Whether you live in Florida, and would like to reflect the tropical setting in your decor, or would just like to add a touch of the tropics to your home, adding colors and accessories reminiscent of Florida to your home can add a bit of the warmth of the Sunshine State to any room. Does this Spark an idea?
Color
Rooms inspired by Florida reflect the colors of the tropical landscape. Rich greens and tans recall the palm trees that are indigenous to Florida. Bright and dark reds, corals, warm yellows and deep oranges bring in the shades of tropical flowers and fruits that bloom in the sunshine state. Turquoise blue calls to mind the ocean, while whites and creams bring in the sand
Furniture
Tropical decor reminiscent of Florida is about more than just the wicker and rattan pieces that are traditionally used in tropical decorating.
While wicker and rattan certainly have their place in a home with a Florida theme, dig a bit deeper and add pieces that recall Florida's colonial history. Dark woods, pieces with caning, and distressed pieces give a tropical feel that is a bit more substantial.
Family Room Ideas
Give a family room a tropical Floridian flair by adding wicker accent pieces, such as occasional tables and chairs alongside an upholstered sofa in a bright or rich color. Display art and accessories that reflect the Florida theme, such as tropical houseplants, botanical prints, or collections of found Florida objects, like shells, driftwood or beach glass. Use a natural fiber area rug, such as sisal, to tie it all together.
Dining Room Ideas
The dining room is the perfect place for furniture with a Florida feel. Cane-bottom dining chairs with turned wood legs recall colonial Florida, while a glass-top table with wicker or rattan chairs have a more modern Florida look. Dining rooms are great canvases for bold colors. Bring a touch of the tropics in by painting walls a bright red or yellow.
Bedroom Ideas
Make your Florida-themed bedroom a tropical retreat with a four-poster bed in a rich wood that recalls the master bedrooms of Florida's colonial past. Add a gauzy canopy for extra tropical inspiration and glamor. Light or bright colors on the walls and on the bed linens make a perfect contrast to a heavy, dark bed and other furniture.
Expert Insight
Interior designer Linda Woodrum, who worked on HGTV's 2008 Dream Home, located in Florida, gives some insight on the design she created for the tropical-themed home.
In the family room, Woodrum says "we used tropical foliage, dark floors, white walls, lots of wicker and cane, shells, matchstick blinds and flowing white linen drapes."
A guest bedroom features a black four-poster bed with white linens against a bright green wall. "I think you feel like you have awakened in the middle of a rain forest," says Woodrum.
Tags: wicker rattan, Florida colonial, Florida theme, pieces that, reminiscent Florida