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If you have been fortunate to visit the continent of Africa, you will know its 54 countries make up a diverse culture that is friendly and visually exciting. From the beautiful intricate decor and artwork from Algeria to the earthy tones and wood carvings from Mozambique, there is something to offer everyone in terms of bedroom decor.
However, a common thread runs through African culture that western visitors adore, and it is the beautiful warm color plate Africans use in their bedrooms.
Having lived and worked in Africa extensively, this article will bring you the true meaning of African decor that is sophisticated and gorgeous. Forget the faux animal skins hanging on the wall. That's for tourists and is somewhat an unfortunate style choice that could have derived from the Princess of the Nile movie back in 1994.
Let’s get into it where you can learn how to apply African decor techniques to your bedroom and more such as:
There are many ways to create an African-style bedroom, and you will be surprised at how attractive and easy an African bedroom is. The aesthetics vary across the vast continent, so be prepared for super inspiring images.
Here are a few pointers to whet your appetite:
Settle back and be prepared to be inspired.
North Africa, Morocco, and Algeria have some wonderfully intricate designs for most of the household furniture, including the bedroom. However, you can replicate the look easily without going to the expense of shipping intricately designed wood screens halfway around the world.
These Tstir (geometric patterns) can be purchased online at an affordable price and will bring back memories of Morocco as soon as they are installed. Moroccan design is about symmetry, so this style of arabesque wall mountings reflects the culture and purpose of the pieces.
You may already have an accent wall of the color in the image. Accent walls are typical of African design and normally incorporate rich ochre hues that are earthy and reminiscent of decor from days gone by.
Be restrained when designing an African bedroom. Simple bed linen and textured cushions are indicative of the theme. Of course, no Moroccan influence bedroom can be without a traditional lamp shade, again available online.
This is on the side of simple for Moroccan theme bedrooms but still authentic. The accent wall with a warm earthy color is important, and the geometric wall hanging is easy to hang.
The rug and bed throw is authentic and can be found online.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most complex level to achieve, these bedroom shelves is a 4.
It's an easy design concept that can be easily replicated. In most size bedrooms, use cream or off-white paint for the walls other than the accent wall. These styles of rugs are met to keep the soles of your feet clean rather than for comfort so don't be disappointed with the feel.
Senegal is bright and vibrant and never understated. It comes from being colonized by many European countries, such as the British, Dutch, and French, which has left an incredible design vibe for this African country. Expect the unexpected with a Senegalese bedroom style. They can be loud and vibrant or bring a sense of Africa into the bedroom.
The deep reds and turquoise could be considered understated by Senegal standards but they provide a gorgeous, sensual bedroom decor that is hard to dislike.
The soft fabric wall hangings represent this flamboyant art-inspired culture and bring the bedroom to a cohesive conclusion.
The white edges pillows are in stark contrast to the rest of the fabrics but look perfectly at home in the cacophony of colors.
The bed bench with e orderly books is not indicative of Senegalese society with its somewhat chaotic presence that is both fun and frustrating at the same time.
It's not a difficult look to recreate, Senagalese designs are available online, and the decor is simple, painted neutral tone walls.
Look for ornaments made from sponges. Senegal is dependent on the ocean for much of its food and can be represented in ornaments.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve, these bedroom shelves is a 3.
It's a beautiful style for any bedroom and would work wonderfully well in a small bedroom with the vibrancy of the color palette.
This proud west coast nation is Cammarron which literally translates to the river of Prawns! Known for its kind and generous people and its outstanding football team that never ceases to amaze the football world during world cup tournaments.
Cameroon is about feathers and to create this African nation's bedroom you must have Juju hats of feathers adorning your walls, They look fantastic and soften even the harshest of bedroom colors.
Hats are a great way of remembering countries that have left a lasting impression on you and it's a tribute to the country to decorate your bedroom using these traditional but gorgeous feather-covered hats.
The hats have vibrant colors and are a symbol of prosperity and are often worn by dancers at royal ceremonies.
The hand-made lantern is the epitome of an African tribal lampshade and looks fabulous with its unique hand-bent design and scantily dressed light shade.
The bedding is quite subdued making this bedroom an easy choice for a spare bedroom combo office.
It's about hanging hats on a wall, the Juju hats can be hung randomly or in a geometric style depending on your preferences.
The bedding is quite western and is subdued with light neutral tones to showcase the juju hats at their best.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 3.
