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Global decor style


Why Global Style Is the Perfect Interior Design Trend for Quarantine

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By Kelsey Machado

Do you suffer from wanderlust? Have a collection of mementos from your world travels? Love the look of well-worn rugs, the thumbed-through pages of an old book, and the sagging seat of your favorite chair? Then “global” is the interior design style for you. It’s all about texture, culture, and comfort. By gathering inspiration from around the world, you can satisfy that wanderlust without ever leaving home.

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Principles

Photo by Lauren Mancke on Unsplash

Global as an interior design style is exactly what it sounds like — a home filled with objects, patterns, textures, and colors inspired by cultures from around the world. For travelers, history buffs, and nomads at heart, global is a reflection of one’s love and appreciation for the skill and craftsmanship that goes into creating each piece, whether it’s a handmade woven rug or a piece of hand-carved furniture. It’s a way to remember favorite destinations, display your family’s culture and history, or it can act as an aspirational look for places you hope to explore someday.

While global has often been associated with Ernest Hemingway and the signature look that made up his Key West home, it can be more than that. While Hemingway curated mostly dark, heavy wood furniture, this style can also be bright and airy depending on what part of the world inspires you most. Countries like Norway and Portugal feature interiors that are crisp and welcoming, thanks to monotone color palettes. On the other hand, you can go colorfully bold by drawing on inspiration from Morocco or India. Or head to the water by incorporating Mediterranean vibes or the tropical colors of the Pacific islands or the Caribbean.

There are no hard and fast rules for global décor. It is whatever you make it. Whereas other styles have a clear theme to build around, this look is beautifully and proudly eclectic. The key is to honor the cultures that inspire you and slowly build the design in a thoughtful way.

Architecture

Photo by Collov Home Design on Unsplash

Global is similar to the maximalism trend in that it did not spring from a specific architectural style. Instead, it grew organically in the early 1900s as world travelers brought home pieces from their explorations. This included everything from furniture to textiles, and often a single room of the home was carved out to become a miniature museum. Today, pieces can be sourced straight from artisans around the world without ever having to get off of the couch.

The unique part about global style is that you can make it your own. There are no rules to curating a worldly home and, because it is not connected to a single architectural movement, this style will work in almost any space. Whatever your home looks like on the outside — minimalist or maximalist, classic architecture or mid-century modern — it all can be outfitted with a global-inspired interior.

Like maximalism, global doesn’t have to stick to one type of architectural style, but it is enhanced by incorporating unique architectural elements into your space. Love the look of the Moorish horseshoe arch? You can install corbels in doorways to mimic that design. Or maybe you like the intricate jali wrought iron of classic Indian furniture. This makes for visually intriguing staircase railings.

For an authentic worldly look, exposed ceiling beams are seen in everything from English Tudors to Japanese tea houses to Spanish Mission homes. It’s an architectural element that can be faked if your space doesn’t already have this feature. Just grab some “ornamental” beams from a place like Lowe’s, and you can have a brand-new look in a weekend.

If there is one space every global-inspired home should have, it’s a library. After all, you need a place to keep your travel guides, coffee table books, and photos from your adventures. This doesn’t have to be a whole room, although kudos to you if you have the space! A home library can be as simple as a bookcase, a comfy armchair, a lamp, and a side table. The library is an essential spot for the global-minded gentleman — it’s the contemplation place to remember past travels and plan future expeditions. Bonus points if you can fit in a bar cart, so a tumbler of bourbon is always close at hand.

Furniture, Colors, and Patterns

Photo by Orlova Maria on Unsplash

Global is such an appealing style because it is open to interpretation. When you think of your favorite spots around the world, do you imagine azure seas, palm trees, and white sand beaches? Go with bright coastal colors, woven rattan seating, and natural fiber area rugs. Do you think of the snow-capped mountains, deep green forests, and rough waters of Scandinavia? Bring in plush area rugs, light wood furniture, and incorporate a monotone color palette of whites and beiges. This can be a bright and welcoming style or dark and cozy. It’s all up to you.

