Tourists enter this Caribbean paradise to marvel at the fun graphic art, colorful building facades of Spanish-Colonial architecture, mid-century classic automobiles, sugar white beaches, sparkling ocean, and swaying palm trees. Cuban décor is inspired by Afro-Latin influences, vintage details, saturated color, and a touch of Art Deco. Earth tones merge with bright pastel hues of Blue, Saffron, Pink and Green creating the essence of tropical living.
To recreate this style in your home, start by adding intense color on the walls and ceiling. The Cuban color palette showcases pure pigments and deep, saturated hues, liberally applied to large spaces. If you want to bring Cuba home, this is not the time to accessorize with color; this is the time to forget neutrals even exist.
Use terra cotta tiles or natural floors to add an earthy feeling. In Cuba, colorful patterned cement tiles take the place of expensive, precious marble or ceramic tiles. These eclectic tiles take the place of patterned rugs, making your space cleaner and easier to maintain. They’re also virtually indestructible and are great for floors, walls, showers, entries, and patios. These environmentally friendly tiles are made by creating a group of four at once. Individual tiles are then rotated by 90 degrees so they make one design unit. When laid side by side, the tiles make an interlocking pattern over large areas
Vintage furnishings from 1930-1950’s are essential for the retro feeling, with motifs of carved pineapples and tobacco leaves on wooden finishes. Add bamboo or other natural materials to infuse the native island scheme. Trade with Cuba stopped in 1960, which is why the streets of Havana are crowded with beautiful classic cars. Look for whimsical vintage 1950’s advertising posters, car photos, cigar boxes, and license plates to bring an authentic vibe.
With United States relations with Cuba easing for the first time in fifty years, soon Americans will be flying back and forth to this colorful island, bringing back inspiration of the strange, yet harmonious hybrid of mid-century tropical for years to come.