How to Create a Tropical Home Interior

This spring and summer the interior design world is going crazy for bold and bright tropical interiors that create a “Club Tropicana” feel within the home and creates a lively yet relaxing space in which to kick back with your favourite cocktail. Bold floral prints, botanical colour schemes and natural materials come together to create a calming interior space with a hint of Caribbean vibrancy.

When it comes to choosing a colour scheme for your tropical themed interior, opt for floral colour palettes such as bright pinks, lime green, purple and yellow that reflect the rich flora and fauna of a tropical landscape. You can also opt for cool and calming coastal colours such as mint, turquoise and crisp white that gives a chic and relaxing beach villa ambiance with hints of Juicy tangerine and melon. For a more traditional British Colonial style select fern greens, chocolate and creams for a jungle style appearance that is cosy and natural.

Natural finishes and materials are a must have when selecting flooring for your tropical interior design. Exposed wood flooring will sit comfortably alongside both earthen and vibrant tropical interiors and can be simply varnished for a cosy yet bright appearance or whitewashed for a more elegant and feminine appearance that looks great in bedroom and living room areas. Tiled floors can also work extremely well in a tropical home interior with a selection of terracotta designs creating a warm and cosy appearance in colonial home interiors. Crisp white and blue tiling will look great with bold botanical decors and gives a cool and calming finish to a bathroom or conservatory area. If you prefer to use carpet in your home then opt for neutral beige and cream tones or select a textural sea grass carpet for added visual detail.

Fabrics are a great way of introducing bold prints and colours into a tropical style interior as they can be easily added to a neutral backdrop and provide a focal point within your interior space. Cushions are a must have feature in any home as they allow you to create a zoned area of detail and colour to your interior space. If you have opted for a bright and fresh tropical interior select vibrant colour tones such as azure blues, fuchsia, yellow, lime and orange and display an arrangement of plain and patterned cushions with hibiscus, hummingbird and pineapple prints. For a more refined and colonial look then select natural materials such as linen and cotton in earthen colours such as taupe, brown and sage green and mix and match with classic palm frond designs. Curtains and rugs should also feature bold palm tree, floral and bird prints or alternatively select some white painted window shutters for an authentic Caribbean feel.

Accessories should feature natural materials and complimentary colours that reflect the landscape of tropical destinations. Foliage and flowers are a must have in a tropical themed interior with a selection of umbrella plants, yuccas and palms being displayed in the corners of the room for a botanical focal point that works particularly well in living rooms and conservatories. Bold tropical flowers such as orchids, hibiscus, heliconias and lotus flowers look fabulous as central arrangements on a dining table or windowsill and can be given an authentic feel with a terracotta or natural rattan vase. When choosing designs for your ornaments and crockery, select classic tropical prints such as palm prints or pineapple designs or select plain turquoise or natural creams and beige for a more subtle beach side design.

There are three different options that work when selecting furniture for your tropical home interior. Firstly if you wish to create a bright and uplifting Caribbean boutique look then select an arrangement of white painted furniture that will give a fresh and illuminating feel against the juicy and botanical colour schemes of your fabric and paint finish. Secondly for a more natural and earthen interior feel then select oak, wicker or rattan furniture items that can be complimented with a selection of bold coloured cushion covers for a twist of contemporary and traditional style. Thirdly if your prefer to follow a more Colonial interior design then opt for walnut and mahogany furniture items in bold and chunky designs that will give a contrasting yet complimentary appearance against a bold painted feature wall.

For more inspiration on creating a fabulous tropical home interior, head over to our latest Pinterest board - Pinterest - Tropical Interiors