How to add a splash of Rio to your home’s summer style

Almost no other country will be dominating headlines in these upcoming months more than Brazil.

Ground zero for the increasingly worrisome Zika virus, looming concern about preparedness for this summer’s Olympic Games, and an unfortunate turn from South America’s most promising economy to a quickly diminishing one plagued by urban crime, political unrest, bribery scandals and the recent impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff have led to an implausibly negative train wreck of events.

What you probably aren’t hearing about is Brazil’s wonderfully fresh and rising interior style fueled by a creative spirit forged from the confluence of its diverse cultures, abundant access to natural resources and an energy that comes from living among some of Mother Nature’s proudest achievements. Naturally, it’s eclectic and reflective of Brazil’s harmonious marriage between the modern and primitive.

And it perfectly sets the stage for laid-back lounging, languorous summer meals and, of course, watching the world come together during this summer’s Olympic Games.

With vases, lamps, rugs, wallpaper and other items available from such retailers as Crate & Barrel and Frontgate, you can have a taste of Rio in your home.

Brazil’s complex cultural tapestry — woven with threads from indigenous Indian tribes, Portuguese conquerors and a wide array of settlers hailing from the likes of Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and China — might have blended uncomfortably into a cacophonous aesthetic.

Instead, it telegraphs an approachable ease that’s also palpable in its people, food and culture. It’s attractive, soulful, rustic, elegant and pulled together with an inherent appreciation for natural materials.

Wilbert Das, former creative director of the global fashion brand Diesel, fell in love with Brazil while vacationing in Trancoso and never left. Now he’s the proprietor of its UXUA Casa Hotel, perhaps one of the best examples of this trending Brazilian look, and designed almost entirely with furnishings, art and decor crafted by Brazilian artisans.

“There is a rough beauty in the local artisanal work that leaves a lot of space for the natural textures of the materials without over-manicuring,” Das says. “The sincere connection to nature is very visible. Brazilian products and design have an honesty and simplicity that brings everything back to the essence of things.”

Which makes perfect sense. Most Brazilians, whether raised in the dense urban centers, the remote outskirts or somewhere in between, have a more-than-healthy respect for nature’s gifts, understanding that they are perhaps their country’s most precious resource.

Consistent with their interior aesthetic, infusing your home with elements of Brazilian style doesn’t have to be complicated — or super expensive. Here are four easy paths toward embracing this perfect-for-summer look:

Color

Brazil abundantly showcases Mother Nature’s masterpieces, so it’s no surprise that the turquoise blues of the ocean, lush greens of the rainforest and the ripe oranges of local fruits and flowers are woven into its interior style. Employed alongside these vibrant hues are a wide array of warm neutrals and plenty of black and white that allow brighter colors to command center stage.

For an easy injection of Brazilian-inspired color, look to affordable home accessories such as bowls, vases, frames, trays and candlesticks in brighter, bolder turquoises, greens and oranges.

A glazed earthenware statuette of a hippopotamus sculpture from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store playfully injects a powerful dose of turquoise, an accent color closely associated with Brazilian interior style. Modeled after one of the museum’s prized Egyptian artifacts, the sculpture, priced at $65, also reflects the eclectic, multicultural flavors found in Brazil and in Brazilian design.

Pattern

Rio’s famed Portuguese pavement sidewalks are iconic and immediately identifiable. Unlike the classically patterned black-and-white pavement widely found throughout Lisbon, Portuguese pavement patterns in Rio are comparatively modern, graphic and boldly geometric.

And they fall perfectly in line with the current design trends of pattern layering and bold black-and-white color combinations. Throw pillows, rugs, drapery and small furniture pieces have all been widely spotted sporting both of these trends and are easy to integrate. Black and white, after all, virtually goes with everything.

The Cadiz stool from Frontgate showcases a graphic, black-and-white chevron pattern reminiscent of the pavement patterns. The stool, made from fossilized stone covering a resin base and priced at $299, can be used outside or in as a side table or stool.

Natural materials

Much of Brazil feels ripe, lush and brimming with natural wonders. Even in heavily populated Rio, gorgeous green mountains and beautiful blue water are plentiful and easy to spot.

Consider layering your interiors the way many Brazilians do. Woven palm baskets, wooden bowls, natural clay accessories and items embellished with coconut shells all reference Brazilian resourcefulness and make great summer styling additions that are easy to change out seasonally.

Handcrafted out of solid Acacia wood, the sculptural Morela Centerpiece bowl at Crate & Barrel is finished with natural oils to showcase the beauty of the wood. Embrace of natural materials is something found throughout Brazilian design, making this an easy way to inject some Brazilian flavor during the upcoming Summer Olympics. The bowl is priced at $129.

Artwork

Although many may immediately associate Brazilian art with their native Indian cultures, the nation also has a well-regarded contemporary art scene, producing some of the art world’s biggest stars, especially in the photography genre. Vik Muniz, Sebastiao Salgado and Mona Kuhn may not be household names, but they are immediately recognized by photography aficionados and widely collected by major museums.

Art can be a tone-setting statement in any space. For instance, photo images from Kuhn’s Evidence series, priced from $7,500 to $14,000 at the Jackson Fine Art gallery in Atlanta, showcase the abundant natural beauty found in the Brazilian jungle and take you there whenever you look at them.

So this summer, as you’re watching Michael Phelps attempt to further cement his most-decorated-Olympian-of-all-time status, allow a few bowls, a new piece of art and perhaps a some bright colors to visually transport you to the Rio Games without ever leaving the comforts of your couch.

Although you might not be winning any Olympic medals anytime soon, why not live like you’re worthy of one.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "How to add a splash of Rio to your home’s summer style."