30 Peruvian Decor Ideas that Will Brighten Up a Home

Trista - August 29, 2019
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30 Peruvian Decor Ideas that Will Brighten Up a Home
Photo: Aracari Travel

Peru, with its rich cultural history and beautiful Andean mountain landscape, is a natural fit for whimsical, nature-inspired home decor. Light walls, stone and mineral objects that honor the country’s mountain mining industry, and pops of color that evoke the feeling of warm sand, high peaks, and lush forests all combine to give Peruvian home decor a unique look.

The country also has a history of colonization by the Spanish, which has led Spanish Colonial style to have an impact on traditional Peruvian decor. If you are a fan of the Spanish Colonial style, a few pieces will pair quite naturally with the Indigenous Peruvian style of decor.

 

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1. Light Walls

Many elements of Peruvian design include elaborate patterns and bold colors; perhaps it’s no surprise that Peruvian designers prefer light color walls throughout homes to better contrast these statement pieces. While stark white walls are more associated with Spanish Colonial influence, pale white toned or off-white neutral walls are a staple of Peruvian design.

Using white walls create clean lines that let bright textiles and rich wood furniture truly speak for themselves. So after you are done painting, the real fun begins. Now it’s time to discover bold accents to create the Peruvian style you desire.

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2. Silver Frames

Metallic accents, particularly in silver and gold, are popular elements of Peruvian design. For photographs and artwork, silver is the preferred color with large, ornate silver picture frames being very common features in Peruvian homes.

Ornate silver framed mirrors are also trendy, both for the metallic finish and the enhanced brightness and sense of space that mirrors bring to a room. It should be simple for you to include this style in your overall home design. Since there are so many of these accessories available, search for one you really love.

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3. Comfortable Seating

Of course, everyone wants comfortable seating in their living room. However, in most forms of interior design, comfort is a must, and Peru is no different. They eschew the low seating of Greek and Arab design in favor of the comfiest couch possible.

Thick cushions, comfortable fabric finishes, stuffed to the brim with throw pillows and bright, beautiful blankets, the comfort and inviting nature of the piece of furniture is truly the most crucial element. Neutral colors are often preferred to let embroidered pillows and textiles steal the show.

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4. Terra Cotta

Terra cotta is prized by many cultures in interior design both for the richness of its hue and its utility as a material that wicks water away from delicate plant roots. Elaborately carved terra cotta vases are favorites in Peru along with more traditional planters.

A luxurious, dark wood side table or entryway table pairs beautifully with a brightly colored Peruvian table runner and a terra cotta pot or vase. Feel free to use the good, ole terra cotta pots with some natural green flowers to bring the outdoors inside.

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5. Sand Hues

Along with neutral wall colors, colors that evoke the feeling of warm sand are also quite popular thanks to Peru’s beautiful coastline. Peach and color-hued neutrals are prevalent wall and drapery colors, as are richer terra cotta hues like deep oranges and reds.

Incorporating actual sand into your space with sand-based vivariums and terrariums as well as vases are another way to bring that warm, beachy feeling to your design. You can even include your children in some DIY sand art and put their crafts on display.

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6. Pops of Red

Red is a luxurious, sensual color that is popular, at least in small amounts, in many design themes. Peruvian design is no different, with pops of red, particularly in embroidered pillows and other textile accents, being especially favored.

Paired with neutral walls, a few splashes of red throughout a room create a bold and dramatic look without seeming uninviting or editorial. Red pillows, a red side table, or a predominantly red piece of wall art are great ways to introduce a pop of red into your design.

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7. Embroidered Pillows

Embroidered pillows are a popular and common art form in Peru. Some pillows feature repetitive, concentric botanical-inspired patterns while others feature more eclectic embroidered imagery like birds, flowers, llamas, or other popular Peruvian imagery including horses, obelisks, and stones.

Many pillows are quite brightly colored featuring multiple neon hues on a blue, white, or black background. Mix and match these fun, bright pillows with a cozy, neutral couch, and you will instantly have an open Peruvian seating area. Keep in mind embroidered pillows may not be the most comfortable.

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8. Tapestries

Along with pillows, dyed and embroidered tapestries are another essential and beautiful part of Peruvian art. Many of these tapestries feature forest or Indigenous community scenes, often done in needlepoint or in a manner similar to scrap quilting.

Mounted on a neutral wall, these tapestries bring a beautiful pop of color and really tell a story about both Peru’s artistic tradition and the scene being portrayed itself. Even if you have a small one, it will convey the overall style of Peru.

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9. Christian Items

Christianity, brought by the Spanish colonizers to Peru, continues to be an important part of Peruvian culture. This means many traditionally decorated Peruvian homes feature crucifixes or another Christian iconography as a vital part of their home decor.

For a Peruvian style crucifix, look for one crafted from a richly dark wood that features silver or gold metallic accents of a native mineral like turquoise. Portraits or tapestries featuring Christian motifs are also popular and would be another great way to incorporate this element of Peruvian design.

