded, preference should be given to lamps emitting warm and diffused light. This can be achieved with the help of yellowish shades, lampshades, chandeliers and sconces.
Living room
The African-style living room is suitable for people who value eco-friendly and natural design. It will appeal to everyone who is tired of the bustle of the city, strict and official office styles, made in monochrome. A living room decorated in this style will remind you of the sunny and warm summer and the beauty of Africa.
Making a room in this direction will require a special approach from you. It is important in this case not to overdo it. Otherwise, you will receive a museum of ethnography instead of a cozy living room. The basis of this design of the living room should be stylistic features that are able to emphasize the beauty of the nature of the hot continent.
The colorful African style in the living room can be recreated in several ways:
- Focus on textured colored materials.
- Use the alternation of finishing materials in the design of the walls.
- You can paint plain walls with floral ornaments or animal silhouettes.
On the walls, African-style paintings or an image of the earth cracked by the hot sun will harmoniously look. We have already said that in the design of the premises in this style should use natural materials. In extreme cases, you can use their high-quality imitation.
Living room furniture should be heavy and rough. Carving and painting on its facades is allowed. Furniture with wrought iron parts looks great. Harmoniously fits into the interior and wicker furniture. It is advisable to select upholstered furniture with a trim imitating the skins of wild animals and genuine leather. If you do not plan to change the upholstered furniture, use plaids and decorative pillows with the appropriate print for decoration.
Bedroom
To create an African-style bedroom interior, you should first select a suitable bed. It should be made of wood, and the coarser the better. An ideal bed is a podium type or on very low legs. In this case, a light canopy will be appropriate.
Walls are decorated with plaster or painting, which imitates the color of clay. Parquet board is ideal for the floor. In the bedroom decor in this style, do not use masks, but pictures with animals, photos of safaris that are not annoying to the eye.
Kitchen
There is less improvisation in the African-style kitchen, since this room should first of all be functional and easy to maintain. In order for the interior of such a kitchen not to conflict with the African design of the whole house, it is enough to arrange the kitchen in red-brown or wenge color. Place the decor from wooden cuts or branches. Hang clay plates on the walls.