The latest trend in home interior design is the use of themes. Theme ideas range from sports to fabulously feminine and contemporary to eclectic. One of the most popular themes is the “Tropical Island” theme.
The Tropical Island theme can be incorporated into nearly every room of your home. The vibrant colors and exotic designs can be used in the kitchen, living room, family room, den, bedroom or bathroom. The Tropical Island theme is a natural fit for sun rooms, home bars and entertainment areas. It’s a great choice for decorating a child’s bedroom and can be adapted for kids of any age.
When selecting wall paint choose colors that represent the tropics such as various shades of blue, dark turquoise, green, yellow, orange, and red. Incorporate several colors by painting each wall a different color, or paint each wall two different colors. Use your imagination and let your creativity run wild.
Burlap fabric is a good choice for wall covering and is applied in the same fashion as wallpaper. If you don’t want to use fabric, you can purchase wallpaper that looks like burlap. One popular Tropical Island design involves attaching burlap to the upper portion of a wall and bamboo shades to the bottom portion. The shades need to be cut to fit the wall and the upper portion needs to be removed. Bamboo poles are cut in half and secured to the wall with nails, along the seam of the burlap and bamboo.
Tropical plants are a must-have for the Tropical Island theme. You can use live or silk plants or sculptures of palm trees. Some craft and hobby stores have fake palm trees with strands of lights attached to them. Fake palm trees are fun and festive and provide a small amount of additional lighting.
Window treatments should be light and airy. Bamboo shades are a logical choice for this home interior design. Other options include brightly colored sheers or draperies made from bright, sheer fabric or an island print.
A wide range of art work is available to create any style of Tropical Island design. You might want pictures of sugar plantations or pineapple fields. Maybe you prefer oil paintings of pirate ships or fancy yachts. Perhaps your tastes are more suited for seagulls, pelicans, dolphins, turtles or other sea life. Regardless of art preferences, there is an abundance of art work depicting the beauty of the islands.
The Tropical Island theme makes for an inviting living or family room. It is bright and cheerful, yet soothing and relaxing. It is a calming theme for use in a bedroom and can easily be adapted for teens, children or infants. Many children enjoy being surrounded by pictures of sea life and are calmed by the soothing colors.
Bathrooms are a natural setting for the Tropical Island theme. Accessories can easily be located in most retail and department stores. You can find everything from toothbrush holders and toilet seat covers to shower curtains and wall paper in a variety of island designs. A popular trend in bathroom designs is the use of glass bowl sinks. These are perfect for the Tropical Island theme and add exquisite beauty to the room.
Kitchens and dining rooms lend well to the Tropical Island theme. Bamboo kitchen tables and bar stools are quite popular. Another option is to use a picnic table or outdoor table with an umbrella. You could even go so far as to use a Tiki hut umbrella to bring in the tropical island feeling in your dining room.
Laundry rooms and storage areas are usually boring areas within the home. Add a splash of tropical color or use a tropical island wall paper border to breathe life into an otherwise dull and boring space. Use wicker baskets painted in bright colors such as turquoise, orange or yellow, or paint shelves or walls in tropical shades.
The Tropical Island theme works well in the home office setting. It is inviting and friendly to guests and provides an uplifting environment in which to work. Use a variety of lush tropical plants and an aquarium or water fountain. Paint your office furniture white and apply a tropical design stencil for a fun and festive look.
Grab some home interior design magazines and catalogs and let your imagination go wild. Cut out photos of items you like and tape them to a piece of paper or foam board. Create a floor plan to help you determine what items you have room for, then go shopping.
Look for deals at your local thrift shop or visit yard or estate sales. You might be surprised at the great bargains available and you’ll probably find several unique accessories. Most importantly have fun and get creative with this home interior design idea and soon your tropical oasis will await you!
Reference:
- Terramed Natural Textured Wall Treatments – www.ecobydesign.com/shop/texturedwalls/index.html
