Tropical interior design themes have always been popular, especially here in California, where sun and surf are a way of life. There are so many creative ways to bring the outdoors inside–I love looking through Coastal Living magazine for inspiration.
Right now, green and eco-friendly building materials are very popular and California homebuilders are leading the way. Until recently, no one really considered “green” window treatments, but today’s designers are making it a big focus. Woven wood shades are great way to be part of the eco-friendly movement and also add a tropical element to the room. Bamboo, grasses, reeds, and jute introduce a natural element and a casual, beachy look that lends itself to many types of rooms, including living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms.
Remember the old matchstick blinds at your local imports store? Forget them, because today’s woven wood shades and natural shades are high-quality products, made with child safety and other key features in mind. Want cordless operation or the versatility of top down/bottom up? You can have that in your eco-friendly window shade. If you plan to use them in a bedroom or even a media room, many shades are available with a privacy liner to add extra room darkening.
If you feel like your room is missing something, don’t forget to add some tropical plants to enhance your theme. Plants bring life to your room and help make a house or office seem more welcoming. Even if you don’t have a green thumb or you travel a lot and can’t take care of plants, you can still add some tropical silk plants to your décor. Some of the best faux tropicals can even fool nature lovers.