Tropical Interior Design: Colors, Furniture & Ideas

Tropical interior design is a light, airy style inspired by homes and resorts in hot, humid climates such as the Caribbean, Hawaii and Southeast Asia. It combines rattan, bamboo, cane and teak furniture with large leafy plants, botanical prints, white walls and accents of green, coral, turquoise and yellow.

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What is Tropical style?

Tropical style draws on colonial-era plantation houses in the Caribbean and Asia, Balinese and Hawaiian building traditions, and mid-20th-century resort hotels. These homes used high ceilings, ceiling fans, louvered shutters and natural fibers to stay cool. In the 1940s and 1950s, banana-leaf wallpaper and rattan furniture made the look popular in Florida and California. It is popular now because indoor plants, natural materials and bright light are in demand, and the style makes any room feel like a holiday.

Tropical color palette

Crisp white#FAFAF5
Palm green#2E6B3F
Monstera green#4A7C59
Coral#F28C6A
Turquoise#3FB8AF
Sun yellow#F2C14E

Key features of Tropical design

1
Large-leaf plants such as monstera, banana, bird of paradise and kentia palm.
2
Botanical prints with palm, banana or monstera leaves on wallpaper or textiles.
3
Natural fiber furniture in rattan, cane and bamboo.
4
White or pale walls that keep the room bright and cool.
5
Light, sheer curtains and linen that move with air.
6
Indoor-outdoor flow through wide doors, shutters or a covered veranda.

Materials

Rattan and cane
Bamboo
Teak and mango wood
Jute, sisal and seagrass
Lightweight linen and cotton
Woven palm leaf and abaca
Terrazzo or cool stone tile

Furniture

Rattan or cane armchairs with cushion seats
Teak or bamboo coffee table
Four-poster bed in dark wood or bamboo
Woven pendant lights in rattan or seagrass
Louvered wood cabinet or screen
Ceiling fan with wood or palm-leaf blades

Tropical style room by room

Tropical bedroom
Use a four-poster or cane bed with white linen, a sheer canopy or curtains, a ceiling fan, and one wall of banana-leaf wallpaper.
Try it on your bedroom
Tropical bathroom
Add a teak bath mat and stool, a woven laundry basket, and moisture-loving plants such as ferns or pothos near the window.
Try it on your bathroom
Tropical balcony
Group potted palms of different heights, add a rattan lounge chair with outdoor cushions, and lay an outdoor jute-look rug.
Try it on your balcony

Mistakes to avoid

Theme-park decor such as plastic flamingos and novelty signs; keep accessories natural and restrained.
Heavy velvet and dark wool; choose breathable linen, cotton and natural fibers.
Plastic plants in key spots; use real plants or high-quality preserved ones, and match them to your light levels.
Every pattern tropical at once; pair one leaf print with solid colors and stripes.

Get the Tropical look on a budget

Buy second-hand rattan and cane furniture, which is widely available, and refresh cushions in a leaf print.
Use large-leaf houseplants like pothos and monstera, which grow quickly from cuttings.
Swap curtains for white linen sheers and add one botanical-print cushion or throw.

Frequently Asked Questions

What colors are used in tropical interior design?

Tropical interiors use white or warm white walls with several shades of green from palm and leaf tones. Accents are coral, turquoise, sun yellow and pink, often through cushions, art or one patterned wall. Natural rattan, bamboo and wood add tan and honey tones that tie the brighter colors together.

What is the difference between tropical and coastal decor?

Tropical decor focuses on lush plants, botanical prints, rattan and bold color, while coastal decor focuses on the beach with blue, white and sand tones, driftwood and striped fabrics. Tropical feels like a jungle resort; coastal feels like a beach house. Both use light colors and natural fibers.

Which plants work best for a tropical-style room?

The most used plants are monstera deliciosa, bird of paradise, kentia palm, banana plant, fiddle-leaf fig and pothos. Monstera and pothos tolerate medium light, while bird of paradise and banana need bright, direct light. Use large pots, 30 cm wide or more, and group plants at different heights.

How do I make a room look tropical without it looking tacky?

Keep the base calm with white walls and natural wood, then add tropical elements in a few places: one botanical print, two or three large plants, and rattan or cane furniture. Avoid novelty accessories and limit bright accents to one or two colors repeated around the room.

What furniture is used in tropical style?

Tropical furniture is made of rattan, cane, bamboo, teak and other hardwoods, often with woven panels and open frames that let air through. Typical pieces include cane armchairs, four-poster beds, louvered cabinets, teak coffee tables and woven pendant lights. Cushions are covered in linen or cotton.