DECORATE ETHNIC: A HOUSE INSPIRED BY ORIENTAL COLORS

In this article we will present you some ideas for ethnic furnishing, also taking advantage of the fusion of different design styles that allow you to adapt this type of furniture to any room in the house, from the most classic to the most modern. From furniture to carpets, from beds to sofas and all the way to objects: here's what to choose for an ethnic style home. Before continuing there is a video below that introduces you to all the styles of furniture.

Ethnic furnishing: what is meant?

The ethnic term means "relating to the characters, that is language and culture, which identify a people from a scientific point of view ", and in particular if we talk about furniture, with this term we are referring to handicraft products that reflect popular customs and traditions.
It is very easy to confuse the ethnic style with the oriental style, but in reality the difference lies in the particular combination of furniture and objects that inspire travel memories.
Ethnic furnishing is perfect for all travel lovers and for those who love to keep objects or souvenirs from near or far countries.
The home environment to be furnished leaves room for one's personality and you don't have to follow a precise rule: the solid wood furniture in warm colors is flanked by accessories and objects in bright tones. Paintings, carpets, vases, lanterns, poufs, statues and other ethnic complements are just some examples of what you can choose according to your taste, and which make the whole one of a kind.

The fundamental elements of ethnic furnishing

If you love bright colors and accessories that recall distant countries, surely the ethnic furniture is for you. One of its strengths is the fusion between the desire to escape and the traditions of oriental and African peoples, remaining the right compromise between the pleasure of travel and the convenience of being able to have memories at home.
Born in an "age when travel was a luxury for the few," ethnic furniture began to spread into homes through absolutely recognizable elements: elephant tusks, wooden memorabilia and tribal masks recovered during travels to distant lands such as India, Morocco and Africa.

Over time, the ethnic style has changed and today, in addition to the insertion of decorative elements in the home, it is characterized by a mix of influences and contaminations capable of creating a warm and elegant colorful atmosphere with an exotic flavor in any environment.
Ethnic furniture is not always easy to place inside the whole house and very often it is easier to recall in individual rooms or in small corners of the house, creating a real "Melting pot" of different cultures.
The distant lands from which you decide to take inspiration influence the "whole" of the furniture, creating a variety of recreated atmospheres that are constantly changing.
Here are some examples of the different declinations of ethnic style that vary according to the country of origin:

African
Japanese
Indian
Arabic

Scroll through the gallery below to find inspiration.

Colors and materials of the ethnic furniture

As already mentioned in the previous paragraphs, colors are the main protagonists of the ethnic style. Other softer shades such as white are literally banned, in favor of warm colors and dark colors such as yellow, orange, red, brown, green and black which blend together to recall the warm atmosphere typical of the African and Eastern countries.
One of the most suitable materials if you are furnishing your home in an ethnic style is teak wood, to be used both for floors and for furnishing accessories. It is a precious wood obtained from tropical forests and famous for its hardness and the particular color: shades from black to brown green with some shades of brown.
Bamboo canes are also, together with wood, other materials recommended for ethnic style furniture along with terracotta, leather, rattan and other natural fibers.
In this chaos of colors and materials it is good to always keep in mind a "one and only rule: make sure that all the choices lead to a harmonious and not heavy result.

How to furnish the living area in an ethnic style

We have already specified that ethnic furniture works best if concentrated in certain areas of the house, which is why below we offer you some ideas to use to furnish the living room.

Ample space for sofas, armchairs and very low poufs in leather or fabric, embellished with many colored cushions with tribal patterns or geometric shapes.
Floors and accessories in dark teak wood creating contrast with the strong colors of the walls or colored curtains.
Green light to wooden sculptures, ceramic vases, rattan or natural fiber lamps and room fragrances such as incense typical of oriental essences.
Create a small corner as if it were a temple, bringing together and positioning all the objects with a strong ethnic character.
On the walls there are brightly colored paintings and rugs in the most disparate colors in order to create almost real color blocks with a strong visual impact.

Ethnic style cuisine: here's how

For the kitchen the rule to follow, however, is that of the fusion of colors, so that the whole is recognizable, but at the same time almost chaotic.
A teak wood sideboard will be perfect for recreating the atmosphere of an African kitchen, along with ceramic decoration elements that recall the Asian style of Chinese, Japanese and Indian furnishings.
Even the table is always better to prefer it in wood, set with colored tablecloths and wicker chairs embellished with oriental-style cushions.
Candles, perfumes and spices cannot be missing, and in the kitchen they will also have the fundamental role of eliminating bad smells.

Ethnic furnishing: tips for the bedroom

The "meltin pot" effect is the most popular for the bedroom. Here the rule will be to play a lot with the fusion of cultures and with the various shades of color and atmospheres recreated through different ethnic styles.

An environment that is full will be what will make the difference: you will therefore have to create a mix of objects, furniture and furnishing accessories with a strong visual and emotional impact.
For the walls the best choice will be colors such as red or orange in memory of African sunsets, to be combined with artistic and decorated tiles on the floor.
The ethnic style bed will be low, in bamboo wood and with a canopy, to be combined with fabric drapes applied on the columns of the bed frame.
Objects, fabrics and upholstery will also be very suitable for the sleeping area: cushions decorated and embellished with appliqués, small vases and statuettes, positioned on top of dressers with an effect "used".
For lighting, never miss the perforated lanterns and the iron decorated ceiling lamps, which recall oriental countries, creating plays of light throughout the room.