5 ways to make your home more Filipino

Mark Villanueva Mark Villanueva
RESIDÊNCIA LITORAL - PINHAL / RS, daniel villela arquitetura daniel villela arquitetura Rustic style house
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In love with Philippine culture? Show the world just how much by bringing unique and traditional Filipino design elements into your home. For this ideabook, we compiled some creative ways to incorporate unique and traditional pinoy culture into your modern day home design.

1. Use light colors

The Philippines is a tropical country with warm weather and sunny skies for large chunks of the year, which is why Filipinos tend to use light color palettes for their homes. Not only do light shades help reflect sunlight, cooling the inside of the house, it also creates a bright and refreshing look that reflects the cheerful nature of the Filipino people.

2. Earthenware

Pottery and earthenware are deeply rooted in the history and traditions of Philippine culture, with the earliest signs of pottery-making in the country being dated as far back as 6000 BC. These old pots used for cooking were said to have had intricate incised carvings of creative and attractive designs. That's why adding these elements into your home can definitely add culture and personality to any space. You can even consider replacing your porcelain sink in the bathroom and use a stoneware sink instead for a beautiful accent piece.

3. Wooden elements

Wood is one of the most affordable and versatile building materials that can also be easily sourced locally. It's no surprise that many Filipinos still choose wood when building their homes. For that Filipino vibe, we suggest using local bamboo or rattan some of the most common materials used in homes across the provinces of the country. However, if you want a more rustic appeal, you can opt to go for weathered driftwood or a traviesa, which is old wood that were once used as railroad tracks. These wooden elements add dimension to your home design as it adds texture as they are often uneven, rough and laden with holes. Another benefit of utilizing these kinds of wood is that since they are old, they will also no longer contract or expand.

4. Ethnic patterns and native textiles

Another way to add some Filipino flavor to any home is by utilizing ethnic patterns and native textiles. Traditional Filipino patterns usually consist of repeating geometric shapes, while the textiles like carpets and curtains are woven from organic materials that are then dyed with bright colors. These decors make for great accent pieces and really helps turn your ordinary living room into a mecca of Filipino culture.

5. Decorate with colonial antiques

Want to create an eclectic vibe for your home? Hit the flea markets for some antique colonial furniture and decors. They make for great accent pieces and double as conversation starters. From old posos, butakas or ugoy-ugoys, these can provide a refreshingly unique look for your Filipino home.

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