subject: Beauty And Design In Moroccan Furniture And Moroccan Living Rooms [print this page] Moroccan furniture and Moroccan living rooms are characteristically opulent in term of colors, textures, and materials. Furniture takes the form of sofas, benches, chairs and tables as well as cabinets and dressers, among other items. A Moroccan living room might also have an intricately patterned rug, several lamps or lanterns, mirrors and shelving on the walls, and a variety of poufs and pillows strewn about on the furniture and on the floor.
Colors may at times be in muted shades, but there is relatively little that would be called neutral. Usually the colors used are deep and intense. Blue in many tones is a favorite, as well as various shades of red, yellow and green. All these vibrant colors show up in rich fabrics, dyed leathers, stained glass, painted ceramics and other materials. Inlaid work, such as camel bone and mother-of-pearl, can be in natural tones or else stained various hues.
Living room and other furniture often feature inlaid designs. Tables, dressers, and cabinets, as well as mirror frames and chairs, often are intricately carved and inlaid with various materials. Camel bone and mother-of-pearl are frequently used, but the material may also be nickel silver, ceramic, melted resin and others. Bone and mother-of-pearl may be natural colored or else stained various hues.
Leather is also widely used in Moroccan decor. Intricately pieced and patterned poufs feature leather in many exotic colors, perhaps also painted or embossed. Poufs are used like ottomans, or foot rests, and also as pillows for floor seating, as at low tables. Leather also is used on chairs and benches, and even as shades on lamps or lanterns.
Stained or colored glass is widely used in Moroccan decor, especially in the famous lamps and lanterns. Often multiple colors are included, producing a stunning effect when light from a candle or electric bulb shines through. Tea glasses, another popular item, are made from colored glass in various shades. Stained glass may also be used for inlay work on mirror frames, tables, and the like.
A stunning decoration used on some mirror frames, as well as the edges of chairs, is nickel silver. This is not actually silver at all, but an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc which has the sheen of silver but does not tarnish like real silver does. Often the nickel silver will feature finely detailed designs etched, hammered or embossed on its surface.
Fabrics contribute to the overall effect of opulence. As coverings for pillows, chairs, sofas and benches, they often are made of silk or other luxurious natural fibers and woven into brocades, velvets and damasks. A pillow cover, especially for sofa pillows, often ends with a deep tasseled fringe. Rich fabrics are also used as throws and bed coverings.
Painted designs in bright geometric or else arabesque configurations are used extensively in Moroccan decor. Tiles are frequently seen painted with complex motifs and brilliant hues. Vases are popular for intricate paint works also, as are leather, glassware, and fabric.
Overall, the intricate and opulent style of Moroccan furniture and Moroccan living rooms endlessly fascinates and entices the eye. The colors are warm, rich, and inviting. The intricacy of design and attention to detail make this a stunning style of furnishings.
