Decorating
Get the Look: Caribbean-Style With a Twist
Fancy island life? Turn your home into a tropical getaway with this laid-back style snapshot
‘Caribbean queen, now we’re sharing the same dream’. Achieving that Caribbean theme in your home is all about including leafy motifs, cane, and rattan furniture, and embracing the warmth of summer year-round. According to Holly Bambridge from Cultivate Design Co, Caribbean-style interiors have been passing through Europe and are now making their way to Australia, but this time with a more simplified, Scandinavian take. “Think clean lines combined with neutrals and greys, balanced nicely with the opposing rustic and raw textures of all things nature,” she says.
Think naturally with materials
One of the key elements of Caribbean style is natural materials – what you would find while island hopping from Antigua to Saint Martin – such as bamboo and jungle leaves. Cane and rattan furniture work with a range of existing interior styles, and evoke the jungle feel this style is all about. Don’t feel the need to have perfectly matched furniture either; imperfections and individuality add that relaxed, holiday element.
Tip: Rattan furniture was very prevalent in the ’70s, so look to the op-shops for secondhand steals. Anything slightly worn adds texture and authenticity to a space.
One of the key elements of Caribbean style is natural materials – what you would find while island hopping from Antigua to Saint Martin – such as bamboo and jungle leaves. Cane and rattan furniture work with a range of existing interior styles, and evoke the jungle feel this style is all about. Don’t feel the need to have perfectly matched furniture either; imperfections and individuality add that relaxed, holiday element.
Tip: Rattan furniture was very prevalent in the ’70s, so look to the op-shops for secondhand steals. Anything slightly worn adds texture and authenticity to a space.
Add plants
The instant we see the leafy green of indoor plants, we are reminded of a tropical holiday destination. Indoor plants are an economical (and reversible) way to inject a Caribbean edge to any space. Consider different varieties of palms and ferns, and avoid plants that blossom or flower. The fiddle-leaf fig is a hardy plant that does well in low light (and low-attention) environments.
Tip: Hanging your plants is great for lifting the eye towards the top of a room, and is particularly useful if don’t have much floor space. Take a look at this handy tutorial for tips and tricks about getting your plants off the ground.
The instant we see the leafy green of indoor plants, we are reminded of a tropical holiday destination. Indoor plants are an economical (and reversible) way to inject a Caribbean edge to any space. Consider different varieties of palms and ferns, and avoid plants that blossom or flower. The fiddle-leaf fig is a hardy plant that does well in low light (and low-attention) environments.
Tip: Hanging your plants is great for lifting the eye towards the top of a room, and is particularly useful if don’t have much floor space. Take a look at this handy tutorial for tips and tricks about getting your plants off the ground.
Aim for exotic prints
Exotic and mismatched prints are perfect for cruising into the Caribbean. Throw rugs are great for flexibility, along with cushions and floor rugs. Or if you want something really different, go for a printed-fabric bedhead.
Natalie White, designer at Bowerhouse, loves the way Caribbean style embraces the marriage between indoor and outdoor living. “Caribbean interior style is relaxed, warm & welcoming – all about laid-back, summery, tropical vibes,” she says. To achieve this look, White suggests combining natural materials such as timber, cane and seagrass with a contrast of linens. “White linen looks great paired with layers and layers of colourful textiles,” she says.
Tip: If you’re worried about patterns clashing, look for a colour that links the prints together. Here, warm oranges, golds, greens and navy are spotted throughout for a harmonious look.
Exotic and mismatched prints are perfect for cruising into the Caribbean. Throw rugs are great for flexibility, along with cushions and floor rugs. Or if you want something really different, go for a printed-fabric bedhead.
Natalie White, designer at Bowerhouse, loves the way Caribbean style embraces the marriage between indoor and outdoor living. “Caribbean interior style is relaxed, warm & welcoming – all about laid-back, summery, tropical vibes,” she says. To achieve this look, White suggests combining natural materials such as timber, cane and seagrass with a contrast of linens. “White linen looks great paired with layers and layers of colourful textiles,” she says.
