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Decorating your Home with African Art

Being the second largest continent in the world, Africa is as beautiful as it is diverse and is constantly changing. Believed to be a name originated from the latin word ‘aprica’, which means sunny, Africa is home to a large number of ancient tribes. Due to this, the tradition, culture, art forms, music form and religious practices of each tribe varies from country to country. Scientists also believe that Africa is the original home of the human race and the foundation of today’s civilization.

This vast ocean of culture, tradition and art forms have captivated the attention of lot of people and African art has found its way into our daily lives, especially in the decoration of one’s home. The African theme is a very popular decorating art with its wide range of soothing color options and earthy fabrics and other art choices. Whether a person is looking to decorate a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, a baby’s room or even the whole house, using an African theme can change the look of the entire house into a faraway haven.

African artifacts include subtle animal prints, masks, statues and rich nature-based color tones. Using these tribal treasures, a room or even an entire home can be given a warm and wonderful ambiance. The most popular of African decor art is masks. African tribal masks are available in a variety of colors like bright red, green, orange, blue or dark wood shades. These masks can be placed in the living room coupled with African statues and smaller masks, teak furniture and several animal print rugs. The colors of these masks can be co-ordinated with the sofas in the living room. These masks also look great as the dining room decor with a beautiful nature inspired table linen cloth placed on a dark wood dining table along with an African mask on the wall. The master bedroom can be drastically altered by strategically placing a few ancient masks on the wall and draping the four poster bed with animal print bed linen. This decorating theme can be extended into the bathrooms also.

In case an individual is looking for African art on a budget then there are cheap options available in a large number of shops selling home decor items like antique stores, flea markets or thrift shops. Although, the items that an individual might get at these stores may not be genuine African art. In case an individual is particular about getting genuine African art forms, then the local auction house can help and at a relatively less expensive cost and also in good condition. Another option to ensure that the art is genuine African art is to consult an antique professional.

Creative Decorating Ideas for Your Home

Home decor has assumed such huge business proportions that there are companies and individual firms dealing with just decorating a house. Home decorating has become a specialized field with experts advising on the kind of home decor best suited to your home. However, you are the best judge of how to decorate your home as you are living there and understand best the kind of amenities and other needs.

Over the years families have become smaller and so have homes. While decorating a home you should always keep in mind the space available in your home, the storage space that you will need and the fact that the decoration you choose for your home does not affect its functionality. Another major aspect to consider while decorating your home is your budget. Home decoration need not be expensive and at the same time can be very effective. The only thing required is creativity to utilize the space to its maximum capacity. The motto while decorating your home should be ‘No available space should be unused or under used.’

One way of creating an illusion of space is to use glass. Glass in its various forms can add elegance to a home. Add a piece of stained glass on the living room wall or a small bedroom can be made to look big by adding a huge mirror glass to the opposite wall of the bed. If your taste bends towards the rustic look, you could use earthy colors on the walls and add furniture made out of hardwood that has a rough look about it. This will add a very country type of look to your home. A tasteful blend of various styles and textures added with accessories and furniture from different origins and period can give your home an eclectic look.

In case you are looking for a very Indian traditional type of decor, a low bed seating with dark earthy shades or even furniture made out of cane wood with light and earthy wall colors can do wonders for your home. However, if your personality is more outdoorsy and you like the sun and wind, you can use floral prints on your sofa covers and table linen, plump cushions in bright colors and soft furniture with pine and oak. A city person who loves the modern way of living can use clean lines and simple contour and bold colors. Uncomplicated furniture of either glass, slate and metal define the home decor of such a person.

These are a few decorating styles that you can work with as suits your personality. You can also add curtains in soft shades with any of these styles of decorating and make your home the reality of your dreams.

Innovative ideas for choosing color Schemes for your Home

An expensive sofa set with high end products to spice up the interior look of an your home can all go to waste if the correct wall colors are not selected to offset the decorative look. Color co-ordination with the style of home, look of home, personality of the people who live in that home is necessary to achieve that picture perfect look for your home. Choosing a color scheme can be confusing what with all the different colors and the textures available in the market. It can be an imposing task to choose the right wall color that matches with the decor you have chosen for your home. A few but innovative ideas can help you choose the correct color scheme for your home.

In the event you are moving into a new home and have the option of decorating your home from scratch then, starting with choosing the style of your home can give you a good idea of which colors might best suit your decorating needs. Next, you can get on to choosing the fabrics to suit your sofa sets, table linen, bed linen etc. Out of these, fabric should serve as the anchor fabric. The background color of this fabric can be used as the wall color. The brightest color in the fabric can be used for accessories and the mid tone color in the fabric can be used to make large furniture pieces or even the flooring. However, a choice of 3 colors will suffice for the living room. To get the maximum effect for a brighter room, you should use the background light color in 60% of the space available including furniture and accessories, the mid-tone color in 30% of the space and the brightest color in only about 10% of the space.

Another way to decide the color scheme of your house would be to decide the geographical direction of each and every room, the amount of natural light allowed in the room during the day time and size and the utility of the room. For example mild or light colors can be used for a room facing north as this room receives the minimum of natural light while a west facing room can have a side wall with a bright color as the natural light in the room during the day would be the maximum. However, again if this room is the master bedroom or the guest bedroom a bright color might be too strong and create too much visual stimulation.

