Posts Tagged ‘Moroccan’
Moroccan Home Décor is an increasingly popular way for people of all cultures and backgrounds to transform their traditional living spaces into places that are full of warmth, depth and character. Often this style stands in stark contrast to the clean lines and sterile feel that accompanies the modern look. Every piece is created with its own unique attributes and form sometimes takes a front seat to function. There are very few straight lines and the overall feeling of a room is one that is soft. Broken lines and curves accentuate the warm colors and soft light to create a setting that not only invites one to sit, but also lean back and relax, put your feet up, and take a deep breath.
As mentioned above, one of the key attributes of Moroccan home décor is the absence of hard lines. Even in furniture, soft lines are the norm. Couch cushions, pillows, ottomans and poofs are crafted with soft, pliable corners that very rarely come to rest in a perfectly straight line. Pieces are often created in shapes other than squares and rectangles. Floor cushions may be round or oblong and even hard furniture like end tables will often be found in an octagonal or irregular shape. There is no absence of variety. With such a wide variety of shapes and structures and with no hard lines to draw the focus, each piece is allowed to speak for itself within the scope and attitude of the room.
Another key attribute of Moroccan home décor is the way that lighting is used. Very rarely will you find harsh or focused light. Instead, lighting is diffused so that it complements the living space, inviting people to slide into an area. Lighting is used to accentuate subtle features and is used to create an atmosphere of warmth. In the same way that the furniture itself is devoid of hard lines, so is the lighting. It is designed to fold softly into the room, sometimes through a colored shade. As the light through a colored and decorated shade is cast upon floor, ceiling and walls, it creates its own decorative features and often these plays on shadow are used themselves as decorative features within the overall scope of the room.
Soft, plush surfaces are also characteristic of Moroccan home décor. As with the lines and lighting, hard, stark surfaces are avoided. Even on flat surfaces, such as tabletops, the pattern is broken up with a cover or with a work of art that is actually incorporated into the surface of the piece itself. The lack of stark surfaces creates an atmosphere in which one gets a sense of being enveloped. In direct opposition of a minimalist approach, which allows the people within the room to define its tenor, this type of styling invites those in the room to be absorbed into the feeling of the room. One can be absorbed into the soft feel and comfort of the room. This creates a space where people may feel free to let their guard down and become more personable. With the focus not on people, but instead on the overall atmosphere of the room, everyone is placed on a similar plane of existence. Good conversation is fostered by a sense of equality and egos and personal airs are absorbed by the décor that surrounds you.
Andy West is a freelance writer for Nine Seas D
Home is where the heart is but is your home missing something? Maybe what your home really needs is a little design here and there and something really classic to enhance the entire decor. If your home has the same lighting, bulbs and candle stands then how is it really different from any other home? Did you know that natural light is more relaxing than the artificial luminescence? If you didn’t know this then this is the best time to bring some change. Add some magic into your home and brighten up the decor using some of the oldest methods of lighting – bring home the Moroccan Lanterns!
You are probably wondering how a lantern can change the ambience of your home. A lantern will provide a rustic look to your home. You can hang it anywhere but will look great in your living room as well as on the garden porch. Imagine having a dinner on the porch brightened by the subtle magnificence of the Moroccan Lantern. You need to experience it to feel the impact!
Let’s take a look at Moroccan lanterns and why they are preferred to ordinary lanterns. Moroccan lighting has been a unique home decoration concept for a long time and there are reasons for the same. Moroccan decor is not something that you will find easily in US homes as it doesn’t have a deep reach. If you find a home with Moroccan decor then be rest assured that either they have traveled to Morocco to find it or they have found it through specialists like us. Moroccan Decor is rare but its uniqueness comes from the fact that it has influences of Moroccan history, culture and art. Moroccan lighting is also a part of the same influence and brings with it the geometric forms, vivid colors, and exotic designs, which have long been the symbol of Moroccan decor.
