How to Decorate a Home Cuban-Style

Take color inspiration from Cuban landscapes. Cuba is a tropical place, full of palm trees, sandy beaches and sparkling ocean. Choose paint colors, furniture and accessories that draw on the tropical color palette of blues, coral, orange, sunny yellow and lush shades of green. Anchor these bright tropical colors with cooling shades of white, cream and gray.

Furnish the space with vintage or reproduction pieces from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Look for pieces that feature chrome, vinyl upholstery and midcentury-modern inspired touches. One of bes-known facts about Cuba is that vintage cars still fill the streets. To draw on this retro flair, you can choose furniture that might have filled homes in Cuba before the revolution of 1959.

Accessorize with linens, bedding, window treatments and flooring made of natural, lightweight and breathable materials. Light-colored fabrics are typically seen as tropical, so you may choose drapes and floor coverings in shades of white, cream, straw or cool shades of blue and gray.

Incorporate natural elements into the home's design. A recurring feature in Cuban architecture is the use of terra cotta. From room tiles to vases and flooring, terra cotta clay can be seen in many homes. It's a durable material that can add to the tropical, airy feel of the Cuban climate.

Allow natural light to shine through as much as possible. Cuba is a bright, beach-filled paradise, where the sun shines most of the year. Try to create a similar warmth and vibrancy with lighting fixtures and exposed windows in the home's decor.