FOR ANY HOMEMAKER contemplating a room makeover, Tropical Chic may not be the first decorative style that rushes to mind.

In many ways, this is a shame because, when executed with flair and imagination, the tropical chic style can be exotic and traditional in equal measure and is guaranteed to bring a good measure of warmth and glamour to the average home. By careful use of restful organic colours, natural textural elements and bold jungle themes, it is a style that has fresh emotive appeal with pleasingly familiar traditional overtones.

This is most definitely not the multi-coloured jungle look that you might choose for a child’s room. Instead it might be defined as a “lush minimalism” since it mixes lots of texture and intricate pattern with simple details and a few large accessories for visual impact such as stylised palm trees, large leafed banana plants, animal prints, natural rattan and worn leather.

Most often found in family rooms, the look can nevertheless be easily adapted for bathrooms and restful bedrooms as well. In any room elements of the tropical chic look or a full transformation can be hugely successful, but should always include comfortable upholstered or leather furniture to create an inviting aura. Long horizontal lines on wall detailing and in the furniture style underscore a casual look and help create a restful mood, whilst taller elements such as plants, screens and artwork provide contrast on a grander scale.

For colours, any neutral tones are the best way to go and pale yellows, beige, camel, tan, ivories and deep browns all play an important part within a tropical themed room. Likewise, green in all its varied hues is a major element with accents of brown, black or muted reds. A natural earthy colour palette is the intention here, which offers great scope for an assured approach to selection of furniture and accessories. Within our leafy tropical bedroom or guest room, we’d choose some furniture pieces, large in scale and selected for comfort and utility. Accent pieces in wicker and bamboo are clearly; eminently perfect for our theme as are metal accessories and iron.

In antique tan finish an earthy coloured Castleton iron bedstead is just one Iron Bed that might prove to be the perfect centrepiece for the tropical chic bedroom, or perhaps an Athalone iron bedstead in glamorous bronze patina to complement the exotic mood and provide an extra splash of visual drama?

Whatever the choice, fabrics and bed throws should be soft and plush. Neutral solid chenille are ideal for the major upholstered pieces and pillows, ottomans, chairs and footstools lend themselves well to materials of leaf designs and jungle prints. Stripy animal prints on rugs on bed throws add verve and intrigue but should be used in moderation as accent accessories only if overkill is to be avoided.

Zebra print and leopard spot rugs and runners on dark wood flooring look fabulous in the tropical room and likewise, dark wooden furniture adds weight and class to the design in the form of bedside tables, coffers, lamps and decorative carvings.

Specimen plants, particularly palm trees are a great addition to any tropical room. Best used in moderation, one large palm in a corner with up lighter lighting can look fabulous.

Because “less is more”, keeping things simple really will have a far more impressive effect than lots of little accessories or accents. And in the same vein, window coverings should exhibit a natural simple quality. Bamboo or matchstick blinds, breezy linen shades and plantation shutters are all options that will fit the scheme.

Artwork should have a colour palette that reflects the hues of the room. Pale gold, browns, greens and ivory once again, fit the bill here and large prints featuring any jungle foliage or jungle animals will be a success.

Choose light fittings that add a little whimsy to the room, again with animal or leaf accents with dark lampshades to create mood and a sultry atmosphere….

In fact, for a taste of true exotica, look no further than your imagination for a fabulously stylish and truly chic look to transform any home.

Tags: Iron Bed, Iron Beds, Iron Bedstead, Iron Bedsteads

This entry was posted on Friday, May 7th, 2010 at 12:08 pm and is filed under Design Inspiration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.