Very often, regular travellers fall completely in love with the countries they visit. Whether it’s the food, the weather or the way of life, the majority of travellers will have influences from all over the world in their homes.
Eastern styles are particularly popular for people to incorporate into their décor because of their warm, rich colourings.
One very popular look is an Arabian style, particularly Bedouin influenced interior, which focusses heavily on rural and rustic looks.
Creating a Bedouin interior
This Arabian style interior was the original influence of many of the Mediterranean homes which is why the similarities between the two are obvious. Rough white walls, dark woods and rich natural colours all feature heavily in both styles. However, despite their similarities, there are also many differences. Moroccan homes and designs for example, make use of a lot of tiles and mosaics, something that is rarely seen in any Arabian design.
The great thing about incorporating an Arabian style into your home is the fact that it’s natural and simple, which is instantly soothing and relaxing. In order to add texture and colour, if you’re sticking to a traditional style then rough plasterwork that’s painted white is best because then you can accessorise to your heart’s content.
In a lot of traditional houses they use drapes, thick curtains and rugs to add depth, warmth and colour to the room. The white base is obviously something that’s extremely fresh but also cold – something that’s not generally an issue for a desert-dweller – which is why rich colours are essential for making any Arabian style room homely and comfortable.
Neutral desert tones are the perfect accompaniment to the crisp, fresh white walls and if you stick to a smaller palette selection then you’ll achieve the rustic finish that you’re looking for. Stick to colours such as beige, burnt orange, plum, crimson and navy.
Alternatively, if you’re a huge fan of colour and aren’t so bothered about the rustic appearance then large colourful cushions that are embroidered with Eastern patterns will help you infuse a blast of colour to a traditional Arabian style interior.
Wall and floor pairing
A lot of traditional Arabian homes will have a white floor to match the walls and the ceiling. This style of home needs a hard floor finish. A lot of the traditional homes have a polished concrete screed so it’s just as bright as the rest of the room. However, a dark wood floor works just as well. It’s important to keep the walls and floor as simple as possible because it’s the accessories that you add to the room after that will really add the character and charm that you’re looking for.
Heavily woven and Persian rugs include all the colours of the desert and will add authenticity to the look. Coffee pots, teapots, vases and wooden sculptures are all things that should be on display around the room as they’ll help introduce this beautiful Arabian legacy.
Move away from pictures and paintings for your walls and hang a colourful tapestry or other rich fabric. Alternatively, you could drape the same fabrics over your seating for the same rich and warm effect.
Remember, in any Arabian style room, thick patterned rugs are essential to add warmth to the cold background and you’ll find that no room is complete without one.
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