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10. Exposed Brick

The Peruvian love of vibrant red and orange hues, as well as the look of terra cotta, makes exposed brick a natural fit for Peruvian decor. Much like in the Spanish Colonial tradition, brick floors are a popular way to keep Peruvian homes cool throughout the year while also adding a natural, rustic look.

Exposed brick walls are more industrial looking and thus less common, but in a more modern home could be a great way to honor the exposed brick look. Even if you aren’t going for a Peruvian design, you might want to utilize this style in your home.

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11. Metal Accents

While silver frames have already been discussed, various metal accents are trendy in Peruvian design, especially silver and gold tones. Look for furniture with metallic accents. There are a plethora of home decor accessories you can get including silver or gold candleholders. Bookends and ornate metallic mirrors are other quick go-tos for this style.

Any time you can create beautiful pops of lustrous metals to beautifully pair with the bright textiles of Peruvian design. Metal sculptures of birds, horses, llamas, and other Peruvian animals are another great way to add metal to the mix.

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12. Wooden and Metal Furniture

With the love of metallic accents, it’s no surprise that Peruvian designers love wooden furniture that incorporates metal, whether it’s a wood headboard with intricate metal inlay or a side table with shining metal legs. Wrought iron and pewter accents are also very popular elements in headboards, dining chairs, tables, and more.

If you want to stay on-trend for 2019, look to some of the more natural-looking metallic finishes like iron and pewter, as gold and silver can seem a bit dated. Although most people don’t see your bedroom, you will still want to show off your new style.

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13. Bright Peruvian Textiles

Bright, patterned textiles are one of the most immediately recognizable exports from Peru. These intricate fabrics are often made from llama and alpaca hair yarn. They are carefully woven into genuinely incredible pieces of art, so not only is it a blanket but also a masterpiece!

Look for fair trade options to avoid mass-produced textiles that undercut Indigenous artists. While countless hues are available, indigo blue, pink, purple, orange, yellow, and green are often featured throughout the textiles. Try to shop at local farmer’s markets in order to support your community.

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14. Cacti and Succulents

The warm, stable climate in Peru allows for the outdoor growth of countless varieties of cacti and succulents. Unfortunately, many of us live in areas where that simply isn’t possible, but we can still enjoy a fraction of that climate by bringing a rich variety of cacti and succulents into our homes as house plants.

Try growing a variety of shapes and textures of cacti in terra cotta pots, which are both excellent for the plants and a beloved part of Peruvian design. For succulents, try arranging them in broad, shallow bowls filled with pebbles and rocks to recreate an authentic desert feel.w

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15. Hanging, Trailing Houseplants

Vines like pothos and philodendron tend to run rampant when introduced to warm places like Peru, so outdoor vining plants are a common sight. In your home, try either hanging an easy to care for vine like a pothos, or plant them in a large pot with a moss-covered pole to encourage vertical vining.

Either way, the lush sight of a vining plant will bring some of the warm, natural beauty of Peru’s climate into your home while also providing healthy air-purifying benefits! Even if you don’t have a green thumb, give this look a try and you might surprise yourself!

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16. Bright Rugs

Much like the bright woven textiles, colorful decorate Peruvian rugs are another widely celebrated export. These handwoven rugs often feature birds, horses, alpacas, and other Peruvian motifs in gorgeous, bold colors. So whatever theme you are going with, incorporate that through your rugs, too.

As with the textiles, buy from fair trade sources whenever possible to support local, Indigenous artisans who make their living from traditional crafts. These lightweight yet sturdy rugs are well worth the price!

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17. String Lights

Bright light is an integral part of Peruvian home aesthetics. Light colored walls, mirrors to reflect natural light, and ample artificial lighting are all musts for a Peruvian home. If you love this look, it would benefit you to know it is of Peruvian design.

To complement the fact that many Peruvian designs and colors fit beautifully into a boho aesthetic, try adding string lights to a bedroom or living space to add a whimsical, gentle source of additional light. These small, twinkling lights bring a bit of holiday-feeling cheer year-round!

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18. Faux Animal Pelt Accents

There is nothing quite like rubbing your bare feet on a fuzzy rug, especially first thing in the morning. Farming, particularly alpacas, is an essential part of Peruvian history and economics. Animal hide rugs are a common sight in Peruvian homes, especially the beautiful fluffy white hair of the alpaca.

While important an authentic animal hide rug is quite cost-prohibitive, there are many faux animal pelt rugs available from a wide variety of big-box stores. These faux pelts fit a wide range of styles, including modern, and add a great deal of versatility to a space.

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19. Colorful Garlands

If you’ve ever visited a world market or world goods store and seen beautiful strings of brightly colored felted balls, you have seen one of the quirkier and most cheerful elements of Peruvian design. These colorful, charming garlands are often handmade by Peruvian craftspeople and imported to the US as fair trade items.

Despite that, they are quite inexpensive and an easy way to add some international cheer to a fire mantle place, a child’s bedroom, or really anywhere your heart desires. They will reflect your desire for Peruvian style no matter what!

