However, there is one style among the ones to decorate the house which has found its way in the ceaseless passing of time, being both “beyond” and “inside” it.
It is the ethnic design.
Creating a house in ethnic style is not only a way of furnishing the interiors but also a real “sensory” experience. It means creating a personal space which includes the world; a place where every material, colour, fabric, object is a voyage of the soul which lets itself be lulled by the charm and warmth of distant lands.
It is perhaps its versatility to make ethnic style a difficult one. That is why we have decided to write this guide: a short vademecum to help you create an ethnic interior, step by step.
After all, a journey of a thousand miles must be done one step at a time (Lyndon B. Johnson).
The “never without” of ethnic style in interior design
The materials for an ethnic house
The heart of a house in ethnic style beats to the rhythm of natural, authentic materials.
Wood surely has a main role: it is able to combine the typical imperfections of craftsmanship with the perfection of marquetry and decorative motives. It can be as delicate as nature, as strong as the traditions each veining contains. That is why it is an essential material in a style which makes the “interior” the very essence of the world outside us.
And then bamboo, rattan and other natural fibres, stone, warm metals as bronze and copper: contrast and fusion are the key words of ethnic design, which derives from a nice mix of modern and exotic and which looks for its balance between tradition and modernity.
Which are the ethnic colours?
The palette of an ethnic flat goes from the warm, terracotta tones of Africa to the intense blue of the Mediterranean sea, from the luxuriant green of Asia to the nuances of the earth of South America.
Deep, enchanting colours, rich of history and meaning, are the secret to capture the essence of an ethnic interior. Every nuance is a different poem: verses of a journey from the long stretches of desert sand to deep green, eastern forests.
Fabrics
How wonderful the fabrics of ethnic interior design are!
Carpets, blankets, embroidered cushions are just some examples of the way fabrics can modify interiors.
The weaves of these furnishing objects contain stories which capture the art and culture of faraway countries. Tribal patterns, bright colours, geometric shapes alternate in combinations which live in the past but speak to the present.
(If you want to read more about the world of geometric decorations, you can also read “Geometric decorations: the timeless charm of symmetry”)
Ethnic interior decoration: 5 original ideas to personalise your interiors
The beauty of ethno chic style in interior design is knowing how to talk about faraway worlds and cultures. Furnishing objects have to be authentic to be worth: their originality becomes a part of the interiors and of our way of inhabiting them.
But how to furnish a house in ethnic style?
In our guide “Ethnic living room: how to furnish the living area in a refined way”, we had already defined what the ethnic style is and given some useful recommendations to start using it.
Now we want to talk about “that extra idea”, to recommend original furnishing objects which the ordinary lists of the things that ethnic decoration must have usually disregard; on the contrary, they can enrich this style in new, very nice ways.
1) Vases in ethnic style
In the world of ethnic interior design, vases are real works of art which capture the essence of faraway cultures.
Ceramic, porcelain, glass: every material characterises the interiors thanks to a visually impressive colour palette which provides them with vitality and energy.
What about shapes? Unique, singular. High, slim vases, short, wide ones, unusual geometric shapes: every product can both characterise the house and become an interesting focus to revive its dull corners.
It is enough to combine various ethnic vases with different shapes, sizes and tones to create a dynamic, charming effect, a colourful story you would never want to stop reading.
2) Lamps in ethno-chic style
Light is the soul of ethnic style.
The right lighting creates a cosy atmosphere which reveals the beauty of textiles, of hand-carved pieces of furniture and of natural materials. That is why wisely illuminating an interior in ethnic style permits to turn it into a place of wonder and discovery, highlighting the cultures which its design is inspired to.
Table lamps and bamboo lanterns are perfect to create the low, warm light which welcomes and astonishes you.
3) Fragrances in ethnic interior decoration
We have mentioned it in the first lines of this article: furnishing interiors in ethnic style is an experience which involves sensations. Nothing can provide this sensory experience better than room diffusers.
Hot spices and ylang ylang are the right choice to create a warm, sensual, charming atmosphere which cuddles the senses. They become perfect when used with the right diffuser.
4) Using plants to create a rural interior
Plants give a touch of vitality and freshness to ethnic interiors. When they are put in an original way, they can create a unique sensory experience which connects outdoor world to indoor one.
This continuity with nature is fundamental to create an authentic interior which recalls the traditions of the cultures which inspired it.
5) Tablecloths as wall paintings
Since textiles are a must-have of ethnic style, why not using them in a creative way?
Tablecloths become paintings to hang on the wall and represent a unique idea to embellish an interior in ethnic style. With patterns which an artist seems to have fixed in the weaves of their fabric, these tablecloths can become a textile collage which embellishes the whole room.
A house in modern, ethnic style: a gallery to fall in love
The importance of materials, the charm of lamps, the vitality of plants, the art of textiles: ethnic style is much more than a design trend.
It is the opportunity to celebrate traditions and to come close to the beauty of hand-crafted art.
It is an ode to art, to nature, to the importance of diversity.
Thanks to ethnic interior design, we can find the whole world in our house and turn it into a place where every step gives us miles of a wonderful journey.
What is the first stop-over? Try to do it here: locanera.it!