Also, if the size of the room or the house is small then using bright shades can make the room look even smaller. Use of lighter colors gives the illusion of space. The color of the furniture and accessories can then be decided to suit the color of the walls.

New Decorating Trends

As people’s lives get busier and busier, a home is not just another place to sleep at night. A home has become a place of peace, a place to relax and rejuvenate for another busy and stressful day. With this in mind, more and more people are looking to decorate their homes in a way where a home is simple, functional, low maintenance and yet elegant, warm and inviting.

As with everything else, people’s demand sets the trend on decoration and some of the latest decorating trends ensure that a home gives maximum functionality, minimum maintenance and looks warm and creative without being loud and opulent. Hand crafted furniture and accessories like intricately carved statues and metal with detailed scroll work is in high demand this season. Leather furniture combined with different fabrics to create different textures is also in high demand.

Another trend that has caught on with homeowners are do-it-yourself projects like home made lamp shades, self woven curtains, hand made sofa throws and even hand knitted table cloths. A traditional decor which looks colorful and elegant is also in this season. Furniture pieces reflecting nature like bamboo flooring, and rattan furniture have also caught attention. Along side this, ethnic furniture from different countries, traditions and periods are in demand. Mild wall colors like beige and gold with warm browns and pumpkin spice or even shades of blues and greens offset in a neutral background are the choice of the season for their soothing feel.

As far as furniture is concerned, huge bulky furniture is out and multi-purpose and space saving furniture is in, which gives maximum storage. Narrower sofas, coffee tables doubling as dining tables or small dining tables with stool chairs are in to save space. Functional art like design lighting has become a popular option for small homes where different light sculptures serve the need of lighting as well as add a decorative piece of art to the room. Most of the home decor making a come back this season is artistic with curves rather than straight lines and clean cuts.

Another decorative and functional item making a big comeback this season is room divider screen. With homes getting smaller, making wooden doors can substantially reduce space. A room divider screen can be put into place when the need arises to separate two portions of a home and can be removed to enlarge the space and make it look like a big room. Another popular functional decor is the counter height bistro table which adds a casual touch to the dining atmosphere allowing the family to relax and have a quick meal.

With these new decorating trends, a home can be made multi-functional and multi-purpose while at the same time giving it a spacious and clutter free look.

The Spiritual History of the African Mask

The creation and history of the African Mask is one steeped in meaning and tradition. The art of carving the African mask was often taught to young men who were apprenticed to master carvers. In other cases, the art of making masks and sculptures to be used in spiritual ceremonies was passed down in families from one generation to the next.

Rich with symbolic meaning, the African mask was treasured for its spiritual quality, as opposed to its aesthetic appearance. People living in different parts of African would produce art unique to their own culture. Here are some fascinating examples:

The Goma Mask

The Goma African mask was produced by people living near Lake Tanganyika, which is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This style of mask is elongated, with a dome at the top of the face. This style of mask also features a pattern of shapes carved into the forehead and face.

The Punu Mask

This style of African mask captures what is considered a beautiful female face by Gabon’s Punu tribe. This style features hair pulled up high on top of the head, with eyes carved in a shape that reminds one of an Asian woman. A Punu mask is sometimes painted white to represent the spirits of long-dead ancestors.

The Ligbi Mask

This celebratory African mask comes from the Ivory Coast. It features an elongated shape with wings on the side. The mouth is carved in the shape of a rectangle. Ligbi masks are used as part of Islamic holiday celebrations.

The Baule Mask

The Baule people carve African masks to be worn while dancing during harvest festivals. The mask’s round shape is a reminder of the Sun, the source of all life. These people respect the tremendous power possessed by the water buffalo which is represented by the horns carved into the top of the mask.

The remarkable thing about the African mask is that each culture has created a unique version to represent the spirit of its tribe. Today westerners appreciate the African Mask for its history, artistry, and ability to represent the owners unique taste and appreciate of diverse cultures.

Creation and Communication in a Djembe Drum

The African Djembe drum is a traditional instrument that is used for communication, healing, and the spiritual joy inspired by movement. A Djembe drum is an African percussion instrument which the player holds between their legs. A strap attached to the drum is placed around the musician’s neck to stabilize the instrument while being played. Some players choose to sit with the drum tilted slightly forward.

Today’s Djembe drum is fashioned out of wood from the Djem tree. The wood is carved into an hourglass shape in one piece using a method that has been carefully handed down through the generations. The method of creation is important since the artists believe that drums made from several pieces don’t have the soul of the tree in them. The soulful aspect of this instrument is essential to the musicians who use it. To complete the aesthetic and acoustic properties of the djembe drum goat, antelope, zebra, or calf skin is stretched over the top of the drum; this is referred to as “be” skin. The name “Djembe” is taken from the combination of the two words.

The drum is played with bare hands; part of the experience of playing a djembe drum is in the tactile nature of the experience. The thickness of the wood and the quality of the skin chosen to fashion it both affect the tone of the instrument when completed, and the feel experience by the musician.

