Imagine Your Tropical Space

For some people, ideas about how to create different tropical looks at home come easily. For others, they might need a bit of inspiration. If you are one of the latter, a great way to start is simply to take a bit of time to quiet your mind so you can visualize and feel what a tropical escape means to you. What does it look like? What colors do you see? What do the furniture and décor look like? Are there plants and flowers nearby? Does a more modern look come to mind? Or are you finding that your prefer a more “retro” or classic look? Taking some time to mentally picture things while paying close attention to how they make you feel is where great inspiration comes from.

In this part of our guide, we will explore many different tropical looks and what goes into them. We will save the actual “how to do it” for a separate post because just deciding on which path to take for the best tropical look is a lot to consider. As you read on, you will see what we mean. Different paths produce very different results so you need to understand where you are going. So let’s take a look at those paths now so you can decide where you want to go and where you don’t!

Photo Credit: Flooring America

There Are Many Different Kinds Of “Tropical Style”

Creating the awesome tropical look that works for you means pulling together inspirations from places you have visited or maybe are only dreaming about. Anywhere from the South Pacific to the Mediterranean and from Central America to the Indian Ocean can provide inspiration. So let’s define what “tropical” means because there are more directions in which you can go than you might realize.

Photo Credit: Architizer.com

“Tropical Style” Doesn’t Have To Mean Tiki, Unless You Want It To!

When mentioning “tropical style”, most people automatically think of a beachy or surfer look. It’s that “t-shirt and flip flops under a thatched roof hut” look which is perfectly fine. You can create some really great spaces that are complete and fully functional with that look. But sadly, many times going tropical also gets confused with images of tiki bars and exaggerated “Hawaiian” décor. Don’t get us wrong, we love tiki and it can really work if it is done right and with a purpose. But just like any other design style, too much of one thing is never good. And if it is not the design style you want, then be careful so you don’t end up there. Many times, things go sideways because people think that certain colors and pieces are required for a space to be considered “tropical” and that there is a prescribed end result. That is simply not true.

If you start trying to pull things together without an inspired plan and simply hope that the end result will just somehow work out, you could end up with a lot of kitschy knick-knacks and silly wall art. The resulting look can end up pointing too heavily in one direction. It might even scream “a tourist decorated this!” So it is very important to be focused, to do some research online about what you envision, and then to look for the best possible sources for the materials and pieces you will need to bring that vision to life.

Photo Credit: retrorenovation.com

We think that this look is best suited for a true tiki bar whether it is an actual bar in your home or a place in your yard out by the pool. Those are really the only places where we think full tiki works, colored lights and all, but that is only our opinion. You have to do what works for YOU. We absolutely love tiki bars!

Photo Credit: imbibemagazine.com

The article from Imbibe Magazine in the photo credit link is actually pretty cool. If you are looking into doing a tiki bar, it has some great tips. There is also an awesome group on Facebook called “Theming Tiki Bars” which is a great way to connect with fellow tiki lovers. It is an amazing source of inspiration with pictures of some truly amazing work!

Photo Credit: Punchdrunk.com

The Key To Awesome Tropical Looks Is Authenticity

The wonderful thing about tropical décor is that it can be whatever it means to you. For some people, that means tiki which is just fine. For others, it’s a wide variety of other looks which we will explore here. The key to it all is this: Tropical décor is a very relaxed way of decorating because the classic tropical lifestyle is centered around an easy and comfortable way of living. It’s full of palm trees and the sound of ocean waves, lush big-leaf plants both inside and outside, wonderful laid-back people who love to hang out and of course hammocks on a beach nearby.

South Padre Island, Texas

American Samoa, South Pacific. Photo Credits: Jetsetter.com

At night, it’s entertaining with friends under low-lit lighting and tiki torches, warm breezes and cool tropical tunes that range from ukulele-driven folk music from the South Pacific (check out that link!) to Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffet. At the core of it all, it is a truly authentic look which creates an atmosphere of relaxation.

Having said that, keeping things authentic also means that “less is more” just as it is with most styles of decorating (tiki is an exception). You can have a lot of authentic pieces, all genuinely handmade and beautiful on their own but using too many of them will not work. Well-chosen pieces in a room will create that peaceful and fulfilling impact that you want. Too many things mean clutter and mental distraction. Pieces and colors overpower each other and compete for attention. The overall look and flow of the room is disrupted. Don’t let things get messy! Here are a few examples of messy:

Too much wall art next to a mounted bookshelf makes this room look like a failed modern library that is on a collision course with a comfortable seating area. The whole thing is a visual mess!