Color palettes can be tricky to get right, especially with a style like global that has no hard rules. The key is building off of a few pieces you already have. If you found the perfect Moroccan tiles to use as a fireplace surround, pull those colors to use as a basis for selecting accessory décor items like throw pillows, drapes, and artwork.

Some design styles work best when a single species of wood is used throughout the space. For people who want more variety, global loves mixed timber. Get yourself a mahogany writing desk in a Hemingway style, some bamboo bookshelves, and an oak coffee table. While you can shop for brand new pieces, part of the fun of this style is hunting for that one-of-a-kind find, so take your time to select the right pieces that you’ll love for years to come.

Patterns are a great way to add visual interest to your space and further enhance the carefully cultivated look of global style. Many cultures tell stories through their patterns. The Japanese have a rich history of using tapestries to share their fables and legends. The Portuguese use the blue and white azulejo tiles to tell their history, and Native American tribes share their religion through woven rugs, blankets, and baskets. When incorporating these pieces, go straight to the source to support the artisans who are telling their own stories.

Furniture is key to perfecting the global look. No standard shelves from Ikea, this is a chance to curate one-of-a-kind pieces from unique shops. Thankfully the internet means you don’t need to travel to Africa to get a woven tapestry direct from the maker. And no more weekends at antique markets looking for the perfect travel trunk to turn into a coffee table.

Global design might seem hard to put together because of the endless possibilities, but the key is to build off of the focal point in each room. This is typically going to be the largest piece of furniture in the room, like the dining table, or a statement piece such as a sculpture or painting. Look at the colors, patterns, and texture of that focal piece and go from there. As for where to source the pieces, that’s easier than you think too. It’s all there at the touch of a button if you know where to look.

Where to Shop

With a wide range of options to choose from, global-inspired pieces can be found in surprising places. From nationwide box stores to online specialty boutiques that source directly from the makers, global is one design style that can be put together on any budget.

Target

It’s no secret that Target has a cult following amongst millennial moms who go crazy for their home décor, and that’s for good reason. The chain has seriously stepped up its style game in the last decade, offering items that are on trend with good quality and affordable prices. This may not be the place to get large furniture pieces, but it is the best spot for those stylish little tchotchkes that can help finish off a space. Scroll through the “Decorative Objects” section to find woven baskets, nature-inspired sculptures, and a wide variety of globes (is it really “global” style if you don’t have an actual globe on display?).

Novica

Novica isn’t so much a store to shop but rather a single place that brings artisans directly to consumers. Since its founding in 1999, the company has sent over $108 million dollars directly to makers in every corner of the world. You can find just about anything for your home at Novica. Part of the fun of exploring this site is getting to learn the story of the person who made the pieces you are purchasing. The site makes it easy to shop by region of the world, and from there, you can narrow down exactly what you are looking for, whether it’s a lamp, a piece of furniture, or throw pillows.

54kibo

Just like any other design trend, global style has evolved over the years. In the early days of the movement, African art was at the forefront. In the middle of the 20th century, Asian themes became more popular, followed by Scandinavian décor in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Today, it’s once again all about Africa. 54kibo was developed with this in mind. Founded by Ghana-born, South African-raised Nana Quagraine, the company is similar to Novica, sourcing hand-crafted pieces direct from artisans. Pieces from 54kibo are contemporary, fresh, and bold. And just like at Novica, 54kibo includes an artist bio so you can read about the real person behind each piece.

Froy

Froy may be widely known for its striking line of mid-century modern furnishings, but the company’s area rugs are perfect for a global style space. Offering everything from Moroccan to Ikat Indian pieces, the high-end quality Froy has built its reputation on extends to these rugs.

Editors' Recommendations

So Your Style Is: Global

Exotic and alluring, global style takes its inspiration from points north, south, east and west.

Are you ready to embark on the trip?

What it is: Global style goes far beyond maps on the wall and trinkets on the shelf. Richly layered and very personal, it honors the customs, cultures and resources of countries around the planet and blends their nuances into a worldly, well-traveled whole.

Why it works: A global interior promises adventure and thrills us with the exotic. It connects us both with places we've been and places we've only dreamed of going — a virtual trip to the far corners of the earth but with no shots, packing or passport required.

