Africa is an exotic place, which excites and stays on your mind forever, once you see it. If you love this part of the world but can’t go there, you can always bring this flavor to your home creating African-inspired interiors. Such rooms are perfect for countries with long winters, just to add some warmth to the interiors. What are the characteristic features of African décor?
Light Walls And Warm Colors
Traditional African homes are huts with clay walls, so if you want to bring an African flavor to your interior, finish your walls with something similar: plaster or textural wallpapers, and remember that they shades should be warm. Actually, African nature is always warm-colored, and you should repeat that feature in your home, too: yellow, orange, ocher, burgundy, red, brown, buttermilk and so on.
This Africa-inspired bedroom has light walls and various shades of ocher used for decor and textiles
This modern space was accentuated with a traditional ceiling and woven basket lamps
This calm bedroom boasts of a cool headboard and warm-colored traditional texiles that remind of Africa
Warm colour palette and dark espresso furnishings and decor with 2 torch wall sconces flanking a large art work
Shades of ocher, carvings of wood and the artworks make this living room terrific
Chic ethnic dining room design with ocher-colored furniture and African pottery
Buttermilk walls, spears and a faux zebra rug create an ambience here
Dark Wood Furniture, Ethnical Or Animal Skin Upholstery
Dark wooden furniture, slightly mannered and artisanal, is a characteristic feature of African interiors, it should be angular. As for upholstery, choose ethnical prints or faux animal skins, it will perfectly accentuate the interior. You may go for rattan or woven furniture for outdoors, it’s also suitable for African interiors.
A chest lined with pillows as a mock bench for the entrance
Dark woven bed and matching side tables of wood and metal
Dark wood chairs upholstered with ethnic woven fabrics and matching pottery on the wall
A woven table and wooden stools amde by African artisans and the Kuba cloth
Dark wood bench with a woven seat and ethnic pillows
a worn carved dark wood bench with dark pottery for outdoors
Carved console table with a zebra-printed ottoman and African artworks
Rattan dining chairs and an African vase for decor
African-inspired chair of rattan and leather with an ethnic pillow
African Statuettes, Pottery And Masks
Wooden statuettes and masks are a sacred object in the life of African tribes, and of course, there’s no African interior without them. Get a variety of figurines with the wrong proportions, with deliberately elongated legs or hands, masks with feathers and various African pottery to decorate your home. These pieces are exactly what you need to give your interiors an Africa feel, even if they are minimalist.
Beautiful masks, raffia cloths, stoneware ceramics, and Namji dolls
Furniture made of jarrah wood could definitely become an African-inspired touch to any room's decor. African "plank masks" are also perfect for a themed room. (Phases Africa)
Bold collection of African masks which echoes with the chairs in the colors
African bowls are perfect to display on a dining room's wall. (Jute Interior Design)
A collection of African carved masks on a bedroom wall for a statement
Painted African baskets on the wall
Using a chest as a coffee table work as a charm for a ethnic-themed room. (Illuminate Home Staging)
Namibian statuettes and pottery on framed shelves
African pottery and wooden bowls displayed on shelves with hidden lights
Even faux antelope heads could be an interesting touch to a bathroom's decor.
Create an ethnic-inspired wall in any room by hanging some old weapons on it.
African bowls diplayed on the wall as a bold decor feature
Masks on the wall and a basket used for holding towels
Painted wooden masks in an Africa-inspired living space
Ethnical Textiles And Faux Animal Skins
Leopard and zebra prints are number one for textiles and upholstery, and of course for rugs because such carpets really create a mood. Weaving carpets and textiles are a tradition for many centuries for African women, and they create unique patterns each time. So get a couple of ethnic rugs and textiles like curtains, bedspreads, bedding, if you don’t buy the original ones, just find Africa-inspired textiles.
African mud cloth table cloth, handmade using an all-natural dying process in Mali
Kuba textile to make a statement on a bedroom wall
Faux zebra skin rug in a living room
Bedding inspired by African motifs
Handwoven African mud cloth pillow cover
A cool bedding set is an easy way to add an ethnic touch to a bedroom's decor. (Luci.D Interiors)
Vintage fabric woven from raffia-palm leaf fibers for wall hanging and cushions
Wall murals are perfect to design a kids room inspired by Lion King and safari themes. (FrazierFoto)
Cowhide rug from IKEA is a great alternative to a real one
Africa-inspired wall art is one of those simple ways to add a ethnical touch to a room's decor. (Craig Denis)
Textiles here create a mood and theme, warm-colored pillows and traditional tribal rugs scream Africa
There are more ideas that can help you with creating African interiors: palm leaves, natural materials and accessories, especially wooden and woven ones, oversized photos of African people for a modern vibe and so on. Get inspired!