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Do you dream of a mesmerizing tropical oasis? Do you wish you could somehow capture the enchanting vision and spirit of that faraway place and make it a part of your home? How amazing it would be if you could bring that perfect island vibe straight to your living spaces! To create this kind of an environment where you throw out the stress and replace it with serenity, give your personal place a makeover. Or do the entire house if need be! To get the look, seek out inspiration. If you have traveled to a beloved oasis before, remember what you saw. Or if you haven't traveled yet, look for authentic tropical beach and shoreline scenes, lush rainforests, vibrant tropical flowers, colorful birds and ocean fish, and the natural materials and textures that are found in places like the South Pacific. Keep visiting this site!
Get Inspired! Here Are 14 Tropical-Style Wall Ideas To Create A Tropical Paradise At Home!
There are many ways to create your own piece of paradise and not all of them require a large investment or large-scale renovation. One of the simplest, smallest changes that makes a huge impact is creating an accent wall inspired by the beauty and tranquility of sun-kissed tropical isles. You can decorate the walls in your living room, bedroom, home office, master bath, or even the backyard patio. In this article, we will go through an array of brilliant tropical wall décor ideas to help you decide what works best for you. With a few tweaks using readily available materials like wood, metal, and potted plants, you will be able to infuse your space with the vibrant spirit of the tropics while showcasing your own unique style and character. We will show you how to add elements of tropical wall décor, including bold prints, patterned wallpapers, gallery walls, vacation souvenirs, metal wall art, and many other original ideas. Whether you live in a single-family home or a small apartment, you can turn your home into a lush haven of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Tropical Design Style – 6 Main Features
Tropical design style is unique, fresh, and revolves around serenity, comfort and a hint of adventure. It’s inspired by nature and it’s all about bringing the outdoors in. This design style features glossy green colors reminiscent of jungles and rainforests, deep ocean blues, hibiscus pinks, and other floral colors. The distinctive features of this design style include:
Unique Color Palette
The overall color scheme has either deep, jeweled green as the dominant color, or a refreshing ocean blue, followed by sweet and dynamic orange hues, and a sunset palette of peach, warm terracotta, and dark browns.
Natural Materials
Embrace nature and its exotic feel by adding natural, organic materials like wicker, stone, wood, jute, sisal, bamboo, and handcrafted wooden items such as these kava bowls.
Travel Souvenirs
If you have visited places like the Caribbean, Hawaii, the Maldives, etc, and purchased some art or keepsakes along the way, be sure to incorporate those into in your tropical wall décor where possible.
Patterns & Prints
You can create a statement wall with bold motifs of vibrant flowers, tropical fish, pineapples, or palm trees. For a more minimalist look, opt for muted tones and use patterns and prints more sparingly.
Natural Light
This is a big one. Allow as much natural light as possible to open up your space. Every tropical oasis is an outdoor setting and natural light is the only source of lighting. To make your space feel more like a paradise island, remove heavy curtains and replace them with light and airy translucent window treatments for a more relaxing ambiance.
Exotic House Plants
Whether you are looking for indoor plants which can be placed on shelves or outdoor plants for your backyard and patio space, exotic flowers and large leaves which are specific to distant islands will fill your space with gorgeous colors, alluring scents, and interesting shapes. Large leaf plants like monstera, rubber tree, or bird of paradise are great examples.
What Is an Accent Wall?
An accent wall is a single wall in a room that is painted and/or decorated differently than the rest so that it stands out. The purpose of an accent wall is to transform the room and to make a statement. It can change the size, shape, and feel of a room by using different colors, textures, and materials. You can revamp the whole room and make an even bigger impact with an accent wall. In addition, you can accomplish a high-end look with minimal cost.
When it comes to tropical wall décor, it should showcase the essence of exotic lands, meaning it should feature warm and soothing elements reminiscent of the ocean, sky, sun, and lush vegetation.
How To Choose An Accent Wall
Accent walls are popular in bedrooms and living rooms, but can also be found in bathrooms, home offices, or even outside, on the balcony or patio.
Here's how to decide which wall to turn into an accent wall:
- Choose a wall that first grabs your attention when you walk into a room. In the bedroom, that’s typically the wall behind the bed’s headboard.
- Look for architectural clues indicative of which wall to choose. These architectural details include built-ins, a fireplace, molding, paneling, and other unique properties.
- Select a symmetrical wall to make the most impact. Avoid choosing odd-shaped or smaller walls as those will throw off the proportion of the room and will highlight the lack of balance.
- Pick solid walls without doors or windows to create the maximum impression. If there is a window or two, bear in mind that the wall's impact will not be as effective.
- Make sure your accent wall complements the existing furniture layout. You do not want to disrupt the natural flow of the room. You will notice if something doesn't flow naturally, visually the room will be off balance.
