Afrocentric Wall Decor
Afrocentric Wall Decor
By blending the traditional with modern African decor, the interior of the space comes to life through African design influences. Transforming a space with rich African colors, natural materials, and traditional patterns, are all great ways to bring an African- inspired aesthetic.
If the African- aesthetic is what you’re aiming for but worried about going too ‘colonial safari’ garish, wall art is a wonderful introduction. Although it can be a fine line between an obvious aesthetic and capturing the intricacies of African designs, we have two suggestions for stunning wall pieces, both bold and subtle.
Juju Hats
African decor has the amazing ability to include vivid colors with earthy, calm tones. Brighten up a room with some stunning and trendy Juju hats.
Juju hats originate from Cameroon and were used during tribal dances. Made from feathers, the hats are sewn and spiral around in a circle. Considered to bring wealth. The abundance of feathers definitely brings a luxurious feel to a room.
Hang together as an installation, mixing sizes and colors. Hang a single Juju hat above a bed or fireplace as a subtle focal piece.
Woven Wall Basket
Juju Hats can come at a costly price. Each fine feather is sewn by hand. This means finishing one hat is a real labor of love. If these beautifully designed hats are out of your price range why not opt for a woven wall basket? They have a similar shape. Hung together they create a beautiful design as well as hold their own as a single piece.
Use the pattern design and color variations in baskets. This will turn a potential plain wall into an African-inspired statement piece.
Key African- Inspired Design Details:
When bringing in an element of African design on your walls there are some key design details to focus on.
- Firstly, always check that the art you are hanging does not offend the culture it intends to promote.
- Focus on organic and natural materials. This is prevalent in most African art/ design. Focusing on using leather, feathers, wood, and rattan/ wicker for material sources will help give your interior art an authentic feel.
- Using warm tones is a focus on African design color palettes. Amber, Terracotta, Burnt Orange, and Burgundy are all key colors.
- Don’t be afraid of mixing patterns. African patterns are eye-catching with vivid colors and beautiful contrast. Mixing bold designs can bring a contemporary feel.
The article was written by Christine Fay Smith
“Christine is a freelance lifestyle writer. She focuses on interior and hospitality design. Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Christine has embraced her knowledge of the visual world. She mixes this with passion for culture and the exploration of visual experiences.”She enjoys keeping up with the latest culinary trends