It's another 3, very simple design. You could try and make the lamp shade yourself, use a cat2 ceiling rise so no earthing is needed for the light shade.
Malawi is indicated to be the fourth poorest country in the world but it has so much to offer and is recognized and protected by UNESCO.
This beautiful simple bedroom is staggering in its simplicity and comfort, the natural tones on the bed are complemented by beautiful woodwork in the form of a bed bench and a unique bedside table that will never be out of vogue.
The Raffia lampshades are simple and beautiful and would make the bedroom look rich and somewhat intriguing as they hang against the beautiful dusty gray cement wall surrounded by brilliant white walls.
The gray tiled floor brings an element of coolness to the bedroom that is needed in a hot country and will a cobra raise its head from the basket? It's unlikely but the basket is a tremendous addition to this beautiful Malawi bedroom.
The great thing about African-inspired bedrooms is they are easy to recreate, there is a common thread that links African designs and it's to be restrained, never overdo it.
Everything in the bedroom can be found online and delivered to your door in days.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 3.
We are stuck at 3 for complexity levels which is perfect. This is a stunning bedroom and very easy to recreate and achieve with some simple designs that are used all over the States.
Ok, we are here at the faux hide section for some reason that is hard to explain but some of you feel this is the image of Africans when it's the image of tourism nevertheless let's get into it for your comprehensive overview of African bedroom styles.
A huge bedroom that is bright and breezy with what can only be described as a cowhide as a rug, a wood chest that has been washed up from a merchant ship centuries ago. The chest is not carved which is indicative of a genuine African wood chest.
A colonial-style bed with white linen will be perfect for the tourists who are maybe heading for a safari or an organized excursion.
Indigenous people only kill for food, they understand the importance of their resources so although the bedroom looks beautiful it's not authentic but does create a talking point if you have a guest stay over.
Faux hides can be purchased online, you can possibly get a real cow hide, cows are not an endangered species so approach your local aboitior for some authentic vibes.
Everything else is white walls and ceiling which is the perfect blank canvas for mahogany color furnishings.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 2.
For the accessories in this bedroom, they can be purchased online so the complexity level for this bedroom is very low.
It's hard to say that African artwork is not unique and attractive; its vibrant colors and simple lines are unmistakable and transport you back to a place where you enjoyed and wished you could return to.
Giving your bedroom a makeover in an African style is a great idea and you would surely have one outstanding bedroom that would be unique in the neighborhood but for most of you, the thought of a bedroom makeover is just not possible. So the best way to bring your memories flooding back is to use batik art.
These hand-painted pieces of art can be bought online from specialist stores in the US, they will bring back memories and make your bedroom look refreshed and part of your African experience.
The cool part is you are supporting a community in Africa producing this artwork helping the community to survive and thrive.
Look online for specialist online stores that deal in original hand-painted batik artwork and hang it on your wall for a glorious experience.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 3.
If the artwork does not come with hanging instructions you will need to find a secure fixing, depending on the size and weight you may find that velcro hook and eye style fastening is the easiest method.
Don't hand in direct sunlight to prevent the colors from fading in the UV light.
The truth is if you stay in a hotel in Lagos Nigeria it is likely to be palatial, and if you are well-heeled in this city you will have a bedroom that is opulent and over the top contradicting the theme of African bedrooms.
But Lagos is a city of contradictions so here are some real Lagos and Nigerian designs for your consumption and pleasure, ist unique but it's African through and through.
No one is expecting you to recreate this bedroom but it's the concept of design and art that is the important feature of this image. The bright greens, and reds with devilish warrior faces are an incredible design for furniture and if you want authenticity then this is it.
The chair makes a statement that just one single piece of African furniture in your bedroom can bring the boldness of the continent directly into your life.
You would have to say it's not everyone's cup of tea but the fact is it's African, it's authentic and you can buy this glorious piece of furniture online at a reasonable price.
You will need the right space in your bedroom for a piece of furniture that is bold and bright, To make the colors pop use neutral color walls or white walls to showcase the chair.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 5.
Ordering the chair is easy, but placing it in a room will be a design and art coup if you can do it successfully. White on white is ideal as the image suggests but you may get away with a bright rug to contrast and tone down the colors of the chair.
Well, it looks like a bright day in deepest darkest Africa but the image demonstrates the incredible design cues used to create an African bedroom.
