Index
Defining the main characteristics of African home style is no easy feat. In a continent made up of 54 countries and inhabited by thousands of different populations, very different cultures and traditions coexist.
In this vastness, however, it is possible to find some common traits that contribute to creating an immediately recognizable aesthetic identity. If you are looking for advice for an African-style home, in this Casavo article you will find some interesting ideas to bring a bit of ethnic charm into your home.
What you need to know about African style
African-style home furnishings reflect the various influences and historical vicissitudes that have characterized the continent's evolution.
In the common imagination, the idea of furniture coming from Africa is based mainly on colorful prints, contrasting fabrics, and wooden sculptures that are inspired by nature and tribal motifs. The reality is much more broad and varied and we can gather it into three geographical areas that represent as many design ideas:
- the northern Mediterranean region which goes from Egypt to Morocco;
- the southern subcontinent below the equator;
- colonial Africa which includes all those countries that have suffered Western occupation and still retain traces of it in their culture today.
Starting from these three macro-regions we can identify some recurring elements in African-style furniture that provide you with a useful source of inspiration for your interior design. Let's get to know each of these sub-styles better.
Characteristics of the Egyptian style
For the sake of brevity, let's define Egyptian as that trend that evokes the atmospheres and suggestions of Mediterranean Africa, an area that brings together ancient civilizations rich in history and traditions.
The prevailing design idea is based on a broad use of fabrics, drapes, tapestries, and colorful fabrics to embellish walls, floors, and furniture. The wooden furnishings are embellished with inlays and details decorated with pure gold plating.
The colors are warm, with soft contrasts between the dark tones of the furnishings and the patterns of the drapes. The picture is completed by vases and other details in refined colored glass that bring light and brilliance. The triumph of fabrics is an excellent starting point for decorating your home with rugs and cushions and creating an African-style bedroom.
Characteristics of ethnic-African style furnishings
Countries below the equator have made contrasts between soft colors and bold tones a distinctive feature. A classic example is The combination of beige and dark brown is inspired by local daily life and also finds its roots in the myths of the area.
Wood is a great protagonist, both for the creation of simple and functional furniture and for creating ornaments. Animal-shaped sculptures and decorative masks to hang on the walls are typical of this area and are perfect for bringing African style into the home.
Characteristics of the colonial style
In the colonial style, the influence of the Western world is most present and recognizable. From the encounter between the culture of the colonizers and local traditions, an aesthetic was born in which the exotic notes that had struck the Europeans arriving in Africa stand out.
The furniture therefore has lines close to the taste of old Europe, embellished however with ethnic suggestions of various types. A classic example is the ebony canopy bed with curtains in shades of beige and dark brown. A must-have piece if you want an African-style bedroom.
Materials and colors that characterize the African style
If you prefer not to follow a specific line in your search for African ethnic-style furnishings, let yourself be inspired by the materials and colors that recall the continent's atmospheres.
Warm colors dominate the rooms with many shades that connect to earth tones. Make room for brown, beige, yellow ochre, dove gray, and black. Red and blue are also present, especially if we travel north of the Sahara, and shades ranging from orange to yellow on the walls.
The materials, all of natural origin, are used to create furniture with soft, curved lines. Wood and bamboo are the main choices for wardrobes, tables, and other large furnishings, while rattan and wicker fibers characterize chairs, stools, coffee tables, and accessories such as baskets or divider panels.
Cotton and linen flutter freely in African-style curtains and are used to make cushions and various upholstery. Solid colors alternate with patterns that reflect local nature, and there is no shortage of animal motifs for an additional exotic touch.
Small and large wooden sculptures together with other elements such as vases or terracotta plates add those extra details that make the difference. On the walls, African-style paintings reflect the patterns of the fabrics or replicate Egyptian parchments or ancient maps of the ocean coasts.
Don't neglect the choice of plants. There are different varieties exotic plants suitable for apartment living, such as banana trees, coffee plants, bamboo, zamia (also known as the "Tanzanian gem"), and ficus.
African-style home decor is particularly suitable for those who want to bring a simple, natural design into their home. If you're looking for a unique touch for your interiors, now you know where to start. Are you looking for the right home to recreate a corner of Africa? Go to the Casavo's classifieds platform and start planning your new life now by browsing our properties.