You'll love it if ... You tear through travel guides the way others devour juicy novels. Your spice rack holds sumac, annatto and custom curry blends. You've taken foreign language lessons just for fun. You can fit a month's worth of trip supplies into a single duffel bag. Disney's "It's a Small World" song doesn't drive you batty — much.

The Approach: Neutral Territory
Although most of us tend to think of global interiors as bright and bold, this bedroom proves that you can pull off the look with neutrals too. A suzani-print coverlet, a rustic night table, sculptural case goods and ornate curtains add up to a bedroom that showcases strata of pattern and texture despite its subdued palette.

Spin the globe: Build subtle color into a monochromatic scheme to elevate it. In this bedroom, for example, a kilim on the floor, a Turkish tile doorway surround and a handful of Iznik plates on the walls could pick up the red of the chandelier and create a Turkish effect with the decor.

Horchow

The Approach: Saucy Color
In contrast to the previous space, this one goes all out with sizzling hues: hibiscus pink, pomegranate red, vivid turquoise, electric lime. The joy of global interiors is that there's no such thing as clashing colors or patterns — they wear their differences proudly. The key to transcending culture shock lies in the confidence to combine brilliant hues without restraint.

Spin the globe: The dining table, chairs and pendant lamp in this room lay a basic foundation that lends itself to additional global notes. Swapping the pendant for a Moroccan lantern or an ornate Italian chandelier, and topping the table with bamboo mats or a bark-cloth runner, would ratchet up its exotic flavor.

TINEKE TRIGGS

The Approach: A Standout Pattern
Take away the wing chairs and this office would feel like a modern-eclectic hybrid. But the suzani fabric that dresses their backs takes the look on a journey to central Asia. It's so eye catching that it dominates the design and imbues the space with global chic.

Spin the globe: For additional layers of worldly style in a room like this, you could have a little fun with textiles. Upholster the fronts of the wing chairs in an ikat or batik print, and drape Indian sari fabric or African kente cloth along the windows. Swapping the art for a grouping of tribal masks or a Balinese mirror would round out the jaunt abroad.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

The Approach: Exotic Collections
Nothing evokes a sense of place more viscerally than iconic objects and one-of-a-kind mementoes: statuary, handicrafts, artwork. Display these treasures proudly and prominently. Not only do they tell the story of the points from which they came, but they can tell your story as well.

Spin the globe: Collections always have strength in numbers, but you can approach a global grouping one of two ways. You can mix and match a potpourri of items you love (don't worry about coordinating — things that have personal meaning have a way of working together). Or you can mass like objects together in a single spot, such as a wall filled with a display of carved masks or handwoven baskets.

Philpotts Interiors

The Approach: One Signature Piece
Some furnishings, such as this Asian-style daybed, are so distinctive that they deserve pride of place. Given an upbeat twist with Wedgwood blue paint and juxtaposed against a quiet background of neutral colors and minimal patterns, the daybed rules the room with an imperial air. It's so strong that the space reads as Eastern, even though it really isn't.

Spin the globe: A few simple swaps would give this room another level of pan-Asian flair. The sculpture hanging behind the daybed might give way to a Vietnamese woodblock print; the stools, to a pair of Indonesian rain drums. A Japanese basket light in place of the sconce would diversify the room's textures.

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

The Approach: Outdoor Rooms
So many far-flung locales conjure up images of warm, tropical gardens or primitive woodlands. This slim balcony draws from all across the map: a Balinese-influenced chair, a pair of Asian elephants, a cheerful rug that calls to mind a serape, with a tangle of foliage curling in to give the setting a lushly verdant feel.

Spin the globe: With a few different furnishings and plantings, this al fresco haven could be reinvented as a Mexican or Central American retreat. Imagine it with a colorfully painted, chunky wooden chair, handmade terra-cotta pots and a scrolled wrought iron railing entwined with bougainvillea.

The Approach: Piles of Pattern
Perhaps no other style lends itself to the marriage of multiple patterns as well as global. This sitting area combines three completely different upholstery prints, anchored by the ikat chair and blended with such moxie that they look right at home together. The intricate detailing on the star-shaped side table adds another dimension to the space.