The use of ochre and terracotta is throughout the continent for good reason, it looks fabulous and provides an incredible welcoming bedroom and when complimented by a deep blue bed throw and some batik patterns it's hardly surprising that African decor is revered.
The simple raffia plant pots are an essential ingredient in any African bedroom and the Juju hat is a sublime image of an aging Mick Jagger, maybe he took his toupee off while in the shower.
The circular artistry is a fantastic addition to the bedroom and accentuates the lamp shade.
Of course, the room is painted in neutral tones so as not to clash with any of the accessories, this is why it's so easy to transport this look into your own bedroom without hassle.
It's an easy look to recreate, brown terracotta sheets and a blue bed throw are the essentials for comfort. The raffia and artistry can be purchased online easily.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 4.
What makes African bedroom designs so wonderful is their ease of translation into a western style bedroom, the colors match and contrast, and nothing are normally too garish and unacceptable in terms of design cues.
If you are going to go for an authentic African bedroom theme try to be authentic and use actual wood pieces and accessories that are from the region of Africa you love so much. This Bamileke beautiful carved bench represents everything about African designs and culture and without this in your bedroom, you are leaving a major part of your journey behind.
The intricacy and rawness of the carving are incredibly evocative of what Africa must have been like centuries ago, primitive but advanced in artwork, not like Europe in its own unique and gorgeous way.
The robust wood bench has robust carvings that accentuate the simple designs of any bedroom.
Receptacles made from coconut husks are gently whittled away until pliable and then shaped into receptacles that you may gather food or water into.
Search for an authentic piece of African furniture that is going to complement your bedroom. You can buy this type of wood bench online and have it delivered to your door.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 3.
It's an easy fix for any bedroom that is missing the last piece of the jigsaw to authenticity. You may be able to find a heavy wooden bench locally but it's not going to have this style of robust carving so may fall short of what you wish to achieve.
Bringing Africa into your bedroom is not as challenging as you may think, there is so much artwork from Africa you can bring images of most of your memories or just relive the memories in the form of images and paintings.
The painting of this beautiful African female with a typical headdress of a Nigerian female looking forlorn may be the essence of Africa you want to introduce into your bedroom, it's not loud, it's not provocative, it's just subtle and gorgeous.
The muted brown skin tone represents the precise skin tone which is warm and matching lips and nails suggest this is an African female of great pride.
The picture is an enigma in so many ways but is the essence of Africa and the designs they use.
Find a painting that resonates with your heart and introduce it to your bedroom, but make sure it is meaningful otherwise it is just another painting on the wall.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most complex level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 9.
Why is this choice a 9? Because paintings mean something different to everyone, to some they mean nothing and others could bring back memories of leaving a beautiful girl behind to return to their home country.
You may wish to immerse yourself back in the days when you enjoyed Africa and what better way than to go back to your memories is to go all in with your African design. The fabrics are traditional African designs that will place you in the middle of the Masai mara amongst the fearless Samburu warriors who lions run from at first sight.
The traditional Maasai female holding a spear is a formidable figure, but she brings the lifeblood of the African people to the fore.
It's a great look and an undeniable African theme for your bedroom. The colors are dark and earthy and make for a perfect headboard. For some the image of the female warrior may be menacing or protective, it's a personal choice to have her in your bedroom.
Using African-inspired designs for a headboard will make the perfect theme bedroom, and the warrior image can be purchased online with the fabric.
How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most complex level to achieve, these bedroom shelves is a 7.
Remember, less is more with African design, so be restrained when designing your bedroom. The look is awesome and truly represents Africa perfectly.
If you have visited Africa and witnessed the beauty of the country and the people, then you may want to replicate some of the images in this article.
However, from a design perspective, you can easily bring the African vibe into your bedroom with just a single piece of furniture or a painting such as the beautiful African female, the picture is an enigma but the strength of the image brings Africa directly into your bedroom.
Some images are difficult to deal with from a design point of view, but nevertheless, they are fun and a great talking point, such as Lagos on a budget. The image was used to give you a genuine feel for African design, it's easy to see the opulent side of society which is somewhat artificial and away from the essence of African designs.
But interestingly, the common denominator with African design in a bedroom is to be restrained and not go overboard with the number of accessories. Less is more if you like.
The colors are easy to implement in a western-style bedroom, light gray is almost a staple color, and the browns of terracotta are gorgeous and warm.
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