Using Mexican Design In A Neutral Interior

Traditional Mexican Interiors are known the world over for their rich, saturated colors, hand painted tiles, rough wall textures and staple decor pieces. There are many who visit this country and adore the idea of a Hacienda Style Home but are too fearful of color to apply this design style in their own settings. There are so many ways to capture the soul of this playful, bold type of design that does not involve going crazy at the paint store. You too can pull these elements into your home. Let me show you how.

As you can see above, on the left is the fairly standard version of a bold walled interior, using neutral furniture and placing the high powered hues on the walls. Mexican interiors are known for their hand hewn woods in warm mesquites and rosewoods, giving furnishings their rustic appeal.

Through the magic of Picassa... on the right we have now taken all of the elements of the first interior and carried them to our more neutral room, updating the interior and still maintaining the same furnishings, with a few minor exceptions. For the faint at heart, we have neutralized the color palette on the walls with beige tones. You can go with a combination of beiges and tans, contrasting from one wall to the next. On the previously orange fireplace, how about adding a decorative glass mosaic in a fire red? I have also made the mantel more prominent by increasing the height and showing it in an espresso stained wood. This combined with the black oval coffee table add a touch of modern into this eclectic space. I have then taken the bold wall colors and applied them to what was once the more neutral accessories in the room. Rather than a white lace curtain, let's continue with a red panel curtain hung a foot higher than the actual window to give this cozy room a slightly larger feel in scale. Instead of the matchy matchy blah beige sofa and chair pair, how about reupholstering the sofa in a richer brown, or if you can step a bit outside the safe box, try using a printed fabric on the accent chairs in a red or blue, even the great sunny yellow. In this example I have used throw pillows to add splashes of bold color to the monotone chairs and added a throw in a royal blue on our brown sofa.

Only you know your color limitations, but now you know that you can do color! Mexican design is just one of the many diverse design styles you can infuse into your space, brought to you by our Latino people. Whether you try it full scale, or in moderation, it is guaranteed to add a smile to your home.