Spin the globe: As lovely as this pattern interplay looks, you can also take the reverse approach: a single type of pattern carried throughout the room in different ways. How striking would this scene look if it were layered in ikat fabrics with nuances in scale and pigment?

The Approach: Spice Tones
From cinnamon to coriander to chicory, spices transport us instantly to tropical islands and faraway forests. Infuse their heady resonance into a room by drawing upon their colors. Try vivid turmeric and saffron yellows, paprika and cayenne reds, fennel and cardamom greens or dusty nutmeg browns.

Spin the globe: The deep orange sets this nook aglow, and the Oriental rug extends the color into the space and helps to establish the global overtones. But imagine how stunning it would look taken one step further — perhaps with a teak plantation chair or Javanese bench presiding over the corner and rustic Latin American pottery displayed on the tables.

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Boho style in the interior: features, nuances and diversity

How to combine the atmosphere of relaxation and dynamism at home? It is these two features that are best embodied in the interior of the boho style. It is called controlled chaos and is considered the quintessence of eclecticism. To do this, you need creativity and enthusiasm, as well as a lot of bright decorative accessories.

Let's get acquainted with the eternal holiday with a touch of the lightness of being closer and start with history.

History of occurrence

In the Middle Ages, the western part of the Czech Republic was called Bohemia. The French believed that the gypsies came to them from there, which is why they called them "bohemians." In fact, the nomadic people came to Europe in the XIII century from India. At the beginning of the 19th century, struggling with financial difficulties, artists and musicians began to move to the poorest gypsy districts of Paris. Freedom, poverty and carelessness of the gypsies seemed attractive to them. They romanticized a life of suffering for great art, dreamed of freedom and condemned the inhabitants, tied to material wealth and driven into a strict framework of rules of conduct and social norms. The new artistic lifestyle was strongly associated with the Bohemian subculture without reference to any nationality.

Over the course of a century, boho has changed significantly. In the 50s, he was inspired by the Beatles, in the 60s and 70s by hippies, and since the 2000s he has been actively mixing with the Scandinavian style.

Boho highlights

Embodiment of globalization

Modern boho is no longer a protest and a desire for freedom, but a global style. It has everything: India, Morocco, Latin America, tribes of Africa and American Indians, Slavic and Scandinavian folklore. The mixing of different cultures began with the hippies of the 60s.

Variety and abundance

An obvious feature of the interior is its diversity. Among decorative elements made of wood, metal, plastic, glass, velvet, silk and jute, in perfect harmony, there is no place for boredom. Contrasts of texture and color create a special charm. The house has a lot of carpets made of natural fibers, baskets, paintings and tapestries, figurines and small accessories.

Color

In the photo: decorative pillow with fringe and appliqué From the Ethnic collection, Knat -knitted saffron cotton and plaid of pearl knitting olive -colored clap from the Essential collection, Bachrom pillow . Ethnic collections

Deep and rich shades are mixed in the bohemian interior: red, mustard, pink, terracotta, emerald, sapphire. Boho can be safely considered the most striking style, while the space will be comfortable and will not leave you indifferent.

To reduce the degree of brightness, a mixture of boho and Scandinavian style began. So, laconic white walls and a gray floor appeared in the interior as an ideal basis for eye-catching accessories and textiles.

Prints and textures

Pictured: Jaipur cotton carpet from the Ethnic collection, duvet cover in mustard linen from the Essential collection

A variety of textures and materials is welcome. Feel free to combine the brilliance of satin and the dullness of wool, the rigidity of a wicker chair and the enveloping velvet bedspreads, the roughness of a leather pouffe and the conciseness of curtains, the variegation of decorative pillows and the openwork of a knitted tablecloth. So the interior will get a special depth. Ethnic motifs, graphic patterns look especially organic here and are found everywhere in decorative textiles and accessories.

Carpets and decorative cushions

Blossom time print double-sided cushion cover with Cuts&Pieces tassels, Cotton funky dots print cushion cover Cuts&Pieces blue-grey,

Pictured: Kubu mirror Dutchbone brand

The boho-style interior has something like a museum or an art gallery, where all the treasures that the owner has been collecting around the world for decades are exhibited. Paintings and posters, a variety of wall decor and ethnic masks can coexist on the same wall. As a wall decoration, pay attention to the mirror in the shape of the sun, it is especially relevant now.