- Pick a spot that has a lot of natural light as this is where the eyes are naturally drawn.
Styling Walls – Do's & Don’ts
When decorating the walls, remember to look for balance. The main purpose of any wall décor, including tropical, is to achieve a perfect balance. Wall décor should enrich the space rather than compete with it.
Do's:
- Use color to your advantage – Don’t be afraid to use bold colors for your tropical wall décor, especially if the rest of the walls in the room are neutral. When using paint, it's like we always say - it's just paint. You can always paint over a color that ends up not working. Use the same bold color, or shades of it, throughout the room in the form of decor and other accents.
- Play with different textures – Consider decorative stone, tile, or wood finishes. The easiest and most popular is wood – bead board and other paneling, wainscoting, shiplap, and shelving are great options. Some creative cabinetry works too. If you are not finding the right physical textures that work for you, another great solution is wallpaper because this brings in visual texture.
- Create a gallery wall – Whether its plants, artwork, fabrics, or handmade items from the tropics, a gallery wall can make a big statement. These are really great because they can truly reflect your personality and personal style.
- Think outside the box – Get creative and be sure to express your own preferences. Scour this site for ideas, we have lots of them!
Don’ts:
- Avoid anything that is tacky – Stay away from things that look cheap and touristy. These are the "this way to the beach" signs, anything covered in shells, silly shot glasses, etc. You get the idea. These only distract from real authenticity which is your goal and will honestly take you in the wrong direction.
- Watch our for busy patterns – A busy pattern is fine when it is used correctly. But when used in large amounts such as to cover a wall, they most likely will create chaos instead. Bold prints and patterns can easily overpower a room instead of creating the serenity of a paradise island, especially if they clash with existing pieces and decor that works.
- Don’t decorate tiny niches of odd shapes – Some rooms have small architectural details such as small niche areas. We recommend ignoring these because you want your focus to be the whole wall, not only a small part of it. So steer clear of styling small niches as they can create the opposite effect of what you would try to achieve. Unless the niche is of a decent size and you can include the rest of the wall as well, don't accentuate it.
- Don’t create multiple accent walls in the same room – Although it may seem tempting to do, especially when you are excited about a particular color or print pattern, don't use them on more than one wall. A single wall will bring your room to life easily on its own without overpowering it or creating a chaotic scene.
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Tropical Décor Ideas For Every Wall & Every Room
1. Framed Wall Art
Create a lively ambiance by hanging tropical-themed artwork. Whether you choose to place the art symmetrically or not, it will surely make the room “pop”. With the right kind of display, you can easily create and then immerse yourself in a peaceful and relaxing environment reminiscent of your favorite tropical escape.
For narrow walls, use smaller pieces and for taller and wider walls, use larger pieces. The interest can come from both the framed art and from the frames themselves. Frames of different sizes and in different textures are perfect when mixing it up with different artwork. So get creative with it and have some fun!
Photo Credit: Ballard Designs
2. Travel Keepsakes Display
If you are one who buys a few interesting decor pieces as you travel, what better way is there to create your own paradise retreat than to showcase those pieces as your travel keepsakes? Don’t be afraid to experiment. Just follow these guidelines: choose a solid color for the wall. Create an interesting design pattern on the wall using your keepsakes. Then, add a few wicker or bamboo tables and chairs along with a woven mat or rug to pull the look together and add warmth. Add some greenery to complete the tropical feel.
A quick tip: When choosing wicker tables, it is important to know that you will need a separate smooth surface placed on them such as a large decorative plate or serving tray. This will provide stability as you place things like cocktail or wine glasses on them. Since wicker pieces are woven either from natural or manmade materials, their surfaces are not smooth and things like a wine glass can easily fall over. We love these rounded accent tables because they are just so cool and add such great visual interest to the room. But they do need a flat surface on top to prevent spills.
Photo Credit: Cubicoon
3. Leaf Print Murals
Murals with bold patterns such as this one with dark green banana leaves, introduce an element of drama and tropical elegance into this space. They produce a calming effect and are a stylish option that adds a sophisticated tropical touch.
When considering prints such as this, a great tip to remember is this: Keep it easy to update. This means if after you complete your project, you find that it just isn't giving you that excitement you were hoping for, it should be easy to redo it. This is one reason why we love "peel-and-stick" vinyl wallpaper. It is easy to put up and you can easily remove it as well. The Tommy Bahama line has very high-quality products with beautiful prints such as this one with a jungle scene.
For tips about how to use the Tommy Bahama line of peel and stick designer wallpaper, check out their short video. It couldn't be easier!
