African American culture is a rich fusion of communities. Corriece Gwnn, founder and publisher of Home of Color: The Magazine of African-American Living & Style, describes the tastes of African Americans as mainly "eclectic." She observes, though, that the propensity for color and for objects that honor African identity are common features in homes. There are a number of decorating ideas that celebrate the artistry and uniqueness of African American culture.
Handicrafts
Handcrafted baskets, pottery, dolls and other ornaments allow nooks and crannies to come alive. Sculptures of animals native to Africa enhances to the earth motif. Carvings of African masks will also contribute to a tribal effect, while traditional African instruments even offer ethnic music. However, putting up too many such items all over the house may deflate the atmosphere you've tried to create. HGTV.com suggests that you "create areas of interest" by collecting artifacts in different locations in the house in threes. With African handicrafts, you not only give your home a warm, earthy feel; you also support African artists through your purchases.
Paint and Paintings
Feel closer to African nature by painting your walls with the colors of the earth. These shades include terracotta red, orange, tan and brown. If painting the house seems drastic, try another kind of painting. Homeowners can collect paintings that celebrate the heritage and talents of African American artists. There are so many subjects and art styles that these paintings can convey, including different African people captured through portraits, realistic landscapes, collages and mosaics. The colors often show bright contrasts of black and fiery earth tones, adding light to drab walls.
Textiles
African cloths and quilts provide accents in a house with their bold colors and distinct stories. The details on West African fabrics are not only vibrant and diverse but also reflect the influence of cultures that European traders had brought, like a traditional Indonesian print called batik, which is very much visible in these textiles. More traditional African patterns, however, showcase more earth colors and larger, more angular shapes than the batik's. For example, the Kente cloth is named because its basic pattern resembles that of a basket, or kenten, and its earth hues include yellow, orange, red, brown and black. Kente cloth patterns have as much significance and symbolism as African American quilts, which literally sew together two cultures. Such quilts possess not only patterns with a lack of symmetry that is supposed to ward off evil but also images that record the family's history. Some households use these cloths and quilts according to their everyday purpose. Others preserve them in glass and gilded frames to hang on the walls.
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