Many people enjoy the warm and inviting look of tribal design, and there are several ways you can add a touch of tribal or afro-chic design to your home décor.
- Textiles: It’s no secret that beautiful cloth and textiles are made in the many villages of Africa. For example, Kuba cloth is most often found in the Congo and features both complex and simple geometric patterns that can be worn as a wrap or skirt or displayed as artwork. Kente cloth is another type of textile that is most often woven by the women of Ghana. It consists of 4 inch wide strips made of colorful silk cloth that are pieced together to create larger pieces. Often used for ceremonial purposes, this fabric can be used in your home to sew accent pillows, as a window valance, or even to upholster small ottomans and footstools.
- Folk art: It is always fun to display art pieces that depict different world cultures. If you have traveled to these areas and purchased your own pieces, all the better. If you haven’t, a local store that specializes in global items is worth a visit. Here you can find hand-carved wooden figurines, colorful boxes, woven baskets, painted masks, etc. These items will add life and a touch of history to your bookshelves, tabletops or walls. Take the time to learn a little bit about each piece such as the area they are from, what tribe created them, the method of production, and you will enjoy them all the more.
- Color: Afrochic or tribal design can include bright colors that are created from the earth such as red from clay, golden yellows from plants, blue from berries and green from grasses. A tribal palette can also be very neutral and include a combination of brown, tan and black for a sophisticated look.
As with all “themed” design, be careful not to go overboard. There is no need to make a room look like a safari to enjoy this friendly, inviting decorating style. Many people enjoy the warm and inviting look of tribal design and there are several ways you can add a touch of tribal or afro-chic design to your home décorating style.