African Décor and Crafts: How to Display Them at Home

*Sponsored post – There is no place like home. For most people, the home is a resting place and a safe haven. You too can create a home that becomes a sacred surrounding where all your dreams and stories of Africa can truly come alive. Today, most African crafts and décor or artifacts make for good decorative pieces and whether you are new to decorating with a cultural touch or not, these tips will make it is easy to for you to create your own oasis – a place of belonging that transports you in time travel to the cradle of humankind.

Create a feature or gallery wall

As the name implies, a feature or gallery wall is simple any blank wall in a space that could be used for featuring African décor and crafts or art. Most of the time, this wall tends to be the one where the TV sits against in most homes. It can also be the opposite or an adjacent wall where it can becomes the focus of one’s eyes as they enter into the space. So, play with prints, art, baskets and all types of decorative elements on the walls. I recently created a gallery wall myself not too long ago and for me, it was all about black and white prints plus the hand carved Senegalese masks that I got from Reflektion Design, which I absolutely adore!

As you can see, I have a conversation piece around Senegal, which I am also learning more about! I love that with select pieces from Reflektion Design’s online store, I am able to bring my own African identity and personality to life where I live. This interior space also reminds me of animal wildlife. Can you tell which animal I am thinking of? Also notice how I play with size and proportion in this design. For example, you can place a huge framed piece of art on the wall to be paired with other decorative pieces of various sizes e.g. the smaller frames. On the couch itself, there are two sizes of pillows and they complement each other.

Use accents like pillows in bright colours

Incorporate bright colours into the overall home design. Consider again the first photo of my living space above, then imagine a burnt orange sunset across the African wilderness and the feelings it evokes inside of your heart and mind. The pillows in my design do that for me! I hate to see a good couch look dull, boring and bare! Considering that I usually like my furniture to be dark and muted, I knew I had to use decorative pillows to bring in the vibrancy. Alternatively, you might be different in that you have a bright coloured couch and that’s totally okay. Colour on colour is good for both your home and soul. Vibrant colours are the perfect icing on the cake for any kind of couch or home interior. The selected colours also don’t necessary have to go with the rest of the design. It could be a total colour clash. As a perfect example of Afro modern style, these fuchsia, black and yellow African print fabric pillow covers blend African patterns with eye popping colours effortlessly.

Get sculptures for the coffee table or bookshelf

Do you have a centrepiece in the middle of your living room? A bedside table or dresser in the bedroom? A bookshelf in the office perhaps? You can layer the surface with carved wooden sculptures that stand out. There are many options to choose from depending of what part of Africa it is that you are looking to get a sculpture from. When looking for art, you should make sure that it is original and authentic. According to Reflektion Design, this wood thinker statue “represents the mind at work.” It is a thought provoking piece of art for the deep thinker in your life, even if that’s you. It reminds me of the careful introspection that often comes with a meaningful conversation shared between friends and other loved ones.

Layer with print throws and blankets for a cozy feel

When the weather gets cold, a blanket will keep you warm and even better if it looks beautiful. Get creative and instead of going for just a solid colour, you can go for a blanket with some prints or patterns on it. I would like to recommend mud cloth, which works great as a throw for your couch and has a lot to offer due to its colours, patterns and texure. According to detailed descriptions from Reflektion Design, “Mud cloth aka Bambara is created with hand-painted designs using traditional methods which have been passed down for decades. The cloth is first woven, then a design is painted on by hand using natural ingredients. This cloth is then dipped into specially prepared dyes made with mud, left to dry and then often dipped again. The process may take several weeks from start to finish.”

Enhance your kitchen table with baskets as accessories

The kitchen table is a place where people gather for meals and often times, heartfelt conversations also follow. Keep your guests delighted by adorning your table with a variety of kitchen and table accessories such as baskets for fruit. Handwoven baskets from Rwanda and Uganda or Bolga baskets from Ghana are functional and decorative pieces of art designed to brighten your home. These baskets can also serve as a market style accessory to hold vegetables and other types of fresh produce such as onions or potatoes on the kitchen table. Or you can simply use the basket to hold your spoons, napkins, coasters and other items that you would be using to lay the table for meal times. Overall, the baskets come in different colours and shapes for your use and convenience.

Which one of these African décor and crafts would you love to feature in your space?

Jamila Kyari

I’m a seasoned communications and marketing consultant with a penchant for all things stylish and chic. Follow me on social media and subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates on industry trends and much more!

Find me on: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook