41 Striking Africa-Inspired Home Decor Ideas

striking africa inspired home decor ideas

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Chic ethnic dining room design with ocher-colored furniture and African pottery.

Buttermilk walls, spears and a faux zebra rug create an ambience here.

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.

A chest lined with pillows as a mock bench for the entrance.

Dark woven bed and matching side tables of wood and metal.

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.

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.

A woven table and wooden stools amde by African artisans and the Kuba cloth.

Dark wood bench with a woven seat and ethnic pillows.

Dark wood bench with a woven seat and ethnic pillows.

A worn carved dark wood bench with dark pottery for outdoors.

A worn carved dark wood bench with dark pottery for outdoors.

Carved console table with a zebra-printed ottoman and African artworks.

Carved console table with a zebra-printed ottoman and African artworks.

Rattan dining chairs and an African vase for decor.

Rattan dining chairs and an African vase for decor.

African-inspired chair of rattan and leather with an ethnic pillow.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.

A collection of African carved masks on a bedroom wall for a statement.

Painted African baskets on the wall.

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).

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.

Namibian statuettes and pottery on framed shelves.

African pottery and wooden bowls displayed on shelves with hidden lights.

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.

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.

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.

African bowls diplayed on the wall as a bold decor feature.

Masks on the wall and a basket used for holding towels.

Masks on the wall and a basket used for holding towels.

Painted wooden masks in an Africa-inspired living space.

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.

African mud cloth table cloth, handmade using an all-natural dying process in Mali.

Kuba textile to make a statement on a bedroom wall.

Kuba textile to make a statement on a bedroom wall.

Faux zebra skin rug in a living room.

Faux zebra skin rug in a living room.

Bedding inspired by African motifs.

Bedding inspired by African motifs.

Handwoven African mud cloth pillow cover.

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).

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.

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!

Source: pinterest