Holidays abroad may never be the same again. Adopt the universal style (brightly colored walls, gorgeous ceramic tiled floors & hunter ceiling fans gently circulating the air) in your house and your days of boredom on the beach will be swapped for early-morning trawls through regional markets, exciting expeditions to souks and fascinating time whiled away in artisans' workshops. In short, your vacations will take on a whole new meaning and may even inspire trips further afield to search for yet more exotic finds.

It is not essential to go to Disneyland to discover that it is a tiny world. The late twentieth century has seen the idea of the global village reflected in a lot of aspects of our lives. Just as the meals we eat might feature sun-dried tomatoes from Italy, coconut milk from the Caribbean and seaweed from Japan, thus this trend is echoed in the furnishing of our homes, and the chance to decorate with the excellent mix of sunshine, color and crafts from lots of lands becomes irresistible - along with the obligatory hunter ceiling fan in the main reception rooms.

There's nothing new in ethnic style. Throughout history, fashions in beautification are significantly influenced by the importation of foreign elements. The acceptance of the French rococo style in the early eighteenth century, the fad for chinoiserie in Regency times and the introduction of Greek motifs in the early 19th century are all examples.

Inspiration is all around - we've the world to search for ideas. We just have to imagine the colors of an oriental carpet, the patterns of West African textiles and the shapes of continental pots to realize what a rich palette we need to draw on. Materials, too, play a huge part in ethnic decoration. Terracotta, rattan, native woods, tin, bamboo, papier-mache & woven textiles of each description all contribute, as do designs of paisley, ikat and batik.

Remarkably, mixing objects from several ethnic sources does not present a problem - you only have to look at the latest hunter ceiling fans with lights to see that. It might seem strange, but the colors, textures and designs emerging from those remote locations have surprising parallels. Maybe it's the reliance upon natural color pigments, basic shapes and forms and crude implements that produces this pleasing combination of disparate cultures.

An added bonus for decorators of global style is one of cost. Based, as this style is, on more native materials of the different cultures from which it derives, items which are hand-made, sometimes in regional workshops and of locally sourced natural materials, are unlikely to claim very large a portion of the decorating budget. Neither should the provision of a suitable background for all these treasures. The expensive expertise of an expert are not what is necessary here, but rather the inspiration of the innovative amateur who will naturally render the style in all it's naivete.

Recycling is a vital part of ethnic decoration. The conversion, for the cost of a tin of paint, of everyday objects is part and parcel of the tribal tradition. What better use for that thrown out baked-bean can than for it to be painted a brilliant color only to reappear as a plant pot?

There's not even a requirement to move out of your own environment to gather goodies for this colorful style. Today 'trading posts' are to be found in or near most of the major cities. Imported in bulk, items are gathered from the 4 comers of the world, and it's the importer who has the burden of excess baggage. Other treasures may be picked up at charity shops, antique fairs and rug auctions. A visit to an anthropological museum could yield yet more contributions.

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