Mediterranean Décor is really big right now, and the price tag is big as well.  With its inspiration in Italian Villas, Provincial Hideaways, and Turkish Palaces, you can see that these items would not be easy to come by.  Still, you can take inspiration from Mediterranean décor to spice up your home, even when on a budget.  Here are some tips you can follow. 

Color:  Mediterranean colors pick the most brilliant tones from nature.  Look for reds that mimic the color of poppies and red peppers.  Use oranges, that mimic velencia oranges and terra cotta roofs.  Look for natural gold and lemon yellows.  Olive greens, and mint are popular for green.  As for blue, pick colors like Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean.  Eggplant purple, white-wash white, and glossy blacks are also colors to use in Mediterranean design.   

Texture:  Furniture and wall décor are meant to be felt as much as looked at.  In addition to textured walls, fabrics and wood should have fine details that cause you to run a finger across it in curiosity.   

Eclectic:  Mediterranean décor does not have to be matchy and balanced.  .  You wont find a three piece living room suite  in a Mediterranean home.  You will instead find pieces that coordinate well and look good together.  Also avoid setting up your home in a way that is symmetrical and it takes away from the eclecticism  of Mediterranean style.   

This Ankara Metal Wall Planter set is a good example of Mediterranean Décor Style.  The color is a rich brown of the earth. It will make a perfect base for ivy plants and the occasional bright flowers.   It has a fine details that are intricate in nature.  The pieces are of varied sizes that allows you to coordinate a room without being too predictable and symmetrical.  The wall vase pieces in this set are 18, 15, and 14 inches, and can be used to accent a single wall, a hallway, or to place around a large room. 

• November 2007