If lounging on the beach is your idea of a fun holiday, you needn’t dream longingly of the sun, sand, coconut palms and blue sea whilst parked in your urban home. Create a tropical island within your own residence to live out your vacation. Scatter images of leafy fronds, bold flowers and brilliant butterflies … go for a riotous colour palette that brings alive the hues of the tossing blue waves of the ocean, waving green palms, lazy golden beaches and smiling colourful blossoms. Here is how to bring into your home decor the vibrancy of the tropics.
Go light and easy
The idea is to lift the visual weight that reigns in many homes in the form of heavy drapery and thick carpets. “Roll up the rugs and put them away,” Reshma Chhabria says. Shun the sturdy oak and rosewood doors and furniture and work at creating a sense of light and airiness. You can make use of sheers at the windows, and bring in the lighter-toned woods like elm for an upbeat feel. “If you want softness underfoot, opt for all-natural fibres like tatami, sea grass or sisal. The walls are best left bare, save for a fresh coat of white paint that will maximise the flow of light. For instance, in furnishings, mosquito netting draped over your canopy bed, or thin linen draperies fluttering beside French doors, will feel cool and lightweight,” she says. This helps in building up the mood of soothing calm and breeziness that you associate with the tropics.
Tip: Play up the use of natural fabrics like linen and cotton. You can introduce a refreshing variety in textures by opting for wicker or jute for blinds, chair covers, and so on.
Shilpi Madan for Houzz.in
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