Mexico inspires with its savory foods, rich culture, and vibrant design. I've been living in this beautiful country for nearly five years and have noticed several Mexican design elements that create stand out spaces! Introduced in eclectic, transitional, or even modern styled spaces, these bring in warmth, color and interest.
Feeling like your home could use a little latin charm? A combination of the following Mexican design elements will help add character, charm, and elevated energy. Have a look at these and start a project to give your home the Mexican feel you desire.
1. Bold colors
One of the main Mexican design elements is color. This style never shies away from vibrancy. Whether it's facades of colonial influenced buildings or local art, you can expect to see hot pinks, golden yellows, and turquoise blues.
The typical striped blankets called serapes illustrate a culture that embraces bold colors. These make for beautiful throws or cushion covers that definitely add a splash of color in your home.
A quick and easy way to infuse your home with color is through paint. Select an accent wall to saturate. This will most definitely determine the color palette for your room. Benjamin Moore’s appropriately named, Mexicana (2172-30) is an extraordinary tone of orange-red that complements well with other hues.
Balance bold selections with furniture/furnishings that lean on neutral tones. This eliminates the tendency to ramp up the energy of a space full time.
Refinishing furniture with a coat of paint could also do the trick. Revive an old console with Satin Vintage Teal from Rust-Oleum for that color pop inspired by Mexican beach locations. A sunny yellow is also always a cheerful addition to a color scheme.
2. Textiles
Known for beautiful embroidery and hand made weaving, Mexico’s textiles infuse color as well as pattern. Oaxaca holds a variety of woven beauties coming from tribes like the Mixtec and Nahua.
The symbols woven into Oaxacan rugs are intentional- beyond ornamentation. They represent an aspect of the Zapotec culture. With a deep connection to nature, these indigenous cultures use symbols that are found across communities. These share many similarities with ancient Incan and Mayan symbols.
Use these as throws, accent pillows, or wall hangings and give any space a beautiful global touch.
Otomi patterns, typically animals, are playful and whimsical options for a space. This beautiful floor lamp with Otomi shade from Stray Dog Designs could work in bright colors or all white for a kid’s room or any room in your home!
3. Cacti
Lending toward the arid landscapes throughout Mexico, succulents and cactus plants thrive, thus becoming a Mexican design element for homes. From bulbous and spiky to long and fleshy, the diversity of these low maintenance botanicals offer interiors desert chic accents.
Not confident with your green thumb? Adding prints or paintings of these plants offer an organic flair while resonating with a Mexican inspired environment.
For plant aficionados, this post from Urban Jungle Bloggers will not only make you fall for these decorative houseplants but will also provide with some easy care tips to keep them vibrant.
4. Lighting
An easy way to bring in Mexican design elements is through lighting. There are several style of Mexican light fixtures. One typical option is the tin fabricated star whose perforations allow for a dreamy night glow. Some also have frosted or colored glass for added mood.
Other pendants lean into north African tendencies of elongated geometric shapes fusing metal and glass. These have representations in the form of sconces as well.
5. Terra cotta
Another very simple way to bring in Mexican inspired design into your home is having elements of terra cotta finishes. In patios and on balconies, you can spot varied shapes of planters that offer an earthy quality to potted plant arrangements.
Influenced by Spanish colonial style, terra cotta tiles both indoor and out are widely used as well. These come in shapes of squares, hexagons, and diamonds, many of which can be combined in interesting patterns.
6. Trademark chairs
With an extensive leather industry, it is no wonder that this finish is popular in Mexican furniture. Possibly the most recognized are equipale pieces. A woven wooden base holds crafted from tanned pigskin and Mexican cedar strips making the chairs, sofas, and tables both durable and comfy.
This handmade leather furniture creates a rustic feel to any space along with authentic Mexican charm.
To address hot temperatures, other typical Mexican chairs embrace light and airy designs. The iconic Acapulco chair first on the scene in the 1950s/60s, is trending strong today with various materials and shapes to choose from.
Hammocks introduce the tropical mood found on the coasts of Mexico. Hanging outside or indoors, these are beautiful lounging options that inspire relaxation.
7. Tiles
Mexican tiles are possibly the closest you can get to introducing Mexican style into your home. Whether using the vivid colors and patterns of ceramic tiles or the more muted and contemporary look found in encaustic cement mosaic tiles, these add life to walls and floors.
The ornate patterns and colors were traditionally designed for homes where hot weather omitted the need for area rugs. Through tiles people were able to get an accent on floors that was both functional and beautiful.
By introducing any number of these elements into your home, you can get a bit of Mexico's vibrant and soulful style.
Need some help infusing your home with this unique and playful style? Start a project to get started!
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