Another example is when you have many really nice pieces and they are all on display. Too many pieces on the furniture anchoring the back wall, too many pillows on the couch, and too many things both on and under the coffee table….your eyes just don’t know what to look at here.

Here again is too much wall art. A few contrasting pieces can create a nice collection on the wall but these are too similar, none stands out on its own. And what’s with all of the pillows? Where are you supposed to sit? On the floor? Store extra pillows in a closet and swap them out from time to time to change up the look.

Photo Credits: bananivista.com

So if you keep “less is more” in mind, you can go in many different directions with tropical looks. For those who do love classic retro looks, let’s bring back tiki for just a minute. When it is done right, bright colors, especially lime greens or yellows combined with mid-century furniture really work.

Photo Credit: Atomic Ranch

Here is a condo in Palm Springs that was done completely in mid-century Polynesian (tiki). For some people, it will be over the top, especially with all of the colored lighting. But the point is that this look is a classic way to decorate and in this instance, it is authentic. We think it is pretty cool. If it works for you, that’s the important thing. Here a few more pictures from this particular home:

Photo Credit: Realtor.com

Moving on to other definitions of “tropical”, there is the casual beachy surfer look. This is great for people who love the thatched roof hut idea while hanging out at the beach. It is very light with weathered woods, mostly muted colors and linen fabrics with iconic surfing elements mixed in.

Photo Credit: Apartment Therapy

Photo Credit: Home Furniture

And then you can still go “thatched roof” but in a more upscale fashion as in Fijian / South Pacific while still being very casual. Modern day South Pacific or Polynesian (post-tiki) is full of browns, beiges, creams and whites as base colors and then has accents and foliage which provide bursts of greens, oranges and other bold colors.

Photo Credit: Roger Wade Studio

Photo Credits: inhabitat.com

Or you can go with British Colonial which takes its inspiration from the West Indies and the former British colonies in the Caribbean. This style has a more formal atmosphere to it, definitely no t-shirts, flip flops or thatched roof tiki huts here. British Colonial is famous for its vibrant colors, dark polished woods, frequent use of palm fronds used against white or cream backgrounds and heavy use of textural elements like rattan wicker.

British Colonial can come across as being cluttered or over-decorated to those who prefer a more minimalist look. But this “full” look was typical back in the day of the colonies.

Photo Credits: boredart.com

This style really has a wide range of looks to it, we love all of them! British Colonial is one of our favorites because it is classy and upscale. This blog site provides some excellent information and beautiful photos!

Photo Credit: Ethan Allen on Pinterest

Or you can even go with exotic Asian-inspired looks which range from the Javanese and Balinese inspirations of Indonesia. Many looks from this part of the world feature dark polished woods which are intricately carved and are in a very ornate setting.

Or you can go with a more simple yet still authentic Indonesian look.

Photo Credit: Indonesiacolonial-furniture.com

If you have the possibility of creating an indoor/outdoor space, full on Javanese/Balinese is awesome.

Photo Credit: Blogspot.com

Or go with modern Thai which is yet another very comfortable yet subtle tropical look with its rich woods, muted earth tones, dreamy soft curves and wonderful pops of color. In this case, orange does the trick.

Photo Credit: Livingasean.com

Create Your Own Tropical Style!

As you can see, there are endless possibilities when it comes to tropically inspired décor.

Different places focus on different elements of nature but the one thing they all have in common is that what is found in the tropical world can be brought together to create some really peaceful and amazing spaces. So creating your own tropical look is really up to you. You can go all out and do a whole room or even do your whole house!

Photo Credit: Southern Living: Eric Piasecki; Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegasa

Or you can simply focus on bringing in some color and a few special pieces which bring the feelings of a tropical island to life in one particular space which is your escape.

Photo Credit: Completely-coastal.com

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where you live. You have to do what works for you. If you can enter your special space and really feel like you are in the islands even if it is 20 degrees below outside, you have succeeded!

Photo Credit: bluprint.onemega.com

Photo Credit: VRBO

Final Thoughts

So in the post, we explored many different tropical styles and what goes into them. You can now see how it really is so very important to understand what the word “tropical style” means to you when it comes to interior spaces, especially the space that will be just for you. Favorite memories, images, and inspiration are the key. Visualize your dream space and then alter it as needed depending on the size of your space, your budget, and also on what is feasible. Some people like to dream big!

Our next post includes information about the foundational aspects (colors, textures, fabrics, foliage, and lighting) that are needed to create a wide variety of tropical looks. We hope you will find it to be very informative as well!