Exotic ethno-interiors are always original, original, because are outside of time. However, here it is also necessary to maintain a sense of proportion. Therefore, if you are not quite ready to create an unusual African interior, which is distinguished by extraordinary brightness, then, as an option, you can use only its individual elements in the interior, which, for example, are present in styles such as colonial and art -deco. Well, if you are still ready for a difficult experiment, then welcome to sultry Africa!

 

African style design features

When decorating the interior of your home in the African style, you should take as a basis common features that are determined by climatic features, natural materials, and the materials used. Usually, designers take as a basis a mixture of interior components of the dwellings of the peoples of Africa in different localities. Thus, two ethnic styles are usually distinguished from the pan-African ones: Egyptian and Moroccan.

Before you start creating an African style in the interior, you need to decide what the goal is: either the task is to bring only a few colorful African shades into the interior, or it will be the most complete repetition of the main characteristic features of the African home. When the course is chosen, you can begin to implement your idea.

The main characteristic features of the African style

In a nutshell, such features are originality, colorfulness, dynamism, vigor, expression and contrast. On the one hand, there is minimalism and simplicity of forms, on the other hand, the primitive in decor and roughness in texture, with all this, there is a contrast and brightness of colors in accessories and textiles . Usually the interior reflects the picture of the world, so it uses natural materials and natural shades. The abundance of African arts and crafts, which are very primitive, is welcome.

Because in the interior of this style there is a reminder of the scorching sun, the sands in the desert and the impenetrable jungle, then the color scheme is accordingly determined by such shades as sand, brown, terracotta, orange, yellow, brick and even swamp green. It should be noted that the prevailing colors -   are yellow and brown (tree bark, charred wood, saffron, honey, baked milk, cinnamon, amber, etc.) . In general, the colors in the interior should be not just warm, but hot, like the air of Africa itself. You can also find a combination of black with a fiery hue, as a reminder of a fire, as well as the colors of the skins of animals living in Africa. Cautious introduction of blue shades is allowed, but only in small quantities and as an accent. In other words, you need to remember that all the tones used are natural.

 

Decorative wall decoration

There are quite a few options. For example, you can use wallpaper with a pattern that imitates the skin of reptiles or the color of wild animals. You can combine wallpapers using plain, textured plasters  with colored ones, for example, with imitation of exotic leather. Or you can just paint the walls in a warm or even white shade. To add brightness, you can make a border with an African ornament, or it can simply be paper or painted with paints. By the way, the walls can be decorated with painted silhouettes of animals. Also, as an option, you can give the walls nobility with the help of a network of thin cracks that imitate African soil cracked by drought. This can be done if you use paint in two shades, one of which is accent and the other is dominant. You will also need a special craquelure varnish and the skills of the crackle technique, which is performed on both plaster and paint. In addition,  the use of decorative plaster is another option for wall decoration. It is even better if the plaster is artificially “aged”. Sometimes part of the walls are finished with an African pattern with fabric, and if it is a bathroom or a kitchen, then mosaic  is perfect for wall cladding or tiles with imitation of reptile skin texture.

 

Decorative floor finish

Making the floors stone would be the best solution. Porcelain stoneware large-sized tiles will serve as an ideal material for this. Moreover, for Africa, such a cold flooring only increases the level of comfort. However, we are not in Africa and we will have to install a "warm floor" system.

As an alternative, matt parquet board will serve, especially with deck laying. A carpet-mat will be very appropriate, which will remind you of African huts, in which there have always been mats for the poor to sleep in. Among other things, there are bamboo floor coverings, usually in the form of large-format slabs or laminate, which is also an interesting flooring solution. A handmade carpet made of bright threads should be laid on the floor.

 

Decorative ceiling finish

Regarding the ceiling, it is recommended to paint it in a warm or white color. By the way, fabric draperies right under the ceiling are perfect. And if you want to do something more original, then fasten beams of dark wood under the ceiling and lay reeds or bamboo stems on them. By the way, bamboo slabs exist not only for the floor, but also for the ceiling. They are mounted directly on the base ceiling or on the crate of the suspended one, and all this contributes to creating an extraordinary feeling of being in a real African hut.

 

African interior furnishing

As for furniture, here it is also necessary to remember that the main criterion is natural materials or, otherwise, their very high-quality imitations. If we talk about Africa, then the main materials are such as reed, rosewood, bamboo, sandalwood, rattan, clay, as well as genuine leather, reptile skin, savanna animal skins, palm bark. The furniture itself is made of wood, characterized by simplicity, roughness and heaviness, has geometric shapes. Furniture can be complemented by painting or carving. Forged furniture is appropriate in such an interior, and wicker with soft mattresses and pillows and casually hanging blankets. Upholstered furniture made of dark brown leather looks great, as does bamboo furniture.

 

Massive wooden chests are widely used as interior decor, as well as hanging racks with rough shelves suspended on a simple rope right under the ceiling.

African style textiles and accessories

Textiles should be rich in colors and catch the eye with their brightness and variegation of ornamental zigzag and diamond-shaped patterns on such items as upholstery of chairs and stools, curtains, bedspreads and pillows. You can even make a panel of colorful textiles. There is a similar ornament on the dishes,  carpets and floor lamps. It is allowed to use skin instead of a carpet.

Many things can be used as accessories, for example, bamboo curtains, clay figurines, ivory figurines, amulets, wicker lampshades, wooden blinds, hunting trophies, African masks, as well as living plants, such as laurel palm or fern.