Our country is a veritable melting pot of cultures, tastes and traditions. The great thing about this is that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to elements we can introduce into our living spaces that are quintessentially South African. Here are some ideas to get you started…
Rainbow nation – Contrasting colour combinations and bright room colours can help form an exciting backdrop for African-themed furnishings as well as handmade and hand-painted crafts. Think bright yellows, deep oranges and rich reds. And then, of course, there’s the bold combination of black and white to play with.
Muted tones – If an earthier palette is more to your taste, use browns, sandy hues and beige undertones as a backdrop for dark-wood furniture, carved sculptures and natural materials (like woven rugs and baskets, etc).
Wall displays – African masks come in all sorts of sizes, colours, characters and materials. Choose a few to display as a group on a blank wall. Or use woven baskets and wicker plates to the same effect.
Animal prints – From zebra stripes to cheetah spots and Nguni hide, animal prints offer striking patterns to decorate with. Textures that mimic leather and fur are also great for African-themed decorating.
The shape of it – South Africa is part of a beautifully-shaped continent that makes for an awesome décor piece. Bring the ‘Africa’ outline into your space as vinyl art, on canvas, on fabric or fashioned out of wood, metal, etc. Let’s not forget the awesome Jozi skyline either. Silhouette it on wallpaper – the result will look amazing.
King of the blooms – Proteas are hardy, wholesome and automatically infuse home-grown charm into any space. Bring them into your home on a protea-print scatter cushion or table runner, on a coffee mug, tea towel or placemat, or simply pop a bunch into a vase.
Beads at work – You have to invest in at least one ‘beaded’ something if you’re aiming for Proudly South African in your home. And with local artists working their magic on street corners and at craft markets countrywide, there’s almost no limit to what can be constructed from wire and seed beads.
Fabulous fabrics – From shwe-shwe designs to hand-printed fabrics, used as table runners, cloths, cushions, curtains or simply framed for an interesting piece of wall art.
More local must-haves
• Afrocentric candles and candleholders
• Enamelware (mugs, bowls and plates, etc)
• Hand-painted pottery
• The classic, painted ostrich egg
• Vintage tins featuring beloved South African brands (such as Ouma rusks)
• Ndebele dolls
• Wooden (or soapstone) busts and animal figures
• African tumbled gemstones
• Tribal drums (choose a corner in your living or family room to display your collection)
• Windmill art
• Quills and feathers
• A wine rack (because we make the best, of course!)
Have we missed anything? Share your suggestions here…
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