Having interiors wanderlust means paying homage to other cultures and cherry-picking what works for where you are and your lifestyle. It’s called global style and it’s proudly eclectic
If you’ve ever schlepped home a suitcase full of mementoes from your travels, such as a rug from Morocco or a Balinese wood carving and proudly displayed it somewhere in your house, you’re part-way to achieving global style.
If you’re tempted to go further and paint your walls terracotta to simulate the colours of Marrakesh, you’re really getting into the swing of things.
Global style is best done when you’re inspired to use a few elements from a particular country that can be assimilated into your existing decor. If you’ve mastered one look, combining elements of other destinations is next-level. Then it becomes style with a global kick and helps tell the story of who you are.
Seamless integration of worldly finds from across the earth is when global style is most elevated, and that’s when you create something well and truly your own. And these days, of course, you don’t even need to have holidayed in Japan to channel the Zen feel of a beautiful handcrafted teapot – if you can’t find what you’re looking for locally, international shipping is your best friend.
It’s important that you aim for cultural appreciation, not appropriation. Supporting local artists goes a long way to paying respect and giving profits back to their communities, but anything sacred to a culture, such as Native American headdresses, should be respected and left alone, not tokenised or used for aesthetic purposes. A good litmus test is to ask yourself if you would be embarrassed should a person from that country walk into your house. If the answer is yes, it’s time to rethink your technique.
If you want to appreciate another culture, here are a few ideas of how to incorporate traces of these rich, historic traditions into your interiors to create something unique.
Morocco
Somehow, when we think of Moroccan style, it’s invariably the beautiful terracotta colours of Marrakesh that come to mind. Go with it and use rich handwoven rugs, intricately patterned floor tiles, terracotta pots, pouffes and brass lights to further channel riad chic.
Scandinavia
This is one of the easiest and most striking styles to emulate. Pristine white walls, Wishbone dining chairs, natural unstained wood, white painted floors with luxe, muted rugs, and a sheepskin here and there and it’s job done.
India
Fashion maven Diana Vreeland once said, “Pink is the navy blue of India.” So what are you waiting for? With vibrant colours, carved and inlaid furniture, heavily patterned and embroidered textiles and copper touches you’ll be channelling Mumbai before you know it.
Greece
White and blue everything, with simple rush-seat chairs and old metal tomato cans full of basil for decoration. Bougainvillea is mandatory.
Bali
We’re already masters at embracing this look in New Zealand. Gauzy curtains blowing in the breeze, wooden bowls, rattan pendants and banana palms inside nail this vibe.
Japan
Less is more here, as is a reverence for natural objects. Low-set furniture, tatami-style mats on the floor, one or two pieces of unadorned pottery, bonsai, and rice-paper sliding doors and you’re there.
Italy
Immediately, we think of the glamour of a faded villa that encourages lived-in walls, achieved by scraping paint and paper off and leaving as is, an oversized gilt mirror leaning against said walls, a magnificent chandelier and a scrubbed wooden kitchen table over terracotta tiles. However, Italy is also known for its ultra-chic designer obsession, so if you’re channelling that, an Anglepoise light, some sharp modernist desk by the late Italian darling architect and furniture designer Gio Ponti and a killer mid-century Sputnik light is the way forward.
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