The Djembe Drum as a Means of Communication

The Djembe drum was originally used as a way to send signals to other tribes since its sound could carry over great distances. In some cases, several drummers, working in a type of sound relay, would send important messages throughout the continent using this method.

A Healing Drum

The Djembe drum has been used as part of healing ceremonies for centuries. The sound of the Djembe drum is soothing to the spirit, and it is also known to inspire dance and movement. Modern people are rediscovering how comforting the rhythm of a Djembe drum can be; this instrument is being used at corporate team-building functions to bring harmony to the group. Playing the drum is also a great way to relieve stress – it can be argued that people have plenty of that these days. The combined beauty, intrinsic soulful feeling, and heart-pounding rhythm this djembe drum represents explains its continued popularity throughout the ages.

Basic Ideas of Home Interior Decoration

Decorating your home to make it look great, match your style, your choice and overall architecture of the home is Home Interior Decoration. The basic objective of home interior decoration is to have your home done in a way so as to reflect the best of your taste and personality along with giving it a unique dimension. A properly decorated home gives it a personalized feel.

Home interior decoration and interior design are distinctively different. The former focuses on finishing decoration using wallpapers, furnishing, paint, fixtures etc. Interior design, on the other hand, is more related to architecture integration involving spacing for cabinets, lofts, room layouts and other design parameters etc, in addition to home decoration activities.

Looking back at history, it can be seen that the concept of home interior decoration evolved in Paris and London in the late 18th century. The concept has refined over time and it has always been the quest of the industry to find most innovative and attractive home decoration solutions at most reasonable costs.

Professional Interior Designers/Decorators specialize in home interior decoration. Few Architects also practice this. Studies show that nearly 65% of home improvement cost is attributable to home interior decoration. Spending is fast expanding in new areas like modular kitchens, bath accessories and individual designer rooms and spaces for different purposes and for different members of the family.

Massage suites, spa areas, media space, craft rooms, wine cellars and home library areas are gaining popularity. Moving away from the earlier themes of luxury rooms, people are now shifting preferences for creating definition areas.

Earthly, natural and warm brown tones of colors are beginning to get preference over the vibrant and loud colors of the past. Blue and gray hues are more sought after today than the dull reds and dark blues of the past.

New highly placed career professionals and newly married couples are going for innovative home interior decoration ideas which not only cost less but also give the impression of an ornate design scheme to spruce up their homes.

Life-styling has come of age. It has given home interior decoration industry a tremendous boost. Eclectic decoration styles are on the rise. The High Tech and Shabby Chic is steadily replacing the good old Victorian or the Early American!

Uniqueness, good looks, functionality, harmony are the new buzz words in the home decoration industry. Trends are rapidly evolving as man continues their unending quest to present a more personalized statement of his lifestyle. The industry is highly dynamic, constantly fine tuning and positioning it with the emerging requirements. The trend has a firm footing and is expected to stay. Tracking the changes and keeping abreast with the developments hold the key to success.

Decorating with African Art Creates Soulful Environments

Decorating with African art brings a unique look to your home or office. A number of options are available and you can feature one interesting piece or showcase an entire room in this style.

Choosing a Single Piece When Decorating with African Art

When you are planning your room, you may want to start with a single piece of art. Decorating with African art doesn’t have to be elaborate. You can start with a colorful batik wall hanging in bright colors, a hand-painted Korhogo cloth, or a Gabon mask. If you prefer not to display the art on your walls, you still have a number of options for decorating with African art. Since the piece you choose can represent your unique inner spirit; the options are highly individual and virtually endless.

Small pieces can add interest to your decor as well. Good choices include a hand-carved kisii stone elephant, a decoupage vase, or a carved chess set featuring animal pieces. Ebony bowls are available at reasonable prices and a “talking drum” displayed in your room will be certain to get conversations going.

Kisii Stone Plate Centers a Room

Another striking choice when decorating with African art is a kisii stone plate. This material is also known as soapstone. A multicolored effect is created by applying natural dyes to the surface of the stone. The stone absorbs the colors, making a kisii stone plate a wonderful option for decorating with African art. The piece can be hung on a wall or displayed on a table or a shelf using a stand.

Supporting African Artists

Another great reason for decorating with African art is that by buying these pieces, you are supporting the talented artisans who created them. Artists put their heart and soul into the items they draw, paint, weave, or fashion; and we give them a wonderful acknowledgment for their efforts by buying these items. The artist also benefits from the financial support we provide to them by buying their artwork.

Any decorative element you choose speaks loudly about your inner spirit, tastes, and style. Decorating with African Art gives you the chance to express your flair, passions, or social commentary without uttering a single word.

Stumbles for March 1, 2008

Home Decorating Tips Using Mirrors | AfrikBoutik

Mirrors can significantly enhance the beauty of any room by using their light reflection properties. They can add depth to any closed space like a small room and focus any beautiful object to create a unique aura.

Stumbles for February 29, 2008

Recharge Your Home With Your Own Decorating Ideas | AfrikBoutik

Nice blog about African Art & Home Decorating.