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20. Horse Motifs

Horses are an essential part of Peruvian culture and history, as they are for many cultures. This history is often honored through horse sculptures created from gold, silver, stone, or precious ores, all of which also pay tribute to the rich mining industry in Peru.

These majestic animals also often appear in tapestries and textiles. You probably will notice horses alongside other common motifs like plants, flowers, birds, and alpaca. A small horse statue brings elegance to any office or living space.

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21. Panpipes

A cultural icon of Peru is the traditional panpipes, whose unique sound makes many Peruvian tunes instantly recognizable. The gentle yet resonant sound of the panpipe is lovely and unique, which makes them a great addition to Peruvian decor.

Even if you do not know how to play them, prominently displaying an authentic set of free trade panpipes honors a vital part of Peruvian musical tradition. It also adds a gorgeous, curved wood element to your decor. If nothing else, it makes a great conversation piece!

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22. Dried Gourds

Dried gourds have historically been an incredibly useful source for tools, from safe food storage to ladles and water vessels. Peru is no different, with a rich history of elaborately carved and decorated gourds being used to store valuable food items.

If you have a green thumb, you can grow and dry your own snake gourds, and even try your hand at decorating them. Otherwise, many world market types of stores will likely have imported fair trade decorated gourds that you can add to your kitchen or dining room for a beautiful yet historical conversation piece.

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23. Colorful, Tasseled Table Runners

Perhaps you’ve noticed a theme with the colorful textiles. It’s true, Peru is a nation that loves a beautiful bold fabric, and it’s one of the best elements of their design aesthetic! Thus, you might as well incorporate this concept into your home decor.

Their table runners are indeed show-stopping, combining the intense colors and unique patterns of their textiles and tapestries with the whimsical youthfulness of their colorful garlands through the bright tasseled ends of the runners. These are a must for any dining table and large enough side table.

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24. Obelisks and Pyramids

Peru is perhaps most famous internationally for being the home of Machu Picchu, the world-renowned Incan citadel that resides high in the Andes. The Incans were prolific builders of pyramids and obelisks, and as such those shapes are an important part of Peruvian decor.

To reflect this style within your home decor, try adding a gold or silver statue of an Incan pyramid to a living room or office. Search for a stone obelisk made from stone or ore that is commonly mined in Peru and you instantly have the look you desire.

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25. Stone and Mineral Accents

The Andes mountains are rich with beautiful stones and minerals, including precious minerals like turquoise and opals. To reflect this bounty of natural beauty in your home, try decorating houseplants with beautiful polished rocks.

Alternatively, look for a large geode or natural formation of a favorite mineral, especially if it is one that can be found in Peru. These can be displayed on beautiful gold or silver shelves or racks that also incorporate the Peruvian fondness for metallic finishes.

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26. Alpaca Motifs

Peru is home to about 80% of the entire world population of Alpacas, so it is perhaps unsurprising that Peruvian art often reflects the adorable animal in its motifs. The alpaca has historically served as an essential work animal and source of fiber for Indigenous Peruvians, so it has a firm place in the nation’s history, as well.

Being an adorable animal, it is quite easy to find colorful wall art of alpacas that ties together both the colorful textile theme of Peru with the importance of the alpaca. The alpaca motif might be your favorite of all time!

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27. Spanish Colonial: Wrought Iron

Wrought iron on balconies is often associated with Spanish and French design. The Spanish tended to take this love with them wherever they went, and Peru was no exception, with wrought iron gates becoming popular in many luxury homes.

Staircases with wrought iron are also incredibly popular, and most likely the easiest and least costly way to introduce structural wrought iron into your home. Look to wrought iron chandeliers and lanterns for an even smaller and cheaper way to incorporate the look.

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28. Spanish Colonial: Rounded Arches

While elaborate arches tend to be a hallmark of Arab and Greek designs, a simple curved arch in a white wall is a core component of any Spanish Colonial home. As the most straightforward shape, they are the easiest to work into a modern home without seeming out of place or editorial.

If you don’t want to commit to a doorway redesign, look for simple curved white pieces of furniture like a tall bookcase to introduce a similar line and flow into your home. Another way to bring rounded arches into your room is through mirrors or frames.

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29. Spanish Colonial: Rich, Dark Wood Pieces

Traditional Peruvian design also features wood furniture, but Spanish Colonial introduced the love of more elaborately carved and finished pieces of rich, dark wood. As colonizers, the Spanish had ample access to luxurious tropical dark hardwoods like ebony, mahogany, and teak to create stunning pieces of furniture.

A dark dining room set would be a perfect touch of Spanish Colonial for a Peruvian themed home. If it has scalloped edges and carved chairs, you are really making this style work!

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30. Spanish Colonial: High Ceilings

Don’t necessarily give up your dark wood for this bright white room. However, take note at the high ceilings. They are a superb, flexible option depending on what your home already has. While many Peruvian homes feature a lower ceiling, high ceilings are a prominent part of Spanish Colonial design.

If you have naturally low ceilings but aspire for the Spanish Colonial element of Peruvian design, try upward vining plants like Pothos, long mirrors, and other aspects of a vertical design to draw the eye upwards and create a feeling of height.

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