One of the exotic Moroccan lanterns also known as the henna lamps is made from stretched goat skin and is decorated with exquisite designs. The designs are all hand painted and based on traditional henna designs. Some of the designs are also dyed with paprika or saffron based dyes and is the ultimate decoration piece for your living room. It will add an earthy touch and bring in the rustic feel to your living room or any where in your house where place it. The henna sconce is also used without lighting but these are meant to be stand alone decorative wall pieces.
Another Moroccan decoration that you can try is the stained glass lamp that comes with carved motives and definitely makes a bolder statement as far as designing your interiors is concerned. The Stained glass lamps are one of its kinds and will add spice to the overall interior decoration of your house. Moroccan lamps are also known as Moroccan lanterns and can be added to an existing wrought iron chandelier to bring a warmth and delightfully appealing freshness to your home.
With Moroccan lighting, you can get your true creative spirit working and use them to recreate a truly exotic Moroccan oasis.
Using Moroccan lighting
You can try and use various types of wattage to get different looks in terms of design and brightness. You can also experiment a little and use a candle especially if you are using the Moroccan lantern in a small space. While using henna lamps or henna wall sconces, you can try a low wattage to get the right ambiance – it will provide a very romantic feel.
Maintenance of your Moroccan lighting
When it comes to the maintenance of Moroccan lighting then you can feel good about the fact that the maintenance cost is as good as zero. Another salient point is that unlike tubes and bulbs or even candles, the Moroccan lanterns can last for almost a lifetime. The only maintenance required involves lubrication of the side door hinges. This lubrication can be done once in a while or during the rainy season. If you choose the henna lamps or the henna wall sconce then they don’t require any maintenance at all.
You will have to also spray the Moroccan lanterns with a sealant, which will prevent gathering of rust. The other way is to use sealant on each and every metal part and for this you will have to take the glass of first. Either ways, the use of sealant will increase the lifespan of the lanterns and provide you with enough luminance to last a lifetime.
Moe Tamani is an importer of Moroccan lanterns and a designer of Henna Lamps and wrought Iron Screens
One of the most popular decor that you can incorporate in your home includes Moroccan furniture as well as accessories. If you want interior design, you can add both functionality as well as art to your home.
Moroccan furniture uses the look of Moorish ethnic design that will invoke beauty as well as charm in your home. Everyone wants their home to look a bit different than other homes and one way to do it is to use Moroccan furniture as well as other decor that will all blend together but add warmth and comfort, as well as artistic flavor to your home decor. One of the reasons why Moroccan furniture is so very well liked is that it will blend in well with your existing furniture.
3 Ways to Use Moroccan Furniture Inside and Outside
1.Moroccan furnishings look wonderful and vibrant when you use them to create Moroccan living rooms. Not only are the vibrant colors that are used in Moroccan sofas, chairs and tables easy to blend with other furnishings in your home, but you can also use Moroccan lamps and continue to add to this decor. One of the best aspects of creating a Moroccan living room is the fact that you do not need a lot of furnishings for your Moroccan living room to come alive. In addition to that, as Moroccan lamps are truly works of art themselves, they tend to be the focal point.
You can decorate your home using these furnishings that are affordable and make a good choice for someone just starting out who wants to gradually add to their living room decor with these furnishings.
2.For the bedroom, Moroccan bedding will do wonders. The bedding itself is made from vibrant colors and exquisite materials. In addition to bedding, you will want your Moroccan bedroom to have hand carved bedroom Moroccan furniture as that includes beds, mirrors and dressers.
Of course, you will also want to throw in a few Moroccan lamps as well as a rug to give the room a great deal of Moroccan warmth. If you are looking or interior design that is both artistic and functional, you should consider Moroccan furniture for your bedroom.
3.You have your choice when it comes to outdoor tables for Moroccan patios. These include mosaic tables as well as other outdoor Moroccan furniture including fountains and patio furniture.
Your deck or patio will take on new life when you incorporate Moroccan furniture into the mix. In addition to mosaic styling, you can also find wooden tables as well as those that are intricately carved when you are looking for Moroccan furniture for the outdoors. Of course, you will want to use Moroccan lanterns as well.