Photo Credit: CostaCover
4. Framed Leaves
Here’s a unique idea for decorating your bedroom wall without breaking the bank - framing leaves. Collect leaves or florals on your journeys or even walks within the neighborhood, and use wax paper or newspaper to press them. Get creative! Pick leaves, flowers, and even small branches. Use different shaped picture frames, some with or without a matte, to create a visually appealing gallery wall. As mentioned above, the interest can come from both the framed art and from the frames themselves. Don't be afraid to mix up with different sizes and textures.
5. Beadboard Paneling
Even the smallest rooms in the house such as bathrooms and powder rooms, can create a big impact. In this example, a beautiful tropical scene is created with the use of palm leaf print wallpaper. Set above sophisticated blue beadboard paneling which resembles the deep blue of the ocean, this small space hits the mark. Brass hardware and bathroom accessories (faucets, mirror frames, shelving, towel rings) coupled with brass metal stand console sink add a touch of nautical glam. The beadboard helps to emphasize the depth and richness of the jungle print. The complete design gives this room a unique tropical character. If you want to install beadboard yourself to your tropical space, most home improvement stores will either have it in stock or they can order it for you.
Photo Credit: Shelterness
6. A Living Wall
This wonderful wall display is full of life and texture. It is rainforest-inspired and really brings the tropical outdoors inside. For nature and plant lovers, this living wall is a great solution to what could otherwise just be a lot of empty wall space. Various tropical plants potted in warm terracotta pots are placed on a metal and wood shelving against a deep green wall. Tan furniture with orange hues combined with earth-tone accents and décor bring the beauty of nature indoors. The result is vibrant yet cozy and it really works.
When considering shelving, make sure that units to be assembled are good quality, very sturdy, and can handle some weight. When decorating with potted plants on shelving, just know that pots become much heavier after plants are watered and your shelving needs to support that. Their weight will be in addition to other home decor pieces that you might use as is shown here. Be sure to use shelving which is open and allows room for larger, broadleaf plants. We love this unit because it looks great and can support up to 100lbs per shelf. If you have the space, this triple-wide unit with 5 tiers is an excellent foundation for a truly amazing tropical wall display.
Photo Credit: Amanda Katherine
7. Backyard Patio Wall
To turn your outdoor space into a tropical backyard paradise, first focus on comfortable seating. Having a wonderful accent wall outside cannot be properly enjoyed if you don't have comfortable and relaxing seating. Here we can see how awesome built-in wooden seating pairs well with the wooden coffee table. But if you don't have the space or budget for built-ins, it is worth it to invest in a good quality outdoor set. Just dress it up with some large leaf print or floral print cushions to give it that tropical look.
When choosing any outdoor furniture, just remember that it will always last much longer if it is in a covered area. Direct exposure to the elements in any climate will greatly reduce the lifespan of any outdoor furniture, no matter how expensive or well-built it is. We know many people who have been very happen with good quality outdoor wicker such as this 8-piece set. It even includes a propane firepit. Having a firepit is not a necessity but who doesn't love them? Add in some cool tiki torches and you have arrived in the tropics!
Once you have decided upon your seating space and arrangement, you can turn your focus to any available wall space. This patio has a beautiful "living wall" complete with palms and other tropical foliage along the fence. A living wall can simply be that, well designed and healthy landscaping. If you do have a lot of visible fencing, exterior decor walls can be a fence if it is sturdy enough and in suitable condition to decorate. Or it can be the exterior wall of the house itself. Exterior walls can be easily transformed with outdoor artwork and accents. Shelving is an option for small potted plants and other small décor. Take advantage of whatever outdoor space you have available no matter how large or how small!
Photo Credit: Shelterness
8. Woven Accents
Display unique woven baskets, mirrors, picture frames, or trays against neutral colored walls. Opt for various sizes, shapes, and patterns to accomplish the tropical look you desire. The possibilities are endless!
If you do have several pieces already but are not sure where to start, here is a simple tip: Take the largest and most interesting piece and use that as your starting point. Place it in the center of the wall space you are planning to use. Then from there, you can mix up the other pieces you have to create your own unique design. By having a center piece which acts as the anchor, it is easier to decorate around it.
Many times when using woven accents, there are a lot of round shapes and that is perfect fine. If that is what you have, try using the piece that is the most different as the center. Mirrors work very well for this. We love this round one, the woven framing is wonderful. This rectangular mirror works very well too if you want to include different shapes as well.
Photo Credit: Assets.Wfcdn
9. Bold Print Wallpaper
Even though this space is small, there is no reason you can't go big on the wallpaper print. Here, the walls are lined with banana leaf wallpaper to create the look of lush tropical foliage. Combined with a white porcelain pedestal sink, black mirror frame, brass fixtures, woven accessories, and dark floors, this whole room has a really cool rainforest vibe.
