Exotic Style Decorating Ideas From Around the World
In decorating your home, you needn't feel limited by regional styles, nor must you stick with an aesthetic representing one country. Instead, many are embracing the "decorating beyond borders" approach, creating a fusion of exotic styles. Brighten up a forgotten corner with some brilliant Indian textiles, or transform a wall into a gallery with a collection of painted masks or wall scrolls. If time and budget allow, you can do a full home makeover integrating various exotic decorating ideas from around the world. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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Indigenous handicrafts define many international decors. A vintage Indian sari in bright colors with hand-beaded trim makes a plain table, window or bedspread exotic. Wood furniture gets special treatment in many world cultures. Mexican rustic pieces may feature wrought-iron or glass details. French armoires often have hand-painted trim or pictures on the doors. Intricate engraving and carving typifies Moroccan coffee tables. Look for artisan touches in international furnishings and accessories, such as hand-painted tile, hammered tin frames, distressed finishes, gold inlays, hand joinery or unique regional materials.
Function
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An international decor ideally marries form and function in an exotic way. A simple mirror becomes regal thanks to an ornate gold frame set with colored crystals or a border of Moroccan tiles. A light fixture adds color and dimension to a room when covered with an Asian silk shade or an Indonesian parasol. A patio receives a bit of shade thanks to a canopy of Kente cloth, a tropical mosquito net or a palm leaf umbrella that recalls a Tiki Bar.
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Types
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A diversity of exotic international decor trends lets imaginations fly. In Morocco, ornate metalwork and trademark turquoise-and-white tiles make a simple home feel like a palace. In India, bright orange, fuchsia, gold and saffron add visual pop to wall finishes and textiles. Japanese design traditions range from garden architecture such as stone lanterns and meditation pavilions to innovative modular furniture that features hidden storage. Bali earns recognition for teak furniture, hand-painted kites and beautifully crafted shadow puppets. Mexican decor encompasses kitchen counters, sinks and walls filled with brightly painted tiles to kitschy-cool vinyl tablecloths with prints of tropical flowers and fruits.
Palette
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Exotic decors often eschew the bland palette of four white walls. An accent wall in mango orange or lime green adds a tropical element, while a tile mural can transform a kitchen or garden into a Tuscan villa. Textured wallpaper in ornate patterns gives a home the look of a Paris salon or a crumbling Spanish hacienda. Even in more neutral surroundings, international accessories can add splashes of color and patterns. Arrange silk throw pillows in paisley or French toile around a low ottoman to serve as a setting for sipping Turkish coffee. Fill a display shelf with Italian Majolica pottery, Oaxacan carved and painted creatures or Chinese Buddha statues for a thematic display.
Warning
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The most common trap in decorating international-style is that your home may come to resemble an import store. Fans of gypsy caravan-style or bohemian modernism embrace this resemblance, stacking tables and walls as if they are international markets. Others prefer a more subtle approach to decorating, setting a table with a single eye-catching vase or using textiles from around the world as accents for a more neutral backdrop.
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