Home sweet home— a place we always look forward to and seek warmth and comfort from. This comfort originates from a place being truly ours, serving as an extension of our personality and identity.
Even though I was born and raised in Canada, growing up with my Lola & Lolo in their house always made me feel like I was in the Philippines. The food we ate, the linens we had, and the colour palette of the house all played a part in creating this atmosphere.
I genuinely feel like the design of our home is certainly incomplete without the cultural elements we've added throughout the years. Each pieces adds to the rejuvenating experience of our home. Cultural decor and details can bring about a warm and inviting feel to your home, too!
Culture can definitely serve as unique inspiration for any interior space. It celebrates one's ancestral roots, allowing individuals to stay connected with their origins. May this article inspire you to pay tribute to your cultural influences and all the things that really bring you together, while allowing you to cherish memories of your family and traditions.
It's time to add more depth and character to your home by connecting to your cultural roots, providing you with the perfect opportunity to showcase and share your cultural value with your guests and spark some meaningful conversations! Are you ready? Here we go!
opt for wall art honouring your culture and heritage.
Serving as the focal point of any space, wall art is an easy way to proudly showcase your cultural roots. From family portraits and landscapes of your hometown, to paintings honouring your architectural heritage, there are limitless options when it comes to wall art. For a greater impact, you can customize and create your own gallery wall. Wherever possible, involve other family members in the process! The collective effort can truly create meaningful wall decor that each one of you can relate to. You may even learn a thing or two!
Wall art can also serve as a conversation piece. With images and paintings honouring your past, each piece can reveal your life's story and spark meaningful conversations. To add more depth and character to your home, cultural wall decor remains a must. Finish off each piece with care, adding materials and decor details that can rightfully convey your cultural aesthetics.
embrace your cultural roots with fabric decor.
Fabric decor remains a great way to adorn your home with ethnic colours and patterns. These elements can instantly provide a glimpse of your cultural heritage. Drape a tapestry, blanket, or shawl over the back of a comfy chair to proudly display your culture. Rugs and carpets crafted in eye-catching patterns and motifs can provide a time-honoured nod to your heritage. These timeless additions can also embrace multiple cultures to showcase the beauty and richness of different cultures.
There are certainly endless creative possibilities when it comes to furnishing your home with fabric decor. A tapestry cannot only replicate your cultural motifs, but recreate an entire scene, adding nostalgia and memories to your home.
Another subtle way to add cultural design elements into your home: throw pillows! Throw pillows remain the easiest solution. Embroidered or patterned cushions and table runners embellished in cultural patterns can also add a richness of colours and textures to your space.
adorn your home with cultural artifacts.
A cultural artifact is truly a treasure to be cherished in your home. Acting as the centrepiece of your coffee table, for example, the piece can instantly spark conversations and personalize your space. Serving as meaningful decor items that can reveal their own stories, family heirlooms and antiques placed on your desk or bookshelf can truly serve as a cultural inspiration.
From things you have found and stored to valuable items passed onto you, the possibilities are endless to add nostalgic charm to your home, instantly making your space feel layered and collected. I have a little parol (lantern) that I keep above my dining room door during Christmas! My Lolo (Grandfather) got is as a gift from Philippine Airlines while he worked in the tourism industry. Whenever I look up at the parol, it literally warms my heart as it reminds me of my Lolo, and serves as a reminder of the hope, goodwill, and light that we celebrate at Christmas.
The right cultural accessories can also add warmth and comfort to your home. Traditional Filipino style embraces a lot of tropical decor items with extensive use of rattan, vigan tiles, and other natural resources native to the Philippines. Adding bamboo accents to your home is not only a way to connect with the Motherland, but brings about a refreshing and soothing aura into your home. Feel free to show off all your authentic and charming cultural finds!
bring your culture to life with crockery and dinnerware.
Eating rituals have always been deeply connected with cultural traditions and customs, especially in the Philippines. (Kamayan, anyone?) Displaying your dinnerware and crockery could instantly provide a glimpse of your cultural heritage. Instead, of locking your precious plates, cutlery (big fork & spoon 😉), and other serving vessels in a cupboard, consider proudly showcasing it upon open shelves. Traditional Filipino clay pots feature a beautiful array of colours and rustic patterns. Cultural ceramics can add a rich and vibrant flair to any contemporary setting. You can display it on the walls to serve as a creative and engaging experience.
It is also important to understand that many pieces from your crockery and utensils represent important cultural traditions and rituals. You can display these items as a centrepiece on your coffee table or fireplace mantle. It could serve as a cultural focal point where you can share and narrate stories of your favourite rituals, family traditions, or simply how you obtained the piece. The Japanese tea ceremony, for example, requires a specific set of pottery equipment. Carefully and mindfully displaying a tea set in homage can definitely spark the curiosity of others into this age-old ritual.
trigger memories with scents, flowers, and plants.
Engaging your sense of smell, scents can immediately transport you to the past. From cherished childhood memories to the breathtaking experience of your favourite destination, the right scents can truly bring a smile to your face, making you feel warm & fuzzy inside.
Native flowers and plants from your hometown can play a similar role. Lush green visuals to the smell of your favourite flower can all immediately recreate memories of the past, allowing you to relive some of your most memorable experiences. Scented candles throughout your living space can revitalize your home, creating a cultural haven.
From embracing culture to showing love for history and memories, your interior space can truly reflect your heart, making it a home. With cultural design elements, you can transform your home into a perfect place to relax and enjoy time with yourself and loved ones. Connecting with your culture is a great way to celebrate who you are and where you come from. A cultural bond can strengthen your identity to deliver a wholesome living experience for you and everyone who enters your home!
In what ways do you showcase your culture in your home?
Comments