Use handcrafted items sparingly to add authenticity.
African design blends warm earth tones with rich, bold colors and striking patterns. An African bedroom feels warm and inviting, conjuring images of exotic safaris. The key to a beautiful African bedroom is harmony. Balance the various furnishings and decorative touches rather than stuffing the room with too many competing elements.
Instructions
1. Select a color scheme. Choose lighter earth tones, such as khaki green or light brown for the walls and ceiling -- and dark, bold colors for accent pieces and furniture. Use a color wheel to find primary, secondary and tertiary tones that harmonize rather than clashing. Consider painting an accent wall, such as the wall behind the bed, sunshine yellow or sunset orange.
2. Prime and paint the walls and ceiling in your chosen shades. Use tinted primer if your colors are particularly deep. Allow the paint to dry overnight before moving furniture or other items into the room.
3. Create a focal point around the bed. Rough, hand-hewn bed frames look terrific, but changing your bed is not necessary. Simulate the African style with richly colored sheets and a comforter in an animal print or tribal design. Add throw pillows in strong geometric patterns. Hang sheer white curtains above the bed to represent mosquito netting.
4. Drape blankets or throws over chairs to tie them into the theme. Choose colors or patterns that are similar to those you used on the bed. Slight variations are acceptable, but avoid jarring contrasts.
5. Add a small stack of floor cushions and a low wooden table, arranged as a seating area. Choose colors that tie into the rest of the room.
6. Accessorize. Carved wooden statuary, elaborate African masks, and animal-inspired wall hangings lend an air of authenticity. Baskets, wooden candle holders and drums complete the look. Add accessories sparingly, choosing a few pieces that truly speak to you rather than packing the room with numerous mismatched items.
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