The mere sound of Mediterranean lifestyle brings to our mind a simple, relaxed and comfortable living. So many people throng to the beaches and towns along this beautiful ocean to spend their days off.
This lifestyle is all about being true to nature and living it fairly casual. All along the Southern Europe and on the North of Africa, this style dates back to the wisdom that brought us these elements.
What if we can bring little elements of this lifestyle into our own living spaces. This time you redo your house, let it ride on the winds coming from the Mediterranean sea.
1- Paint it bright white or let some color do it’s magic
White and sky blue is color of choice for most of the Mediterranean spaces. It is said these colors are borrowed from the waters and skies which this region is symbolic about. The whites and the blues not only complement each other but gives the person within a uniquely soft feel of the space.
These white walls let in most amount of sunlight during the day and when dimly lit in the night makes the walls seem softer and less imposing. This color palette is also a favorite in Moroccan style of architecture which heavily borrows from the Mediterranean style.
2- Let the textures do their thing
Mediterranean living and architecture is much about the process of construction and coming together of elements. Hence, its symbolic to use natural textures of materials used. Even when doing plaster, paint is often mixed within and stucco plaster paint is the final product. This provides a raw looking finish which has much character within. Both in paint and polishing, hand strokes of the labor and moving arches of the human hand can often been seen. This is a testament and tribute to the person who has left his mark on the space.
3- Play with patterns and let them be the hero in the room
A lot of Mediterranean design features use repeat patterns as an important element. These can be in form of a brick wall with accentuated grout lines, exposed wooden grains in the ceiling, wall or the floor or the way tiles are put together on the floors or the walls. Often just letting certain element be patterned does the trick. Some North African Mediterranean influences also have patterns in jalis or the mashrabiyas which are used both as a screen and as a decorative element.
4- Bring the outside, inside.
Being close to nature is always the most important thing in any Mediterranean themed space. With lots of wind and sunshine washing these spaces, they are ideal of humans to inhabit. With ample amounts of sunlight, these spaces rarely give an unhappy out look. Wall openings of all sizes, terraces with deep overhangs and door ways which frame views are most notable in these designs.
This reminds me of the the vacation I had on the Greek coast.