Travel Inspired Interior Design, Part 2: Cape Town, South Africa

Travel Inspired Interior Design: Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa, is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with ample material for travel inspired interior design. In Part 2 of Nash Narrative’s Travel Inspired Interior Design series, we explore the colors and craftsmanship of this stunning coastal city.

A Cityscape Filled with Nature

First-time visitors to Cape Town can’t miss the unique blend of nature and architecture that characterizes the city. Cape Town’s city center lies nestled between majestic mountains and beautiful beaches. 

Table Mountain’s famous flat top provides a bird’s eye view of the city. Locals take bottles of bubbly up to Lion’s Rump, or Signal Hill depending on whom you ask, for sundowners - a celebration of Cape Town’s stunning sunsets with friends and drinks. It’s our favorite way to enjoy golden hour! The whole city warms to the golden glow between mountain and ocean. 

The beaches in Cape Town stretch for over 10 miles. The icy water and silky sand gets in the bones of the city. A love of the outdoors and pride in the city’s natural beauty permeates even the built environment.

Colorful Bo-Kaap

As much as nature influences any Cape Town-inspired decor, the vibrant cityscape does as well. The colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood epitomizes the meeting of old and new in the Cape Town cityscape. The neighborhood was originally built in the 1760s to house enslaved people from throughout Asia and Africa. Today the stout buildings are famed for their rainbow of colors. Bo-Kaap is also home to many Cape Malay restaurants that celebrate the centuries-long fusion of cultures.

Craftsmanship for Eclectic Decor

So how does all this Cape Tonian beauty translate to interior decor? One of our favorite ways to bring Cape Town home is through traditional crafts. In South Africa, artisans create beautifully elaborate animals out of wire and beads. While you can find pretty much any animal under the sun, we’re partial to the bold zebras and bright guinea fowl found in markets like Greenmarket Square. These creations add pops of interest in any room.

Cape Town is home to immigrants from all over Africa who bring their wood carving skills to the markets. Wooden bowls, salad servers, spoons, cheese boards, and more bring warmth to any kitchen or dining room. Wood vases are also perfect for dried flower arrangements year round.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the celebrated wax fabrics. The vast array of patterns and colors provide endless opportunities for curtains, throw pillows, and chair cushions. Some stores even sell wax fabric-inspired wallpaper!

Whether you’re looking for unique wall decorations, refined fabrics, or handcrafted serving utensils, interior decor inspired by Cape Town marries the old and new in surprising ways.

Want to read more about travel-inspired interior design? Check out Part 1 of this series - “Travel Inspired Interior Design: New Orleans.”