One of the best aspects of using Moroccan furniture is that it is timeless. This means that it will fit in to any decor that you already have. You can gradually start incorporating the Moroccan furniture into your living space and will find that you enjoy gathering more of the furniture, lamps as well as accessories that make Moroccan furniture so very timeless, useful and artistic.
If you want to start using Moroccan design, take a look online at some of the most beautiful and original designs in furniture, lamps and bedding that use Moroccan design and Moroccan furniture.
Seomul Evans is a Seo marketing consultant for leading Moroccan Bedroom Furniture retailer and publishers of Tagine Recipe.
Decor and architecture magazines often trigger the dreamer in us, the dream of having their own home and probably you are living that dream. Along with the dream comes many things like renovating the home, brightening the interiors, new paint, decorations, wall pieces, show pieces, chandeliers etc… But sometimes, people also end up using so much decoration that it takes away the charm of living in that house.
On the other hand, you can experiment with earthen decors and subtle interior decoration or art to instill a new life into your home. One of doing is by introducing themes based on colors and the other is to use themes based on countries like using the Moroccan decor.
You would probably ask what is so great about Moroccan decor. There is a subtlety in Moroccan decor and it is very earthy in nature. The important point is that if you want your home to stand out of the crowd then you need to think different.
Everyone uses the same decors, almost the same ceramic tiles, the aqua colors on the walls and even the ever so popular and classic wrought iron decorative pieces.
If you use Moroccan decor, you are definitely going to create a stir and your friends and neighbors are going to ask you questions about how you went around doing it all.
It is not just about decorating the interiors of your home; it is also about creating your own class and being a part of an elite crowd in the society.
Lets take a few steps back in time to know more about a country that has made its impact in the worldwide interior decoration market with their artistic themes.
Morocco in North Africa has a rich cultural and historical heritage that exudes beauty through various forms of art, which are often seen as mysterious or magical.
Moroccan decor in the last couple of years has been re-discovered and today it is used to add a sensual appeal through art and colors to homes.
If you have visited Morocco then you have had the opportunity to enjoy the rich cultural heritage that it boasts of. If you have never been to Morocco then you can become an integral part of the country, the people and the art through understanding and using Moroccan decor.
Moroccan culture was a mix of five ethnic groups, Arab, Berber, Islamic, African and Iberian and their heritage has survived the harsh destruction of time because till around the 20th century, the land was free from foreign invasion.
Around the early 1900s, Moroccan culture was influenced immensely by various characteristics of the European cultures but in spite of the influence, Morocco was able to keep its tradition, art & culture alive. Some instances are like the existence of the traditional Moroccan house with a garden in the interior, which is known as Riad and it has not changed for almost five centuries.
The Moroccan style and decor is spectacular in looks and sensuous in appeal and has been there was centuries. The intense colors of the Moroccan style cast a magic spell on anyone who uses it and even on those who see it.
Most of the Moroccan decor is created from a mix of raw terracotta clay, and the color can vary from the passionate red of the paprika spice to the intense blue of the Mediterranean and the shimmering yellow of the Sahara. You can almost feel the decor as if it were alive!
In fact one of the spectacular Moroccan decor is created with an intense blue as is there at Jardin Majorelle located in the Avenue Yacoub el Mansour in Marrakech.
You have to really see it to believe it but we warn you: you wont be able to stop yourself from falling in love with the color.
The blue is unique because no one has ever been able to copy it. But Moroccan decor is not just about vibrant colors, there more to it than meets the eye. You can use Moroccan lighting with different designs and patterns that has a subtle touch of Moroccan and Islamic architecture.
The intricately designed filigree lanterns with colored glass inserts is a temptation you can hardly refuse and it exudes a class that has elegance. There are special Moroccan henna lamps that come in a hue of colors and can hold you spellbound for hours.
Moe Tamani is an importer of Moroccan Decor and a designer of Home Decor.