How to Make Your Room Look Tropical

Bring the lushness of a tropical garden into your home with silk palms.

Tropical decor in your home has instant eye appeal and offers a restful feeling. It is uncluttered and natural looking, so shop sparingly for knick-knacks. A tropical scheme is breezy and open, and uses mostly whites, greens and tan colors. This look is romantic, making it ideal for a bedroom. Start with a clean slate by emptying the contents of the room. This will open your eyes to any hidden possibilities the room may offer for your new tropical venue.

Things You'll Need

• Light green and white semi-gloss interior paint
• Ivory white semi-gloss interior paint, optional
• Paintbrushes
• Rolling pans
• Ceiling fan with bamboo blades
• Light-switch covers
• White panel curtains
• Wooden curtain rods
• Bamboo rugs
• Four-poster bed
• White cotton sheets
• White cotton coverlet
• White pillowcase
• Potted silk palms

Instructions

1. Paint the walls a pale light green. Avoid minty greens. Stick with a soft olive base that is very light in color. If your room is small, then only paint one wall green. Paint the remaining walls ivory white.

2. Paint the doors and trim white. Allow the paint to dry completely. Add a second coat if necessary.

3. Turn off the electricity to the room. Remove the light hanging from the ceiling and replace it with a ceiling fan that has blades that look like bamboo or rattan. Include a light kit with the fan to brighten the room. Turn the electricity back on in the room.

4. Replace the electrical covers and light switches with bamboo-looking panels.

5. Hang billowy, long white panels as curtains. They should be sheer to allow light in and to move with any incoming breeze. Use curtain rods with a palm leaf motif. Wooden curtain rods with a pineapple tip are a nice feature.

6. Add bamboo rugs to the floors. Place small runners over the carpet or add small accent rugs with a palm motif on them.

7. Add a four-poster bed and cover it with white cotton sheets and a white coverlet. Cover pillows with white pillowcases.

8. Place potted silk palms in the corners of your room.

Tips & Warnings

• Wooden figurines of elephants or monkeys are comical, yet tropical accents for a nightstand or dresser.

• Avoid overcrowding your room with too many plants. A tropical look quickly changes to an overgrown yard if too much foliage is involved.

References

• Female Forum; Turn Your Bedroom into a Tropical Paradise
• Home Decorating Made Easy: Tropical Decor