Tip: If you’re worried about patterns clashing, look for a colour that links the prints together. Here, warm oranges, golds, greens and navy are spotted throughout for a harmonious look.
Combine sheer and textural
Float into a holiday mood with sheer, light fabrics balanced with earthy, textural finishes. Here, the designers kept things simple with a white mosquito net paired with white walls. Adding rough, textural elements reminds us of being outdoors with nature, bringing both harmony and holiday to any room.
Tip: If you don’t have space or the budget for large feature pieces of furniture, opt for small-scale accessories and pieces such as the wooden bedside table and woven basket shown here.
So your style is: boho beach
Float into a holiday mood with sheer, light fabrics balanced with earthy, textural finishes. Here, the designers kept things simple with a white mosquito net paired with white walls. Adding rough, textural elements reminds us of being outdoors with nature, bringing both harmony and holiday to any room.
Tip: If you don’t have space or the budget for large feature pieces of furniture, opt for small-scale accessories and pieces such as the wooden bedside table and woven basket shown here.
So your style is: boho beach
Don’t forget to look up
Light fixtures are great for incorporating elements of Caribbean style. For materials, look to cane, rattan, or wicker to add a subtle holiday touch to your space. Tie the room together with some texture on the floor, like with the seagrass rug seen here.
Tip: When choosing a rug for your Caribbean-style space, sand and beige tones bring a holiday mood into your home and work in well with a variety of existing colour palettes.
Light fixtures are great for incorporating elements of Caribbean style. For materials, look to cane, rattan, or wicker to add a subtle holiday touch to your space. Tie the room together with some texture on the floor, like with the seagrass rug seen here.
Tip: When choosing a rug for your Caribbean-style space, sand and beige tones bring a holiday mood into your home and work in well with a variety of existing colour palettes.
Learn to love leaf motifs
If you want a space instantly recognisable for its Caribbean mood, then opt for a leaf motif. In this space, palm fronds make a major statement in the wallpaper and in the bedhead. The theme doesn’t take itself too seriously either, with the greenery outside whimsically mirrored with a fern in the macrame wall hanging.
Tip: Pare back statement style with a white bedspread and a simple colour scheme to keep the space from becoming overwhelming.
If you want a space instantly recognisable for its Caribbean mood, then opt for a leaf motif. In this space, palm fronds make a major statement in the wallpaper and in the bedhead. The theme doesn’t take itself too seriously either, with the greenery outside whimsically mirrored with a fern in the macrame wall hanging.
Tip: Pare back statement style with a white bedspread and a simple colour scheme to keep the space from becoming overwhelming.
Get snappy
If you want to keep your own island getaway memories all around you, turn one of your own photographs into a glossy print to feature in your room. Think beach shots, jungle shots, or a palm frond print; anything that sets the mood of the holiday lifestyle for you.
Tell us
What do you love about Caribbean styling? Share your favourite things in the Comments.
More
Browse more ideas for tropical-style interiors
If you want to keep your own island getaway memories all around you, turn one of your own photographs into a glossy print to feature in your room. Think beach shots, jungle shots, or a palm frond print; anything that sets the mood of the holiday lifestyle for you.
Tell us
What do you love about Caribbean styling? Share your favourite things in the Comments.
More
Browse more ideas for tropical-style interiors
Being such a relaxed look, it’s easy to integrate this style seamlessly into your space. That’s the beauty of it. “It’s all about combining the best of contemporary design with that feeling of an ‘island getaway’,” Bambridge says. This style works well with a neutral backdrop, and working in accent colours, materials and textures really brings it to life. The added bonus is that the general colour palette remains timeless, and you can swap in accessories to mix up the look as you wish.
You’ll fall for it if: you have set up alerts for flights to the Caribbean and have all five Pirates of the Caribbean movies ready to go on Netflix.
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