Mediterranean Decorating

The many ways you can incorporate Mediterranean ideas into your decorating. Clay, terra cotta, wrought iron and other influences that can help you achieve this in your home.

How can you bring more color into your home? There are so many different ways that this is just a short list of them.

Using mosaic tile, with its bright colors of the terra cotta or brick hues will automatically bring a floor and a room to life. Bring the concept even further into the room by putting these mosaics on the walls as molding, around door frames, and as back splashes, if you are doing a kitchen or bathroom. Start small by putting the tiles in small space such as an alcove or a foyer, and use a dramatic sweep of lavender or red caulking that you can easily apply with a trowel.

Furniture is another sure fire way to add drama and color to a home. The wood may be simple or complex designs, but if you keep them low and include different accents made of marble, iron or tile, you will create a bright Mediterranean look. This is probably more authentic then the types you will be ready made in the stores.

These kinds of materials such as terra cotta, glass and iron have been used to decorate homes for ages. These materials have an appeal to everyone because we all realize that they are time tested decorating ideas that involve care and craftsmanship, and are therefore very respected.

Another idea for color is a tapestry on the wall. If you use wrought iron mountings to hang it, it will look even more authentic. A grill made of wrought iron will serve as a simple decoration on a wall, or you can use it to create the look of a window or to accent entrances, doorways or mirrors. All of these will add color and charm. Use the basic paint colors to allow these accent pieces to stand out.

Pottery is an easy way to add color to a room as well as form and a sense of drama. It can be in its natural state of terra cotta or it can be glazed in lovely colors, but either way it will add a lot. Try giant pots, elaborate vases in old world shapes and you will create a bright dramatic look for your home. Add wrought iron racks and candelabras, wood embellishments, table runners that reflect the colors of the pottery, and you have a lovely romantic setting. Other touches that will add to this ambiance are urns of burnished brass, a water fountain made from stone or one of the new resins that resemble stone, a relief over the fireplace and other touches that add to this look.

The purpose of all of this is to create the look of a bright Mediterranean idyll, full of sunshine and warmth. Create this by a main theme that creates the interest, and continue it will small touches that you and your guests glimpse at every turn.

To do your planning, perhaps it would help to envision yourself with a glass of Chianti at a villa by the Mediterranean. Picture yourself sitting in an garden enclosed by a stucco wall lined with sunflowers. The exit is a wooden door with wrought iron scrolling for hinges and pulls. In the background, you can glimpse the terra cotta tiles on the roofs of the local homes. Yours will look like that soon.

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Using Mediterranean Decor

By Adam Peters

The Mediterranean is somewhere that many people enjoy going to, but how many people actually take the time to enjoy the culture and the look of all of the décor? You could really take example by looking at the architecture and the décor of the Mediterranean country you are using for inspiration, in order to get a clear understanding about their culture and history. By looking at this, you could recreate a similar look back home in your own home and the great thing is, it doesn’t have to be expensive or hard work either.

Creating That Perfect Mediterranean Theme

The colors used in a Mediterranean theme consist of rich, earthy tones that help to create the basis of the warmth and calm atmosphere. As well as the great colors, the effective use of decorative pieces completes the look, giving it a little extra personality. This is certainly a great theme to use in any home and definitely something that you should consider.

Any home that has a Mediterranean touch is full of color and it is also a well textured home at the same time. To create the look, you may want to cover the walls with earthy tones plastered everywhere. In the window sills, you can use rusty colored pots with herbs in which are certainly a highlight in some regions of the Mediterranean.

Depending upon what part of the Mediterranean you take the inspiration from, you can get different decorative pieces to match this. For instance, if you take Italy as your inspiration, then you may use certain pottery or wine racks to reflect this. Do your own research for your chosen country in order to get any idea about their culture and about the accessories which they use over there. Even if you cannot get the exact same, you may be able to renovate items that you already have and give it an Italian feel to it.

The furniture that you use in the rooms throughout the home will really help to finish the entire look. You may use simple but practical furniture, which is certainly something that will make the theme really come to life. Some simple furniture can be extremely eye catching, so just because it is simple, it doesn’t mean that it is boring. You can use colourful pillows or cushions too in order to give the furniture that extra bit of character and vibrancy.

As well as all of this, the effective use of tiles is certainly something that is important. You may not like any of the designs that you have seen so far, so why not consider making you own? By doing this you can add your own character and your own personal touches to it.

There are many things that you can do in order to give your home a Mediterranean feel to it, so it is basically down to you as to what region you decide to use as your inspiration.

Adam Peters use to write on Mediterranean inspiration and similar subjects for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A website with tips on mediterranean decorating themes, amongst many related topics.
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