Modern Interior Spiced With Ethnic Motifs
Although home decor has its trends and seasons, its primary purpose is to adjust to people’s needs and preferences. In other words, there is a variety of different styles we can use and combine to make our home what it’s supposed to be—a place to relax and enjoy, where everything is exactly to our taste.
Nowadays, there is no single dominant style in home design; people often opt for several different influences which result in an eclectic, relaxed combination.
CHOICE OF MATERIALS
When it comes to textures in an interior, in the last decade or two, most people use natural materials such as wood, stone, cotton. Unfinished or even raw wood furniture gives the space a feeling of being in nature, which can also be achieved with a mixture of stone and wood, like in tabletops. If your house or a certain room lacks natural light, choose standing lamps or chandeliers, which today can also be made of wood.
As far as sofas and chairs are concerned, go for wood-fabric material. Faux leather is a great choice, because it adds to the overall warmth, it’s less expensive than real leather, and (this is the best part) you won’t be sitting on a dead animal. Besides, faux leather comes in all colors and textures, so think about choosing a shiny piece for, let’s say, an ottoman or a lazy bag, and matte for your reading armchair or couch.
Plastic pieces aren’t as popular as they were several decades ago, but a single bright ’70s style chair or a table where you’ll keep plants might contribute to the whole eclectic feel.
CHOICE OF DESIGNS
Instagram, Pinterest, and other sites are full of interior inspo ideas. The ones that have been trending recently are Nordic, boho, and rustic/ethno, which are displayed through both the abundance of details and large, central pieces. Colorful Indian elements are also quite popular today, mostly because their bright colors and intricate designs are able to lighten up every space.
As far as colors are concerned, it all depends on your preferences, but white and pastels can make the room more spacious. However, you shouldn’t be scared to use bright colors such as turquoise, yellow, orange, or green, since they instantly lift up the mood and energy. Perhaps a combo of three white walls and one colorful is just the right balance.
ETHNIC MOTIFS
Ethnic motifs give the room a rustic look, which is essentially a combination of old and new. What you may be forgetting is that some of the ideal pieces may have been collecting dust in your attic for the past several decades, so think about using them now. Colorful Turkish mosaic lamps can do the trick in a room with more contemporary styled furniture and details.
HOW TO DO THIS?
If you’re on a budget, or simply don’t want to redo your whole home or a room, there are some smaller changes you can do to achieve this mixture of styles. Try finding some of those vintage frames, paint them in a “modern” color, and instead of old portraits, use them to hang your favorite prints, photos, or quotes. You can have decorative and accent pillows custom made or printed with your favorite patterns and motifs, or even a small patchwork rug or a throw blanket can significantly add to the overall effect.
Adding some fresh changes to your home decor doesn’t need to be a large, expensive project. All you need is to get creative, and add several items with ethnic motifs to get a completely different looking style.
SUMMARY
If your living space needs some change, and you still prefer not to redecorate the entire home, there IS a way to achieve that retro/boho/modern-ethno style without lots of money and work. Go for some central pieces that attract attention, and spice it all up with smaller accent decorative pieces. Colorful floor rugs, blankets, patterned pillows, a few new pictures on the walls, or a tapestry, and there you go!
