If anthropologists are to be believed we all came from Africa in the dim and distant past. Walking with wildebeest, dodging lions, and being at one with nature used to be the name of the game, so what better way of getting back to ones roots than with a little Safari decor in the home.
Home decorating with an African theme is an increasingly popular way of creating a unique look with plenty of scope for creativity and having a whole lot of fun in the creation process. However what are the best materials to use? What types of decoration will bring the flavor of Africa to your home? This article covers 7 key design elements to use when creating the perfect home safari decor. They will help you choose items which are both affordable and authentically African.
- Rugs: You need not use real animal skins for an African themed rug, with such a wealth of synthetic varieties to choose from. The range is exhaustive; however common choices are standard animal prints such as leopard skin and zebra skin, cartoon animals for children’s rooms and mock fur rugs. They are a great way of creating a softer texture within a room.
- Wall hangings: One of the best ways of bringing color into a room without overpowering the senses is with a traditional African wall hanging. Bright colors and geometric patterns often work very will and create a striking centerpiece to a room. Stunning batik fabrics will instantly transform a boring wall and can be the main design element for the budget conscious home decorator.
- Wooden and soapstone sculpted art: A beautifully carved figure out of Ethiopian black wood look fantastic on shelves and a mantelpiece. Whilst some of the larger sculptures will cost a significant proportion of your budget they make a stunning addition to any room, and coupled with an authentic wall hanging and a mask, they may be all you need.
- Color schemes: Choosing a good color scheme for a room is vital when creating an authentic safari decor. Stick with earthy tones such as browns, burnt oranges, and dark yellows for the main wall color, and use deep reds and blues on the furnishings. Choose the colors that reflect the African savannah or those which are used in everyday tribal costumes.
- Soft furnishings: You can really go to town on soft furnishings and be quite bold in your choices of patterns and colors. Scatter cushions, batik throws, and printed curtains can al be used to great effect, be they zebra print or just bright vibrant African fabrics.
- Masks: Nothing shouts Africa more than a tribal mask or two on the walls. The styles vary considerably, from fearsome war masks to simple fun animal masks. Whilst not to everyone’s taste, masks really do help to convey a truly African flavor. Internet stores are the best place to find the largest range, where a good sized mask can be bought from around $30.
- Plants: The use of plants is an excellent way of breaking up some the geometric designs that often adorn African rugs, hangings and artwork. Clever placement of plants will bring a room to life and give added texture. Authentic African plants to use include: the raffia palm, areca palms and bamboo. For flowering plants, African violets are stunning in bloom and widely available.
Any mix of these items together and you will have a thoroughly African theme and your safari decor will be the envy of all of your friends.