Interior Decorating with the
Mexican Style
By Debbie Rodgers
Can't get away for a southern
vacation this year? Don't
despair -- plan a sunny Mexican
style refresher for your patio
décor and enjoy the festive
atmosphere of a hacienda at home
this summer.
As with every other decorating
style, Mexican décor has its own
basic elements.
Color
· The
predominant color in the sunny
Mexican look is yellow --
bright, cheery and warm. If
you're lucky enough to be
working with an outdoor space
that abuts a stucco house
exterior, consider painting the
stucco yellow or soft
terracotta. Otherwise, fashion
walls for your space from a
fence, a screen or a trellis
painted an uplifting sunny hue.
· Accent
the yellow with bright blue or
vivid turquoise. Shades of
terracotta, red, orange and
bright pink are also popular.
Furniture
· Furniture
made of heavy wood looks most
authentic in Mexican style
decorating. Small rough-hewn
side tables are suitable. If you
can't get heavy wooden
furnishing, paint simple wooden
folding chairs bright yellow and
blue.
· Alternatively,
use wrought iron or hammered
metal furniture. The Mexican
influence of these materials can
be also be used in gate hinges
or accessories such as
candlesticks.
Tiles
· Mexico
is justly famous for its
beautiful tiles -- either
unfinished terracotta or those
with bold glazed patterns of
flowers or other objects in
shades of yellow, blue and red.
· Consider
clay floor tiles to give a
concrete slab patio a fresh new
look. If tiling is not in your
budget, get creative with paint
as we did on this city balcony.
http://www.paradiseporch.com/before_after.php
· If
you're serious about the Mexican
look, tile the roof of your
outdoor space with red clay
tiles.
· Use
brightly colored tiles on a
table or a tray. Carry the
terracotta theme with clay plant
pots.
Fabric
· Roughly
woven natural fibers, such a
cotton tablecloths or woven rope
chair seats, work best in this
decorating scheme.
· Use
a brightly colored wool serape
as a scatter mat, throw, or
"wall" hanging.
· This
is the perfect setting for a
rope hammock for that afternoon
siesta.
· Use
striped fabric in primary colors
for cushion covers.
Accessories
· Accessorize
your Mexican-styled space with
wrought iron candlesticks or
grille work.
· Fish
and bird motifs (such as
roosters or parrots) are good,
especially if made of clay or
tile.
· Carry
the bright colors into the
plantings in your space.
Nasturtiums are ideal for
hanging baskets or the lattice
you've installed. If you're
growing zucchini or other
squash, consider planting them
near the patio, so that the
blossoms add to your atmosphere.
· If
you want to get away from the
yellow in your flowers, use
bougainvillaea, pastel poppies
or broadleaf greenery such as
yucca plants. Heap
a rope basket with apricots,
guavas or pears. Alternatively,
you can make oversized paper
mâché replicas or paint wooden
yard-sale fruits.
Try a few of these ideas and
before you know it, you'll be
sipping margueritas and
crunching tortillas in your very
own Mexican courtyard.
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