Moroccan furniture is normally solid wood and stylish. Morocco is an ex-French colony, but it is very near Spain too. In fact, two small parts of Morocco, Melilla and Ceuta are still under Spanish control.
This means that Moroccan furnishings and decor has Berba, Arabic, French and Spanish influences. These Mediterranean influences are prominent in traditional and modern Moroccan furniture.
When combined with Moroccan decor and colours, Moroccan furniture can transform your home. Walls are normally emulsioned plain white or cream and lightly decorated with old carpets or tapestries with one or two photos or paintings hanging between them.
Reds and browns are the principal colours. Poignant writings from the Koran or other Arabic philosophers are often written out in bold script and framed.
Moroccan accessories such as lamps, lanterns, mirrors, benches, vases, mosaic end tables, ottomans, rugs and ceramics can add that special local flavour to the decor, setting off the solid timber or padded fabric furniture.
Pillows feature extensively in Moroccan interior and garden decor, but they also use settees and chairs in the European manner. Morocco is famous for its leather craft and leather is frequently used to cover chairs, sofas and footstools or poufes.
Loose rugs are important for sitting on and they are taken out and beaten each day to keep them clean as Morocco is a hot, sandy and dusty country if you travel a few miles inland from the coast. Camels are still used for transport in rural parts and camel hair is woven into rugs, blankets and wall coverings.
Moroccans like tiles and mosaics and Arabic style tiles are quite distinctive if you want to use them in your bathroom and kitchen. If you want to dine in Moroccan style, they usually dine at a very low round table with the main dish in the centre from which everybody helps themselves, although in a family, some members will feed others too.
Following tradition and hygiene, you may only touch food with your right hand, although everyone will have washed both hands before coming to the table. Bread, rice and couscous feature highly in Moroccan food as does potatoes, carrots, lamb and chicken.Water is served during the meal and tea and coffee afterwards frequently with very sweet cakes sprinkled with icing sugar and syrup.
People take it easy at home wearing long, loose-fitting garments and lounge on benches or on rugs on the floor surrounded by cushions. In the evening, lighting will be low offered by low wattage bulbs concealed behind red and brown stained glass or cloth. Candles, scented or not also feature a great deal in living rooms and bedrooms unless someone wants a stronger light to read by.
Candles in wall sconces are common methods to highlight special areas and light up corridors and some doorways. Frequently these sconces do not hold candles, but hold scented oil with a floating wick which is less expensive to leave burning between the hours or twilight and bed time.
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with outdoor dining tables. If you want to know more, please visit our web site at Solid Oak Dining Tables.