West Indies style décor and design is focused on staying cool and is influenced by the tropical climate of the Caribbean islands and the multinationals who have settled there. Even though the Dutch, British, and French settlers brought some furnishings and accessories for their dwellings, they rapidly picked up indigenous’ building techniques.
They had to study the best wood and other materials to use in a humid environment. As a result, a hybrid colonial design known as the West Indies style decor emerged.
Your property is a haven and a blank canvas to express your creativity. If you are looking for some ways to incorporate West Indies style decor into an outdoor setting for your family home here are some ideas:
Floors and Walls
To combat the heat in their tropical homes, colonists abandoned the dark walls common in their own region and painted them white, cream, light green, or blue instead. In the tropics, mahogany and teak are in plentiful supply and are widely used for flooring.
Although those types of wood are now costly, you can replicate the look using pine or less expensive wood with a dark finish. West Indies style decor is characterized by contrasting the colors of the walls and floors.
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Furniture
The Caribbean islands’ hot and tropical environment makes ebony, teak, and mahogany available, and the colonists chose these woods for their furniture. Wicker and rattan furniture, leather upholstery, and trim added a touch of the tropics to the ornate Victorian designs.
Recreate the look by combining dark wood and soft wicker, leather upholstery, and furniture with rattan frames. As the colonists did, get an antique trunk to use as a coffee table.
Ceilings And Windows
Light, airy drapes are preferable in the tropics, along with interior shutters to block off tropical storms or the sweltering afternoon sun. You can use long, translucent white drapes to cover neutral-colored wooden horizontal blinds to achieve the look.
In a hot environment, ceiling fans are essential, and the West Indies décor style incorporates them. Wide-bladed ceiling fans provide a Caribbean touch with wicker or blade wedges sculpted to look like palm leaves. The style is light and airy, with brass trim and glass lighting units.
Animals and Plants
A crucial component of West Indies style decor is motifs that are centres on tropical animals and vegetation. Popular items include sofa covers, wall hangings, and rugs with an animal element. On the floor, place a faux zebra-skin rug.
You can place throw cushions on your outdoor furniture with animal (e.g., zebra or leopard) prints. Tropical palm trees and floral prints are simple to include in your decor, highlighting the Caribbean influence of the style.
Look for vibrant, tropical plant designs on throw pillows, lampshades, and other outdoor decor items. Elephants, hippopotamuses, lions, monkeys, tropical birds, and tigers are all common subjects for ceramic collectibles. You can showcase your personal favorites on your shelves.
Accessories
Reflecting the colonists’ Victorian heritage, ornately gilt mirrors are common in British Colonial design. Install one in the entryway to add a West Indies feel. For a delicate touch that softens the dark furniture typical of this style, drape translucent cloth across an outdoor bed.
Display vintage globes, compasses, or other navigational tools among customary Caribbean, Asian, or African treasures on your bookcases. Don’t forget to use hurricane lamps, heavy pillar candles, and brass trim wall sconces in your space to further the West Indies vibe.
As long as you stick to the décor fundamentals of textures for woods, fabrics, and color, it’s simple to infuse the look of West Indies style decor into any area. To make this look your own, incorporate individualized touches with items and accessories.
