African interior

Exotic ethnic interiors are always original, original, because are out of time. However, it is also necessary to maintain a sense of proportion. Therefore, if you are not quite ready to create an unusual African interior, characterized by extraordinary brightness, then, as an option, you can use only its individual elements in the interior, which, for example, are present in styles such as colonial and Art Deco. Well, if you are still ready for a difficult experiment, then welcome to sultry Africa!

African style design features

When decorating the interior of your home in an African style, the basis should be taken in common features, which are determined by climatic features, natural, as well as the materials used. Usually, designers take as a basis a mixture of interior components of the dwellings of African peoples in different settlements. Thus, two ethnic styles from the pan-African are usually distinguished: Egyptian and Moroccan.

Before you start creating an African style in the interior, you need to decide what the goal is: either the task is to bring only a few African colorful shades into the interior or it will be the most complete repetition of the main characteristics of an African home. When the course is chosen, you can begin to implement your idea.

The main features of the African style

In a nutshell, these features are originality, color, dynamism, energy, expression and contrast. On the one hand there is minimalism and simplicity of form, on the other hand, is primitive in decor and rudeness in texture, while at the same time, contrast and brightness of colors in accessories and textiles are observed. Typically, the interior reflects a picture of the world, so it uses natural materials and natural shades. The abundance of objects of decorative and applied African art, which are very primitive, is welcomed.

Because in the interior of this style there is a reminder of the scorching sun, of the sand in the desert and impenetrable jungle, then the color scheme is respectively determined by such shades as sand, brown, terracotta, orange, yellow, brick and even marsh green. It should be noted that the prevailing colors are it is yellow and brown (wood bark, carbonized wood, saffron, honey, baked milk, cinnamon, amber, etc.). In general, the colors in the interior should not only be warm, but hot, like the air of Africa itself. You can also find a combination of black with a fiery hue, as a reminder of the fire, as well as the colors of the skins of animals living in Africa. A careful introduction of blue shades is allowed, but only in small quantities and as an accent. In other words, it must be remembered that all tones used are natural.

Decorative wall decoration

There are many options. For example, you can use wallpaper with a pattern imitating the skin of reptiles or the color of wild animals. You can combine wallpapers using plain, textured plasters with colored ones, for example, with imitation of exotic leather. Or you can just paint the walls in a warm or even white shade. To give brightness, you can make a border that has an African ornament or it can just be paper or painted with paints. By the way, the walls can be decorated with painted silhouettes of animals. Also, as an option, you can give the walls of nobility with the help of a network of thin cracks that mimic the African land, cracked by drought. You can do this if you use two shades of paint, one of which is accent, and the other is dominant.You will also need a special craquelure lacquer and the skills of the crackle technique, which is performed on plaster and paint. Besides, the use of decorative plaster is another option for wall decoration. Even better, if the plaster is artificially “aged”. Sometimes part of the walls is finished with African ornaments with fabric, and if it is a bathroom or kitchen, it’s perfect mosaic for wall cladding or tiles with imitation of the texture of reptile skin.

Decorative flooring

To make stone floors will be the most optimal solution. Porcelain stoneware tiles will be ideal for this material. Moreover, for Africa, such a cold flooring only increases the level of comfort. However, we are not in Africa and we will have to install the system “warm floor».

As an alternative, matt parquet board, especially with deck laying. Very to the place will be a carpet mat, which will remind you of African huts, in which there were always mats for the poor. Among other things, there are bamboo floor coverings, usually in the form of large-format slabs or laminate flooring, which also represents an interesting solution for flooring. A handmade rug made of bright threads should be laid on the floor.

Decorative ceiling

Regarding the ceiling, it is recommended to paint it warm or white. By the way, fabric draperies right under the ceiling are perfect. And if you want to do something more original, then fasten beams of dark wood under the ceiling and lay on them reed or bamboo stems. By the way, bamboo slabs exist not only for the floor, but also for the ceiling. They are attached directly to the base ceiling or to the suspended lath, and all this contributes to the creation of an extraordinary sense of presence in a real African hut.

Furnishing African interior

As for furniture, it is also necessary to remember that the main criterion is natural materials or otherwise, very high-quality imitations of them. If we talk about Africa, the main materials are reed, rosewood, bamboo, sandalwood, rattan, clay, as well as genuine leather, reptile skin, animal savannah skins, palm bark. The furniture itself is made of wood, differs in simplicity, roughness and heaviness, has geometric shapes. Furniture can be complemented by painting or carving. Forged furniture is also appropriate in such an interior, and wicker with soft mattresses and pillows and carelessly hanging rugs. Upholstered furniture made of dark brown leather looks great, as does bamboo furniture.

Massive wooden chests are widely used as interior decor, as well as hanging racks with rough shelves suspended on a simple rope directly under the ceiling.

African style textiles and accessories

Textiles should be in saturated colors and be striking in their brightness and variegation of ornamental zigzag and rhomboid patterns on objects such as upholstery of chairs and stools, curtains, bedspreads and pillows. You can even make panels of colorful textiles. A similar ornament is on the dishes, carpets and floor lamps. Instead of carpet, skins are allowed.

Many things can be used as accessories, for example, bamboo curtains, clay figurines, ivory figures, amulets, wicker lampshades, wooden blinds, hunting trophies, African masks, as well as living plants, such as palm laurel or fern.