Decorating

6 Easy Ways To Achieve Modern Filipino Style

Here's how to master that tropical-Pinoy style, even if you don't live in a bahay kubo

Photography: Paolo Feliciano (Main Photo)

Filipino decor doesn't have to be limited to butaca chairs and antique pieces. You can create a contemporary Pinoy style that is much lighter on the eye, and is more appropriate for condo units or modern homes. Cop these tricks straight from decorator Grace Moslares: 

1. Incorporate some traditional Filipino details as accents.


If you don't want a home that resembles a bahay-na-bato, you can update the style by incorporating traditional Pinoy architectural details and materials into your interiors. For example, colored sampaguita glass panels or calado wood can be used as transoms for your windows, or you can use capiz panels for screens or wall accents.

READ: A Filipino Eclectic Charm Radiates From This Negros Oriental Home

2. Go for a mostly neutral color palette.


ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Grace suggests working with a lot of wood tones, walls painted white or beige, and a few accents of rust, terracotta, or mustard. You can also let paintings or DIY wall decor speak for themselves without distracting from the main color palette. 

READ: Modern Filipino Style For A Family Home

3. Use wood materials and decor.

If you like using wooden furniture, make sure to source locally available, sustainable wood (try Matimco). So that your space won't look monochrome, try wood of different stains or species, as seen in this interior by Leo Almeria. 

READ: A Designer's Abode Filled With Filipino Furniture And Accents

4. Break the look with sleek furnishings and accents. 


CONTINUE READING BELOW
watch now

To temper the Pinoy vibe, Grace says you should throw in a few modern touches. Consider darker-colored pieces and other neutrals to tie in the look of the entire home. 

READ: Modern Filipino Style For A Family Home

5. Use woven furniture.


Nothing spells tropical-Filipino more than woven furniture pieces. There are myriad sources for woven furnishings in the country, from designer creations to budget finds. 

READ: Weaves - The Secret to Tropical Style 

6 . Inject some local nostalgia. 


ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

In one of Grace's projects for an ancestral family house in downtown Manila, she created a nook that alluded to the owner's mom's past profession as a hairdresser by adding a vintage barber's chair and retro-style full-length mirror. 

READ: A Renovated Family Home With A Distinct Filipino Style

This snippet originally appeared in the June 2017 issue of Real Living Magazine. 

More on Realliving.com.ph

Shares

Read more stories about

Latest Stories

Love Black? Get Inspiration from This Bachelor Pad in Mandaluyong

Need ideas for your own small home? Take a look at this condo!

3 Ways to Cool Down Your Home, According to Architect Oliver Austria

Bring the heat down with these useful tips.

5 Budget-Friendly Makeover Tips To Revamp Your Tiny Home

Discover 5 budget-friendly tips from expert architects Richard Manlulu Garcia and Gianne Borlongan.

Wooden Finishes Transform This Condo Into the Ultimate Bachelor’s Pad

The owner requested for “a modern design with dark wood accents.”

10 Wallet-Friendly Smart Devices for Your Home

Let's make life easier when we can.

Mid-Century Meets Tropical in this Sprawling Resort-Like Home in Calamba

It is located at the foothills of Mt. Makiling and surrounded by lush greenery.

This 150sqm Family Home in Bacolod is the Perfect Blend of Luxurious and Homey

This hotel-like space has dark colors, ultra-modern elements, and more.

5 Container Home Building Essentials for First-Time Builders

Top 5 essentials for building a container home with expert architects Richard Manlulu Garcia and Gianne Borlongan.

Learn About Homebuilding From the Experts: Here Comes RealLiving Masterclass!

Get the best design advice from two of the country's top architects.

This 24 Sqm Condo Unit Was Transformed Into a Stylish Home for a Family of 5

Learn more about how an interior design studio utilized the space's small footprint with a P350,000 budget.
Load More Stories