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Decorating With Tropical Chic

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Tropical chic is a popular, exotic way to decorate any room. Jungle themes, vivid colors and natural woods are part of the look. The style is reminiscent of the wild while at the same time becoming sophisticated and peaceful. Different textures of wood are mixed with intricate animal and plant patterns to create a visual interest that makes you feel like you are lounging in the middle of a tropical forest.

Common motifs on fabrics using this style include stylized palm trees, banana leaf prints, pineapples, coconuts, monkeys and large exotic blossoms. Furniture often is made out of rattan or wood and then covered with large cushions covered with grass clothe, leather and prints. The furniture tends to casual, comfortable and unstructured and slightly larger than usual.

When animal or floral patterns are not used then paints and fabrics tend to be in neutral tones such as ivory, cream, beige, khaki, camel, tan deep brown, mustard yellow, crimson, avocado, light sage, mustard yellow, crimson and banana yellow. Accents are in crimsons, corals, dark brown, black and gold. Patterns are big and not tiny or demure.

Another characteristic of this look is giant looking furniture that seems that it might embrace you… Wicker, bamboo, iron and rattan are created in a larger scale so that people look like they are disappearing into the comfort of the room. Rugs and curtains tend to have Zebra, giraffe or leopard prints.

Window coverings should be natural. Linen panels, plantation shutters or bamboo or matchstick blinds suit the look of this room. This matches grass cloth mats, wicker baskets and folding screens that are also a signature part of this look.

The artwork that looks best with this décor is usually one that is done in demure browns, oranges and greens. Forest scenes and animal scenes are typical. Go for large simple vases filled with sheathes of bamboo or large single blossoms of exotics such as the Birds of Paradise or Orchids.

When it comes to a dining room tableware might be made of bamboo and the plates out of natural colored stone wear. Rattan or textured colored placemats can complete the look. Rattan or bamboo tables painted black or natural with thick glass paned tops are also characteristic of this look.

Stand alone large plants such as palm trees in pots are an inexpensive addition to a room in which the Tropical Chic theme is attempting to be expressed.

How to Decorate With a Touch of Black

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There is an old saying which is that every room can use a “touch of black.” This is true if the room is primarily white. The color black can add a focal point that grounds and adds a sophisticated look to a room. The best places to add a touch of black to aroma are in the trims of rugs or linens or curtains, in pillows, rugs or in a single black piece such as a black vase or black ottoman.

A bit of a black can give drama and sophistication to any color of décor but to get a really great effect make sure it is contrasted with a white room? This can lead to a very contemporary look if you are companioning black and white with a lot of metallic fixtures and furniture but originally this type of style was called Country French.

If you do not like the Tuxedo or Zebra effect that can come from using a lot of black and white décor then you can also accent areas that are yellow, cream, red or purple with swaths of black to create a striking looking interior. The darker the colors, such as navy or royal purple, the more elegant the effect will be. The lighter the colors are to contrast against the white, such as an aqua and black, the more whimsical it will be. Kitchens and bathrooms look best in the whimsical style as do fifties retro rooms. The darker colors contrasted with black are more associated with the eighties especially emerald green or crimson red combined with black. Deep purple and black is more of a Goth look from the mind nineties and pink and black is associate with the early part of the first decade of this century as well as the 1930s.

One way to gently incorporate touches of black into your décor is to install a black and white tiled floor. You do not have to go for the checkered look; an occasional strategically placed black tile is usually enough to do the trick. You can also add black to a kitchen or bathroom by installing black tiles on a backsplash or in the shower. Sometimes all you need to liven up a bathroom is black towels or a black shower curtain.

When adding black to a bedroom stick to pillows, curtains and maybe the bed spread or sham. The best black and white prints to use for a contemporary stylish effect are florals and plaids.