| Designing your rooms around an ethnic theme can be | | | | reddish, rustic colours and hues. Blankets and woven |
| exciting and fun and allows you to bring elements of | | | | fabrics in bright colours, perhaps terra cotta pots and |
| other cultures and distant lands into your home. You | | | | bowls, pine wood is popular for furniture. Artefacts can |
| can be more daring in your approach to colour and | | | | include symbols of the South West or from the |
| with such a wide variety of textures and patterns | | | | Spanish influence, or from the Aztecs, Mayans and |
| available, this can collectively add a whole new | | | | other ancient civilisations, all of which can add an |
| dimension to your interior design project. Unusual | | | | interesting and authentic Mexican look and feel. |
| artefacts from different cultures can work very well | | | | Asian Theme |
| as focal points in a room and as there are no hard and | | | | There are many variations within an Asian theme but |
| fast rules to stick to and because there are so many | | | | two quite popular ones are Japanese and Chinese. |
| variations, you can go beyond the usual or traditional to | | | | Japanese themes tend to lean towards a more |
| portray a style that is not only beautiful, it is unique. | | | | minimalist look and have a tranquil and peaceful feel. |
| So what do we mean by ethnic? | | | | Consider a futon and using screens to get that |
| Ethnic basically means native or indigenous people | | | | Japanese ambience. Colours tend to be natural and |
| from a particular area so in relation to Interior Design it | | | | objects from nature often feature as focal points, for |
| means to bring the natural elements that are | | | | example, smooth stones and pebbles, water fountains |
| representative of whatever culture, land or peoples | | | | and bonsai trees. Chinese themes on the other hand |
| you choose to portray into your own home to define | | | | might involve brighter and bolder colours, lanterns, |
| your space. | | | | dragons and other mythological creatures, artwork |
| Naturally the world is your oyster as they say so there | | | | depicting the traditional people colours and landscapes |
| are countless cultures to choose from, all you have to | | | | and Chinese handwriting. |
| do is bring a particular ensemble of colours, patterns, | | | | How to get started |
| materials and artefacts together to create a "look" that | | | | Once you have established which particular ethnic |
| is recognisable and distinctive. What about a | | | | culture appeals to you, browse through books and |
| Mediterranean flavour, Native American Indian | | | | magazines and the Internet to get ideas that will spark |
| symbolism, or perhaps Tibetan Buddhism? Popular | | | | off your own imaginative flair. Identify what elements |
| themes include African, Mexican, and Asian but you | | | | go together to make up that particular look or feel that |
| can go with whatever inspires or appeals to you. Here | | | | you want to create. |
| are a few ideas to get you started. | | | | Consider the walls, ceilings and floors carefully as this |
| African Theme | | | | will provide a base for you to work from and then you |
| Think of Africa and all that it conjures up in your mind, | | | | can add in the details to finish it off. For example, is the |
| the landscape, the sounds, the smells, the colours, the | | | | texture and appearance of the walls and ceilings rough |
| mood, and then if you try to pick out the key points, | | | | or smooth? What floor covering is appropriate, should |
| what would they be? Colour schemes might include | | | | it be wood, stone, tiles or carpets? Will rugs and mats |
| earthy colours like green, beige, browns and tans, set | | | | make a difference and if so what are they made of? |
| off with orange and splashes of red. Think about floor | | | | Are the windows better suited to drapes, blinds or |
| and wall coverings, natural substances would probably | | | | shutters? What style of furniture works? What about |
| work best. Finishing touches can include wall hangings, | | | | plants, motifs, pictures and wall hangings? |
| African artefacts, drums, rugs, African fabrics and | | | | The theme you adopt and the way that you choose |
| prints, animals made of stone, clay or wood, | | | | to portray specific elements of that theme is entirely |
| ceremonial masks hung on the wall, brightly coloured | | | | up to you and your imagination, the end result will be |
| African bowls and pots, and so on. | | | | your own unique interpretation of a culture or a place |
| Mexican Theme | | | | and you will have added a touch of the exotic to your |
| What does Mexico mean to you? Perhaps desert | | | | home. |
| colours with sandy tones, beige and khaki, along with | | | | David McEvoy is an expert in interior design. |