Take Your Home Tropical With Caribbean Chic
Give winter the boot with the colors, fabrics and furniture of sophisticated island style — not a palm tree in sight
Houzz Contributor, Miami based interior designer and event planner, and the creator of the blog LiveLaughDecorate (http://www.livelaughdecorate.com/)
Houzz Contributor, Miami based interior designer and event planner, and... More »
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Maybe you can't hop on a plane and experience the Caribbean firsthand in winter, but transforming a room or two in your home with cheerful tropical decor could help cure the winter blues. Gone are the days when designing a Caribbean-inspired space meant framed photos of the beach or fabric covered in palm trees. Today's Caribbean style can be achieved by adding elements used widely throughout the islands: crisp white linen curtains, burlap pillows or furnishings wrapped in Caribbean fabrics.
A few bold colors on walls or in textiles will add a tropical jolt to your interiors, too. And while refurbishing old pieces is a big design trend here in the States, it has long been a mainstay of Caribbean decor. Purchasing new furnishings every few years is simply not an option for many island folks, so reupholstered pieces often take center stage.
Let's look at how you can bring a bit of the Caribbean into your home, whether you have a traditional or contemporary space.
A few bold colors on walls or in textiles will add a tropical jolt to your interiors, too. And while refurbishing old pieces is a big design trend here in the States, it has long been a mainstay of Caribbean decor. Purchasing new furnishings every few years is simply not an option for many island folks, so reupholstered pieces often take center stage.
Let's look at how you can bring a bit of the Caribbean into your home, whether you have a traditional or contemporary space.
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by Judith Balis
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| The blue walls here say Caribbean Sea. This hue is an inexpensive way to achieve an island feel, even in a room with many traditional elements. The repurposed sofa and chairs are on trend and have long been a hallmark of Caribbean-inspired design. Tip: This bold black and white striped sofa would make a statement in any home. It works here because it anchors a large wall — a key element in a well-designed space. |
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Burlap, one of the most inexpensive fabrics on the planet, makes a statement wrapped around this chest-turned-coffee table. This would be an easy DIY project. A host of simple elements give this room a tropical feel — white fabric walls, a white sofa adorned with bold pillows, a worn tree branch as centerpiece and a candle inside a hurricane vase.
Tip: Bursts of color against white fabric can be a simple way to introduce color in small doses, without the full committment of painted walls. I use orange a lot in my designs, but it can be a challenging color for many to embrace. But small doses of orange work well paired with green, taupe and brown in this all-white room.
How psychology can help you use orange
Tip: Bursts of color against white fabric can be a simple way to introduce color in small doses, without the full committment of painted walls. I use orange a lot in my designs, but it can be a challenging color for many to embrace. But small doses of orange work well paired with green, taupe and brown in this all-white room.
How psychology can help you use orange
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| Even neutral walls can evoke the calm and serene feeling of the islands. This abaca-twist coffee table and the burlap pillows take the island feel up a notch, too. |
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| This Bermuda room is islandesque in its simplicity. Coconut trees outside are framed by large window-doors, while white curtains add coolness. Simple white sofas make a statement on their own, and two traditional but fun chairs provide additional seating and help make the room feel even cozier. Tip: Notice the use of two large sofas facing each other. This is a great trick for a large room with high ceilings. |
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| If you want to get down deep in the trenches of the Caribbean, bright walls, bold curtains and floral prints on a sofa with a woven base will take you there. You'll find this decor in plenty of resorts throughout the islands. Tip: Blues, yellows and greens work harmoniously. These watery, soothing colors look great balanced with the white floor lamps and white molding. |
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Simple and clean style can still look Caribbean. I love the bold festive print above the bed and the contrast of chartreuse bedding against a blue wall. A ceiling fan adds to the island vibe. Trust me, you'd need that ceiling fan in the Caribbean — air conditioning is a precious commodity.
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You don't need blue to create a tropical design aesthetic. Use festive colors from the outdoors, like these greens and a floral print. The bold orange chair reminds me of a slice of mango.
Again, notice that bright orange works well paired with green and toned down with neutral colors.
Again, notice that bright orange works well paired with green and toned down with neutral colors.
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| Island kitchens are known for their use of bright-colored cabinetry, so don't be afraid to add splashes of color on kitchen cabinets to get that vibe. Three gorgeous colors are at play here. A soapstone countertop keeps things toned down. Tip: Try painting your cabinets yourself to cut down on cost. Check out some cabinet painting tips from professionals |
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This backsplash pulls together all the colors used in this Caribbean-inspired kitchen. It's fun, playful and shows that this homeowner is not afraid to live on the wild side.
