Are you into African style?

Africa is a land of many natural beauties, which are shown to visitors in the form of wild, unrestrained animals, luxurious vegetation and rich minerals. If you are inspired by the exoticism and authenticity of the contact between man and nature, you can bring the spirit of this charming land into your home with a few tips!

The land of the orange sun

Those who have visited say that Africa is a magical land. The second largest continent, both in terms of surface area and population, should leave a lasting impression on the curious traveler with its colors, smells, tastes, sounds and the pulse of its people. A shift in the soul, many agree. The orange sun is setting over the wide sands, and the beautiful evening song of the birds echoes from a lonely tree not far away... If this show warms you and makes your heart flutter, then you are able to feel Africa in its prime.

But it is not possible to talk about a unified Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is a completely different world from North Africa. Since the so-called "black continent" is neither culturally nor climatically nor geologically uniform, it would also be difficult to talk about a single style of interior decoration.

Well, we managed to summarize some common characteristics.

The warm and strong colors of Africa

The African style of interior decoration is simple in its essence, it does not tolerate crowding and saturation of colors, objects, patterns. For the basic color of the wall and other large surfaces, we can choose warm and neutral color tones, such as cream, beige, coffee...

In order for them to really shine in all their warmth, place a wall next to them dressed in a more intense color, for example a strong shade of chocolate brown, red, yellow or orange, which will remind you of the beauty of the sunset in Africa. Those in love with green come to their own expense. The green color is a completely justified choice, which will lead us into the freshness and denseness of impassable jungles. Those of you who will choose green, try to avoid combining it with red and orange, as this could deviate from the principle of simplicity.

Furniture and flooring

When furnishing the interior in African style, we must be inspired by nature itself and its beauties. The furniture and the floor should therefore be in as natural tones as possible and, if possible, made of natural materials. The floor should be simply wooden - mahogany or pine. If your floors are made of other materials and you have no intention of renewing them, you can help yourself with carpets. These should also look as natural as possible - made of wool, animal skin or an imitation thereof. When choosing, do not forget about simplicity, so do not combine a wide variety of patterns and colors. Stick to creams, beiges and browns. To emphasize the exotic, you can treat yourself to a richly woven carpet that looks as if it was made in one of the African tribes.

If you are going to choose furniture in an African or exotic style, then also stick to the right wood - mahogany, teak or walnut will be the right choice. The furniture should look rustic, i.e. not overly processed.

When choosing a sofa and chairs in general, you can pay a little more attention to leather or its imitation. You can also opt for cotton fabrics, which should also be in brown and cream tones.

Although animal patterns, such as zebras, tigers or snakes, are often used in this style, they should be avoided for large surfaces and pieces, otherwise the effect of simplicity will be lost. Save intense, rich and beautiful patterns for decor.

African decor

Even those who would like to bring the African spirit into their home without having to interfere too much, have quite a few options. A lot can be done with the right decor or accessories that bear witness to the African world. You don't have to travel to this distant continent to get them, but you can go to the nearest exotic goods store. African decor is often stocked in stores with Asian products.

You will also find authentic African products that come from the hands of African masters in the so-called fair trade 3MUHE in Ljubljana and Maribor. In any case, you will also find African products in online stores.

Well, let's move on to motifs that will conjure up the African spirit in your home.

Place masks on the walls that will conjure up the atmosphere of distant tribes and natives, whose lives in relation to nature and each other are completely different from ours. A mask that you dedicate a suitable place to will give the room a strong impression. Choose also wooden carvings and figurines that talk about everyday life far away, in nature. Handicrafts will remind you of a way of life where time passes so slowly that it is possible to drill, carve and file and thus create something new. You will add strong accents to your home with a selection of images of African animals. As if you were on a wild safari, be greeted by long-necked giraffes, rhinoceroses and elephants (only as figurines, of course).

Accessories

You will also do a lot with accessories and details that imitate the pattern of animal skin. You don't need to look for genuine animal skin, as there are already enough high-quality imitations available today. For example, a small rug, pillow, curtains, napkins or blanket with a zebra pattern. Handmade carpets, tablecloths, napkins, baskets, clay and wooden dishes with African motifs will also help to create an impression. You can also complement the walls in an original way with photos of this distant land - a beautiful sunset, dry grass in which two animals are resting contentedly or an image of a tribe rejoicing in a wild dance, they will transport you to the worlds you love, encourage your imagination and relax you when you close the door of a busy working day behind you.

In the end, let's not forget about freshness. The African home will be enriched by luxurious, leafy green plants that will remind you of the reality and authenticity of life, wherever it takes place.

And finally – an interesting fact

As an interesting point, we should also mention that we Slovenians are also connected to the discovery of Africa in a special way. With the help of the Vienna Geographical Society, our compatriot Ignacij Knoblechar made several pioneering expeditions along the Nile River in the middle of the 19th century. Because he published notes on the ethnogeographic characteristics of the land in Slovenian newspapers, we Slovenians also have some documents about the history and people of this land.

In 1850, Knoblechar also published a book entitled A Journey along the White River. His ethnographic collection of items from the East Sudanese Bari tribe is kept by the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum in Ljubljana.

Ideas for a dream terrace, garden, pool or beach

In the summer, when we want to spend time outdoors, it makes sense to consider the pleasant arrangement of the terrace with attractive accessories. Plants are always welcome as they create an inspiring atmosphere and give a certain amount of privacy. But there are other ways with which we can beautify the relaxing hours outdoors.

In our offer, you can find an extremely large range of articles in African style, such as parasols made of African straw or cane, synthetic palm trees, makuti and many other materials.