New Decor Trend: Exotic Elements Provide a Tropical Retreat at Home

by | Jul 25, 2008 | 17, 18, 19, Articles

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">New Decor Trend: Exotic Elements Provide a Tropical Retreat at Home</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – Dreaming of traveling to your favorite tropical destination? Are you, like many, skipping your vacation due to the current economic recession? Don’t worry. Creative homeowners are bringing the idea of travel into their home by incorporating exotic decor that provides the feeling of a travel retreat.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">According to a recent "Vacationing at Home" survey by Febreze and Harris Interactive, 75 percent of people would like to travel to an exotic destination around the world, but cannot afford to in the current economy. Furthermore, 84 percent of people feel that staying at home is a great way to relax.</p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/17a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/17a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">This is why so many people are choosing a "staycation," where they spend time at home instead of traveling. The staycation idea has inspired a new trend in home decorating and design: tropical home decor. Inspiration for the trend springs directly from pleasant past vacation memories — simply open up your photo album and reminisce about your trip to Hawaii or Brazil.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Transforming your favorite room so it has the essence of your special travel spot is easier and more affordable than you think. Here are some tips for achieving today’s most popular decor trend:</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>1) Incorporate exotic color schemes.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Think of three colors that represent your favorite travel destination.<span>  </span>Many tropical destinations decorate with blues, tans, pinks and greens to represent the ocean, sandy beaches, and vivid plant life. Add splashes of these colors to your room and you’ll find it transformed almost instantly.<span>  </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Paint is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to update a room. Go traditional and paint all the walls, or try something new like splitting the wall in half horizontally and paint two different colors. If you want just a touch of color, try painting just one wall for a colorful focal point. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>2) Take a scent getaway.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The power of scent can conjure memories from our past travels. Febreze’s new Destinations Collection allows homeowners to give their house the essence of a tropical vacation through three great scents: Hawaiian Aloha, Brazilian Carnival and Moroccan Bazaar. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"People have the capacity to connect a fragrance with a specific moment in time," says noted scent expert and author Dr. Rachel Herz. "For example, lighting a Hawaiian Aloha Candle in the home will help evoke a memory of sitting on a beach in Maui. This is because the sense of smell is directly linked to memory processors in the brain, which create an emotional and behavioral response."</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>3) Accessorize for an authentic feel.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Whether it’s the blanket you bought in Mexico or one you bought at the store down the street, fun accessories can give a room exotic flare. Try adding a throw or a new pillow to transform your existing couch or chair. Paintings of the beach or a beautiful sunset also add to the feeling of the tropics. Finally, add some plant life into the mix. For example, a green fern by the window or a vase of flowers on the table can help the room appear vibrant no matter what the season.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/17c.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/17c.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>4) Add favorite photos.</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Choose a few favorite photos and place in tropical inspired frames — wood and bamboo are good options. Sprinkle these around the room for a personal touch that will serve as a reminder of your travels and the good memories you had with your friends and family. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Your newly redecorated room will serve as a temporary retreat from the stress of every day life. Use all your senses to experience a moment of escape in your very own home. For more information visit www.Febreze.com</p>  <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>