You can go as big as you want to as well in the color scheme of your choice. Out of all the tropical-themed wallpapers that are available, we find that the "peel-and-stick" vinyl wallpaper is a great choice. It is easy to put up and you can easily remove it as well. the prints from Tommy Bahama offer some of the best choices. The detailing and design are classic and authentic. As mentioned earlier, they have a short video which shows just how easy it is to use this wallpaper!
Photo Credit: Decorpad
10. A Solid Wall
Dark green walls are sharp and edgy yet they pair well with natural materials and any earth tones in the room. As with any dark color which make spaces seem smaller, dark greens can "shrink" a room. To make this room appear larger and brighter, an oversized round mirror is added to being in necessary light. Round mirrors add softness and a wonderful flow to the overall look compared to square or rectangular shaped mirrors.
If you want to have something a bit more fun with extra visual interest, you can always try an irregularly shaped mirror. This one is framed but there are unframed mirrors as well. Just a quick tip though: When ordering any large mirror or piece of glass online, there is always the added risk of damage or breakage during shipping. If this is of concern to you and you don't want to have to deal with possible returns, it really is worth it to go out and shop for something irregular and unique. Choose a home goods or furniture store which sells mid-range to higher end pieces. Spending a little more means you will have the best quality mirror which is what you want!
Single colors on a wall which have little to no artwork (except for perhaps a singular piece such as this mirror to break up the empty space) are great when you have bolder accents or a higher number of furniture pieces. In this example, the size of the furnishings and the large leaf plants compensate for the empty wall space. Additional wall art is simply not needed. Anything else in addition to this mirror would make the room appear cluttered and too busy.
Photo Credit: Amanda Katherine
11. Photo Gallery Wall
This tropical-themed wall includes photographs of the ocean which is such a smart subject for wall art. The multiple variations of the blues and whites of the water create the perfect amount of interest. The crisp white frames with white mattes tightly grouped together on the deep blue wall creates a truly beautiful display. You can also go with different sizes of framing with similar imagery for added interest.
This design scheme also incorporates metal shelving with a few pieces of greenery and accessories in blue and white. This look exudes serenity and the peacefulness of the ocean. If you prefer more contrast since most of these decor pieces are in blue and white, you can add a few boldly-colored accent pieces which bring in some orange and yellow perhaps. A few additional pops of bright green would work very well too!
Photo Credit: Blogger
12. 3D Wall Paneling
A dark wood vanity, jewel green walls, potted plants, and botanical themed art, make this half bath inviting and serene. The richness and texture of the green wall paneling and molding creates a wonderful 3D effect. The natural, earthy tones mixed with vintage elements create a cozy, tropical themed space. An added piece of carved wood such as a gorgeous, handcrafted sea turtle or a warrior club adds uniqueness and an additional tropical element to spaces such as this one.
To create a look like this, consider using wainscoting and similar molding materials. You can also include heavier chair rail molding which is just below the midpoint height of each wall in addition to some crown molding at the ceiling. There are self-adhesive options online or you can shop at your favorite home improvement store which should have many different molding options in stock. A quick tip: If you plan to use self-adhesive pieces, we recommend securing them will small molding or finishing nails for added security prior to painting. The bonding strength in adhesives varies to begin with and then varies even more depending on what types of walls you have. Some walls are more smooth while others might have a light texture. Others might have paints or other applications which prevent tight adhesion. So taking the extra time to add a few small nails for added security is definitely worth it!
Photo Credit: Home Companion
13. Colorful Fish Prints
This particular wall showcases prints of different fish, a lobster, and a conch which all work very well when displayed above a console table like this. If you like fish from an artistic point of view, the options are endless. There are so many different types of fish and each brings its own character and colors when represented in art forms.
Depending the amount of wall space you have to work with, you can really mix it up with fish as this subject in art is available in some many sizes and color styles. Just choose your favorites and then pair them with the right furnishings and accents that will create your tropical escape! Here we can see that framed artwork works very well with the vintage-inspired furnishings and oversized greenery. The coral lamp shades are an excellent choice for color and visual texture as are the light apricot walls. This design brings the casual feel of the tropics straight to your home.
Photo Credit: Yimg
14. Marine Life Display
This simple wall display focuses on other marine life forms including sea fans, corals, starfish and various shells, all mounted on crisp white wood paneling. The green palm leaves and heavy woven baskets provide some pops of color and bold textures while the simple style of the console table provides the perfect space for well-chose marine-inspired accents.
When looking for wall art, be specific with each piece so that you create a well-balanced combination of subjects, colors, and textures. Consider a good mix of prints, relief work, and even mounted specimens to create a truly beautiful display that speaks to you. Then when you pair it with well-chosen tabletop decor, furnishings, and some wonderful potted tropical greenery, you will find that you have created a real tropical escape just for you!
Photo Credit: Driven by Decor
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