If there's something all South Africans have in common, it's a rich heritage. From the golden shores of Durban, striking cityscapes of Johannesburg, to the majestic mountains of Cape Town, every part of our nation is alive with unique cultures, traditions, and histories. In the heart of your home, you can breathe life into your space by showcasing these very roots. Here are some Heritage Day-themed decor ideas to get your inspiration flowing.
1. Prime up your palette: Specific colours can have special significance for your cultural or religious background. Infusing these into your decor scheme will keep them top of mind for you and your family in your daily routine.
2. Make traditional threads count: Look to fabrics unique to South African tribes, such as Ndebele patterns, Shweshwe cloth, or Basotho blankets. These can be used as throws, table runners, rugs, cushion covers, or wall hangings.
3. Embrace clothing as decor: Clothing reflecting your heritage can be wonderful decor pieces; for example, you can hang up traditional hats to make your walls pop. Old or unused cultural clothing can be repurposed into powerful expressions in your decor. Sarees, for example, can be draped over chairs, hung on walls, made into curtains, or sewn into colourful throw pillow covers.
4. Delight, bead by bead: Display traditional Zulu or Xhosa beadwork, which can be found in forms like mats, baskets, or decorative items. These colourful and intricate pieces can be both functional and decorative.
5. Let walls tell your story: Wall art, especially self-created or showcasing local talent, can capture the spirit and vibrancy of your heritage. Whether it's local landscapes, depictions of daily life, family trips, or a framed recipe carried through generations, these details will your make space special.
6. Invest in the art of craft: Traditional African masks, wire figures, or wooden statues give a room an authentic cultural touch. Traditional beer pots known as ukhamba make beautiful vases or standalone decorative pieces. Buying these can also help support local communities that create them for their livelihood.
7. Furnish with historical flair: Furniture that has been in your family for generations can be wonderful centrepieces to build your design around. You can even buy pieces that evoke past eras; rustic wooden furniture, for example, can recreate the styles of South African farmhouses or coastal cottages that may be part of your heritage.
8. Display the sounds that matter: As an important part of your heritage, music can be felt in your space visually. Instruments, dance regalia, and even song lyrics can be printed and hung up on walls. SoundLines, for example, can turn a piece of audio's soundwave into a striking work of art.
9. Put your memories on display: With extra effort, that coffee table album or photo wall gallery can celebrate your heritage. Add writings from your ancestors, mix in location or event shots, and throw in personal drawings for displays that don't just show the past faces in your family but honour their legacy.
10. Get a whiff of the past: Smell has a potent way of triggering memories and helping you relive cherished family gatherings and events. Whether it's incense, potpourri, candles, or a room spray, look for home scents that can add another layer of richness to your space.
11. Plant some native flora: As a South African, your heritage also lies within the greenery around you. Do your part to take care of it and embrace it. Plants like the spekboom, aloe, freesia, or geranium, for example, not only resonate with your heritage but also purify the air.
12. Create a heritage corner: If you're afraid of heritage-themed decor overwhelming or conflicting with your space, you can bring it in subtly. Or, better yet, create a dedicated heritage corner to display cultural artefacts, family heirlooms, or books on your culture. This can become a wonderful conversation starter when you have guests over.
Wishing you a happy Heritage Day
As we celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures, histories, and traditions that make up our beautiful nation, Century 21 South Africa wishes each and every South African a wonderful Heritage Day. Let our shared heritage's colours, sounds, and stories shine bright in your homes and hearts. Here's to embracing our roots, remembering our ancestors, and cherishing the vibrant diversity that unites us.