How to Decorate a Tropical Room

Top things to know about decorating a tropical room:

• Incorporating jewel and earth-toned colors will make your space feel bolder and more tropical.
• Texture, such as wrinkled linens or jute baskets, will make your tropical designs pop.
• Use plants and flowers to your advantage, as they’re one of the most beautiful elements of tropical design.
• Bringing in water elements, like ocean artwork and shades of blues, will make your space feel calmer and relaxing.

Warm weather always makes me want to kick my feet up by the pool with a good book and a glass of something tasty. But, if you're like me, your personal life won't always allow you to escape to your favorite tropical paradise. This is why I've taken matters into my own hands and taught myself how to fuse those tropical vibes into my home tastefully.

If you're looking to do the same, below are four practical ways to bring the tropics to you (minus the sandy mess).

Expand your color palette.

Jewel and earth-toned colors are going to transform your space! You don't have to play it safe with white walls when you want to bring tropical vibes to your space. Bright blues, earthy greens, browns, and any floral-based color you can think of will help you achieve your dream destination's essence. To capture this design trend, try creating a bold-colored accent wall, picking a bright floor tile, or installing a fun light fixture to be the room's focal point.

Add a dash of texture to your designs to make them pop.

Incorporate breathable fabrics into your design choices.

Fabrics such as cotton, linen, or polyester are great choices for your space for sofas, chairs, and accent rugs. Another way that you can add texture is through hanging textured artwork, handwoven baskets, tropical-themed panel wall art, oversized sand dollars, or frosted sea glass. All of these elements are going to create a space that is multi-dimensional and eye-catching.

Let plants, flowers, and animals do a lot of the heavy lifting for your design.

Plants and flowers are one of the most beautiful aspects of tropical interior design. I'm a lover of fresh plants and flowers. Some tropical plants that make perfect indoor plants include birds of paradise, dragon trees, fishtail palms, and corn plants. If indoor plants aren't your favorite, since they require a bit of maintenance, you can opt for silk flowers, floral wallpapers, palm-themed wallpaper, or even a painted floral/plant mural (if you're feeling artsy). If you still want more of the tropical experience, adding wildlife-based art is another fabulous option. Toucans, macaws, and jaguars are great animals to have on artwork or to use as color inspiration for your space.

Bring in the water elements.

What is a tropical destination without water? While you can't bring in the entire ocean, you can add acrylic fountains, ternary fountains, a wall mount hanging bubble aquarium, or a natural stone fountain. Water-themed art will also do the trick if fountains aren't an option. Some of the water's most significant contributions to design include: enhancing the appearance of a space, creating a comfortable ambiance, improving air quality, acting as a humidifier, and the fountains are low maintenance.

^{Photo Credit: (Left) Sight Unseen}