I love botanical prints and leafy greens – both on my plate and in my home. The tropical trend has been going for a while now, but I am a bit over the pink flamingoes, and banana-leaf scatters. That’s not all that this trend is about, however! Here’s my take on the Tropical Trend for Grown Ups, with a get-the-look shopping list and all!
Oversized with Velvety Coral
Kim Macumber Interiors via Cottage & Bungalow
This image screams gorgeous beaches and pina coladas! The large-scale wallpaper print is the hero of this room, with everything else carefully selected around it. The gold furniture and accents add a sophisticated touch to an otherwise light-hearted look, and the soft coral accessories contrast beautifully with the lush greenery.
PRO TIP: keep your floor finish in mind as well: sisal, coir and seagrass rugs add the perfect final touch to your tropical vibe.
Take It Literally
Even if you have an otherwise minimalist or Scandi interior, add some large green leaves to celebrate the trend. Large banana and delicious monster leaves, as well as strelitzias, are on sale at most large retailers and florists now. So, even if you are not lucky enough to have them in the garden, you can still have them on the table. The amazing thing about leaves like these is that they last for months! Just make sure that you give them fresh water every week.
SIDE NOTE: see how the theme is subtly emphasised in the print on the wall? Clever, isn’t it!?
Go Blue
It may sound counterintuitive when you think of tropical green, but topaz offsets green stunningly! Use rich topaz paint on walls to support green prints, or in upholstery pieces and furniture. Topaz pops especially when set against white, so trim architectural features in white to get the most out of this colour.
Another colour that gently mutes the deep green of the tropics is pale teal. This works especially well in a bedroom, creating a calming atmosphere conducive to rest and relaxation. Add subtle tropical touches with prints and plants, and keep the rest of the palette neutral with grey, olive and sandy colours.
Accessorize Boldly
A tropical look is not only in printed flora; it is also represented by colour. Brilliant emerald green embodies the look, and should be used with reckless abandon! Create a statement with lush accessories in rich fabrics like velvet, set against a blank canvass. Choose gold accent pieces and keep the rest of the colours in the room to a minimum for maximum effect.
Get The Tropical Look With Some Local Shopping
1. PARADISO RUG – HERTEX HAUS // 2. SLUB TASSEL SCATTER – MRPHOME // 3. OPEN WEAVE SEAGRASS BASKET – WEYLANDTS // 4. HANGING ALOE KOKIDAMA – MRPHOME // 5. INDIGI FRACTURE ARMCHAIR – ELEVEN PAST // 6. VELVET PUNCH FABRIC IN BOLSHOI TURTLE – HOME FABRICS // 7. ALOHA IN MONSTER GREEN – GRALAN FABRICS // 8. REGENCY VELVET CHAIR – MRHOME // ASHFORD TROPICS WALLPAPER – HERTEX
If you’re still unsure about how to put this look together for yourself, try our design service and let us do it for you!
