Arabian style décor can add a sensual, exotic appeal to your home. Some people like to keep the opulence inherent in this design aesthetic to subtle hints here and there, while others prefer a comprehensive display of geometric designs and pops of color. Incorporating a few Arabic interior design elements can be simple when you hunt down lush rugs, muted metals, and bold colors for accent pieces and accessories. Read on here, to get ideas for everything from lighting and table top accents to beds and dining room tables.
The Arabian Design Aesthetic
Typically, Arabian style patterns are devoid of any figurative images — instead they showcase relatively basic overlapping shapes. Most popular in Arabic interior design, are converging circles and squares, but other common motifs include the eight-pointed star, polygons, and complex tessellations. These patterns are best represented in rugs, curtains, bedding, and tilework, but you’ll also see hints of these on chair backs, table embellishments, pillows, and even bed frames.
Accessories
You might assume that the big furniture pieces are the most important features of Arabic interior design, but oftentimes, the accessories create a more cohesive picture. Here are some of our favorite rug, lighting, and accent brands that bring a little bit of the Middle East into your home.
Rugs
One popular rug you’ll find on the list of many Arabic interior design experts is the Kilim rug. This flat, tapestry-woven style was traditionally produced in the former Persian Empire as well as the Turkic countries of Central Asia.
The 1986 North Indian and Macy’s collaboration, Surya, has a stunning Kilim collection full of angular designs in charcoal, cream, and blue. For something a little bolder in both color and pattern, explore the Arabia collection from the same designer. You can also find slightly abstracted Arabian style rugs from the Bashian brand in their Damask and Moroccan collections.
Ceramics and Metalwork
While the Arabic interior design of ceramic and metalwork was initially simplistic, over time it has become increasingly stylized. In addition to the fundamental circular and square designs, you’ll also find radial stripes, symmetric flowers, and braided borders.
Dimond Home has stunning examples of ceramics and metalwork that play with geometry and color theory. Intricate ceramic weaving is neutralized by the colorless hues of the Woven Ceramic collection, and dizzying geometric radials are balanced by brushed brass and antiqued silver in the Bain and Home Cast collections. Find the ceramic floral designs you crave by Paragon in their Architecture and Aged collections.
Lighting
Since so much of Arabian design featured high domes, recessed ceiling lights were never common in their buildings. Instead, you would find intricate pendant lights and wall sconces that added even more embellishment to the complex tile work on the floor and walls. Some Arabic interior design heavily relied on Turkish-style perforated sheets of metal or glass mosaics that were molded into crown, dome, or teardrop shapes. You can also find large format geometric metal weaving that utilizes squares to create symmetric star shapes.
For larger pendant lights and sconces, Dimond Home offers stunning mixed metal creations in the Connexions and Morovian Star collections. Similar themes are also present in Artcraft Lighting’s Artistry collection. If you simply love the perforated style, your more intricate pendant and sconce lighting solutions can be found in the Artcraft Starstruck collection.
Screens
To easily change the feel of a space for more intimate gatherings, Indo-Islamic architecture made use of Jali screens. These were usually stone screens that were pierced in the traditional interwoven patterns and geometric designs. While the use of perforated walls has declined in today’s architecture, the rise of screens has prompted many furniture designers to add them to a variety of collections.
You can find some modern interpretations of the Jali screen for your fireplace or as room dividers in Cyan Design’s Fire collection. Meyda Lighting also has a stunning take on Arabian styled stained glass screens. Even Tommy Bahama has a collection that borrows from Arabic interior design called Ivory Key.
Furniture
Since much of Arab culture revolves around family, the living room and dining room are often incredibly important social hubs where furniture layout is critical. Ensuring an open central space with plenty of seating options is essential to Arabic interior design. Traditional seating layouts are lower to the ground, with a wide array of floor cushions or benches. Intricately carved wood coffee tables and brushed brass end tables balance plush fabrics and lavish colors.
Dining Room
While the low seating design can be comfortable in your living room, you might prefer higher seating arrangements in the dining room. Keep the Arabic interior design theme alive when you choose chairs and tables that incorporate styled geometric patterns on chair backs and table legs. Seasonal Living has a durable white concrete table that will bring joy to every occasion. For a subtle exploration of chairs that give you the charm of the old world, explore the offerings of Uttermost.
Living Room
Amid your throw pillows and luxurious rugs, lavish your living room with unique coffee tables from Dimond Home and Zentique. There’s a variety of themes you can play within these brands. Whether you prefer the lattice-work of the Thyme garden nesting tables or the brushed gold details of a Sterling end table, there are a number of directions you can take your living room in. Find your favorite coffee table and build out your space around it.
Bed Sets
Finding a bed set that accurately portrays the intricate designs and patterns of Arabic interior design can make your room a dizzying explosion of ornamentation if you also choose bedding and pillows with similar motifs. Keep your bedroom a calming space when you choose sets with simpler embellishments. If you still insist on some sort of ornamentation, explore the Geode collection from A.R.T. Furniture, but we would also recommend brushed metal frames or tufted backboards as a quieter backdrop to the exciting colors and designs of Arabian fabrics.
Your Arabian Experts
At LuxeDecor, we strive to bring you every element of Arabic interior design and décor you need to transform your home. With nearly endless collections from some of the most globally respected brands, you’ll never run out of new pieces to add to any of your spaces. Check out our Arabic inspired design guides: bedroom, dining, living room, and Arabian outdoor. Looking for something specific? Reach out to our team for assistance hunting down your must-have pieces!