In the photo: cushion cover with Siberian flower print , embroidery and decorative edging from the Russian North collection, cushion cover with ethnic ornament from the Ethnic collection.

Many small items can be stored in practical baskets, so the room will be more organized. Historically, they are always appropriate in the boho style. And pillows are useful not only on the sofa or bed, but also on the floor.

Green plants

Pictured: Botanique flower pot by Dutchbone, Chemistry terrarium by SUCK UK

Bohemian decor is inspired by the world of nomadic life, so nature is sure to find its place in it. Designers say that a boho-style room should look like a jungle. Use plant stands, hangers, or planters to add greenery to the space.

Scandi-boho made succulents especially relevant because of their unpretentious care.

Furniture

In the photo: Thimon chest of drawers, natural oak/print 003 by The IDEA

The founders of this trend, gypsies and artists, did not have money for new furniture. They used what they found, adapted and remade unexpected objects for themselves. Therefore, in the interior, all the furniture is heterogeneous, from different eras, styles and colors. Retro options are now relevant, which are especially numerous in the Scandinavian style.

Curtains

All kinds of curtains, curtains are used not only on windows, but also as space dividers. A bamboo curtain or screen replaces the door. Macrame is gradually leaving boho, and fringe is replacing it. It decorates soft, less often frame furniture or decorative textiles.

Simple tips for creating a boho style interior

  1. Make the most of natural materials: rattan, wood, linen.
  2. An abundance of decorative textiles is welcome: carpets, blankets, pillows, different textures and colors.
  3. Spice up your space with travel souvenirs, straw hats or an old suitcase.
  4. The string of lights will create a particularly cozy atmosphere in the bedroom, reminiscent of hippie style.
  5. Hanging chairs and hanging plants bring lightness to busy interiors.
  6. Everything is acceptable in boho style! In addition to nickel-plated parts and frankly innovative items.

fusion interior style, global interior | Curtains

Interior style fusion is a combination of opposite styles of room decoration.

The name of the fusion style comes from the English fusion - mixing, merging and is a mixture of different styles and trends in one interior design. Fusion connects the unconnected and destroys the accepted stereotypes.

A feature of the fusion interior style is that harmony is created where previously it seemed unthinkable, this is the creation between objects of various colors and elements of harmonious connections. This style originated in the early 1990s in the United States of America under the influence of the intersection of different cultures, traditions and times. Fusion style is also called global interior .

Mixing everything with everything, fusion styles and trends quickly took root and became popular. But in such a mixture there is also a danger, since the line between originality and bad taste is very thin and you need to be a professional so as not to cross this line.

The main advantage of the fusion style is its unpredictability. In this style, you can safely combine, for example, classic style with ethnic style, and empire style with hi-tech. You can, for example, arrange heavy classic furniture and high-tech organza curtains.

There are no clear horizontal and vertical lines, no division of premises into zones and functionality of use. So, for example, a kitchen can be combined with a living room, a bedroom with a library, a veranda with a winter garden. Fusion-style rooms are equally suitable for receiving guests and for a secluded pastime.

The main condition of interior style fusion is not overloaded with details, spaciousness and lightness. It is necessary that all the details of the interior: furniture, decorative elements, finishing materials, color and shapes combine into a whole organic living space.

Mandatory attributes of this style is an abundance of free space and a large amount of daylight. A characteristic feature of the fusion style are arched openings, large windows, rounded shapes of the ceiling box, textured ceilings, polished and rough surfaces, wood of different species and several types of wallpaper. In the fusion interior style, freedom of color and material is proclaimed.

Only through this global interior it became possible to fit a modern gas stove into the traditional kitchen interior, and hang a masterpiece of fine art of the 19th century next to the plasma TV.

Drapery is one of the main tools of the fusion style. Only in this style of interior there is such a large abundance of fabric. Numerous curtains, muslin curtains, heavy curtains, alcove curtains, pillows, carpets, animal skins - these are all the elements that bring the interior to a common harmonious denominator and simply transform your home.

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