Tip: If you're not up for a full remodel, adding a new backsplash of bold and stylish tiles can be an affordable way to update your kitchen.
Have you brought the Caribbean into your decor? Share your thoughts on colorful island style in the Comments section below.
Tip: If you're not up for a full remodel, adding a new backsplash of bold and stylish tiles can be an affordable way to update your kitchen.
Have you brought the Caribbean into your decor? Share your thoughts on colorful island style in the Comments section below.
Comments
Sigrid Well, I'd like to hang my Haitian Voodoo flag, but my husband isn't a fan of this great piece of folk art from my Peace Corps days and, unfortunately, no one else who sees it (it's a bit lurid) has been inspired to try to convince him otherwise.
3 months ago · Like
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Architectural Antiques I like that big mirror in the second picture- it looks alot like this, doesnt it? The porthole mirror idea is a winner- not too nautical, but it keeps a themed item from trying too hard!
3 months ago · Like
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conniedial Kitchen is really fun and uplifting! Really like the island color! How would that look with a natural stone counter tops?
3 months ago · Like
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franki7 These colors just make me...happy! franki
3 months ago · Like
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beverlyalbers I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that backsplash! We bought in SW Florida a few years ago and retired here a year ago. Our house is so vanilla it's driving me nuts! I've got hubs talked into a calming turquoise blue for the bedroom that I'm going to take a shade or two darker in the master bath (all bath vanities are white with neutral beige tile in shower and floor), but am thrilled to see the lighter color on the tall ceilinged LR! Was afraid I was going to have to go to a brown there, nope! We also agreed I can use a rich coral in the second bath. Think I'm going to a mossy but rich green in the kitchen, and bright tile like that backsplash would be awesome! Thanks!!!
3 months ago · Like
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noakorem deccolla was able to recollect the first room here, check it out: http://deccolla.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/what-is-caribbean-chic/ 
3 months ago · Like
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patricia beharry Finally, someone did Caribbean decor that that truly reflects reality. Except #5. No one I know would decorate their house like that, and I live in the deep Caribbean. (eastern, southern).
3 months ago · Like
conniedial #5? It is colorful and light..but defintely NO testosterone in THAT room ;))
3 months ago · Like
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barb7918 The bedroom in pic #6 looks so serene. I like the fact that it's not filled to the ceiling with 'stuff'.
3 months ago · Like
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patscats2 Wow, beautiful house. Love the Bermuda room!!
3 months ago · Like
tiachocolate #7 is my favorite. I live in the Caribbean (Ambergris Caye, Belize), and wish all homes looked this fabulous! (including mine! Ha!!)
3 months ago · Like
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ljsrcampbell Where can I find the seahorse pillows in #3?
3 months ago · Like
gschneider We just got back from a short winter vacay in the Bahamas on the Island of Eleuthera. We rented a house from a Brit & they had a lovely design asthetic throughout - especially when it came to blending old usable pieces re-done to go w/ obviously newer purchases. Here's a couple pics of the master bedroom sitting area I took simply because it was just delightful! And even though pink was the main accent color in the bedroom, my husband didn't mind at all because it was so fresh, not contrived & not fussy. The house is called Miss Ruby if anyone is so inclined to visit this area themselves, or even just online at HomeAway to see more interior pictures. (also included pic of house itself & private cove at end of our lane that led to our ocean access. 
3 months ago · Like
oldblackdog In - I think it's #8 - the kitchen with the soapstone counters and mosaic circles backsplash - the intense coral of the cabinets is a gorgeous color. It is similar to a coral shade you find in - of all places - Irish homes ( at least in the west), where it appears to be a refusal to allow grey to dominate.
3 months ago · Like
Nicole White Designs Inc Thanks so much for your amazing feedback. Happy these images and ideas have you thinking of the Caribbean and how to infuse a bit of the islands into your home. Thanks too @Gshneider for sharing those photos from the Bahamas - loved the brit throw pillows!
3 months ago · Like
Nicole White Designs Inc Hi there, please message the designer, Lisa Benbow, for the details on that sea horse pillow: http://www.houzz.com/pro/lbenbow/lisa-benbow-garnish-designs
3 months ago · Like
Mary Kozma I LOVE tropical style and am starting our retirement house decor with pale aqua walls in all public spaces (my neutral). We are going to reflect the climate in Florida. I love the cobalt blue in the deep ocean colors...
2 months ago · Like
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Angela Pascoe #6 and #7 are both on my idea book with #6 as my favorite.
4 weeks ago · Like
Ideabook published on Feb. 26, 2013.
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