Decorate Your Dining
Room in a Hawaiian Theme
Decorating your dining room in a Hawaiian theme is a fun project that gives you room for lots of creativity. You can use decorative objects you already have, incorporate colors reminiscent of the lovely beaches and enjoy dining in a tropical atmosphere at a low cost. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Use colors evocative of the sun, sand and surf. There's no need for coconut-print wallpaper, unless that just makes you happy. Instead, choose colors that bring the feeling of a day on the beach. You can go bright or pastel, and choose one main color and one complementary color, or go more neutral and then use a couple of different, brighter complementary colors. A soft, pastel blue on the walls with a complementary palm-tree green or soft, sandy yellow can bring a beach feel without being overly obvious. Or you could use a sandy beige as your base color and a brighter range of blues to complement it.
2. Bring in a touch of bamboo or palm trees. Make an understatement rather than an overstatement. You might use bamboo curtains in the window, or hang up a few framed prints of palm trees. Perhaps you have a sideboard with bamboo trim, or a small palm tree motif on the back of your dining room chairs. You could use stencils to create a recurring theme in keeping with your chosen colors, either as a border at the top of the walls or just-over-chair-rail molding, or on a particular piece of furniture.
3. Bring in some decorative elements. You can go kitschy or authentic, tribal or tourist. If you have a collection, group it together on a shelf or in a glass-front cabinet for maximum impact. Showcase a collection of surf posters on one wall of the room. Use your vintage Hawaiian-print material to make a table runner or seat covers for your chairs. Highlight what you love.
4. Bring in natural elements. Jute rugs on a bare wood floor, soft, natural color linen curtains, a few live tropical plants in the corner, a collection of seashells or coral or wave-smoothed stones--these are the kind of beach-like, natural feeling elements that will heighten the Hawaiian feel without overdoing the theme. Go for fabrics that are natural and more informal, and use sea stones and shells to hold place cards. A collection of orchids in a simple clear glass vase makes a great centerpiece.
5. Look for unique conversation pieces. When you hit flea markets or antique stores, keep an eye out for items that will really bring your Hawaiian theme to the forefront. An old ukulele hung on the wall would be great, or even a vintage surfboard or collection of Beach Boys LPs.
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