Decorating
How to Bring Balinese Style Home From Your Holiday
Draw inspiration from Bali's beautiful natural vistas and artisan design to create a tropical paradise at home
Let’s face it, Australia is pretty far away from the rest of the world (with the exception of New Zealand), but Indonesia is one of our closest neighbours. It takes around six hours to fly from Brisbane or Sydney to Denpasar in Bali, or under three hours from Darwin. Compared to the hours Australians have to spend flying to Europe and other exotic places around the world, it’s no wonder Bali is such a sought-after holiday destination for Aussies.
Culturally, Bali is very different to Australia, but we do share similarities when it comes to some climates and love of the open-air lifestyle. Outdoor living is big in Bali. The line between indoor and outdoor living is continually blurred due to its hot and often humid climate, in addition to its scene-stealing natural environment. Bali has definitely influenced Australia in its growing affinity for comfortable, yet stylish outdoor living spaces.
As with Bali’s climate, the Australian climate lends itself perfectly to outdoor cabanas, gazebos, thatched huts, day beds and assorted furniture. It is also an ideal environment to replicate Bali’s lush tropical gardens that are filled with glistening green foliage and vast arrays of colourful flowers.
As with Bali’s climate, the Australian climate lends itself perfectly to outdoor cabanas, gazebos, thatched huts, day beds and assorted furniture. It is also an ideal environment to replicate Bali’s lush tropical gardens that are filled with glistening green foliage and vast arrays of colourful flowers.
“As Bali is a very big tourist destination for Australians, people often like the look of the resort gardens where they stay,” says Jason Elboz, managing director of Space Landscape Designs. “Balinese gardens have rich colours and natural products, all of which are important in a garden design. We do a lot of Balinese-style garden designs, particularly around pools as it gives a tropical/Asian feel.”
Lets explore how you can recreate the blissful Bali holiday experience at your own abode.
Prefer to call in a professional to recreate Balinese style for you at home? Find an interior designer on Houzz near you
Lets explore how you can recreate the blissful Bali holiday experience at your own abode.
Prefer to call in a professional to recreate Balinese style for you at home? Find an interior designer on Houzz near you
How to Get the Look
Go with the flow
Balinese style is well suited to the Australian weather, particularlythe Northern Territory and Queensland, which ranges from hot and tropical to subtropical and temperate throughout the year. One way to deal with hot and humid weather is to encourage natural airflow with open-plan rooms, breezeways and leafy trees and plants.
Natural timber, cane and tropical foliage have been used to great effect here, and showcase a relaxed, open-air resort feel – perfect for when sticky, humid weather strikes.
Go with the flow
Balinese style is well suited to the Australian weather, particularlythe Northern Territory and Queensland, which ranges from hot and tropical to subtropical and temperate throughout the year. One way to deal with hot and humid weather is to encourage natural airflow with open-plan rooms, breezeways and leafy trees and plants.
Natural timber, cane and tropical foliage have been used to great effect here, and showcase a relaxed, open-air resort feel – perfect for when sticky, humid weather strikes.
Outdoor furniture
Get comfy with weatherproof outdoor furniture. Neutral and natural tones work really well when paired with lush plantings and bamboo screening. Natural bamboo is used a lot in Indonesia and can make for an easy and fast-growing living green wall.
Tip: “An exterior space first needs plants to create the Balinese style,” says Dreyer. “It’s very important to get that right, then you can add such elements as a water feature, lanterns or statues.”
Get comfy with weatherproof outdoor furniture. Neutral and natural tones work really well when paired with lush plantings and bamboo screening. Natural bamboo is used a lot in Indonesia and can make for an easy and fast-growing living green wall.
Tip: “An exterior space first needs plants to create the Balinese style,” says Dreyer. “It’s very important to get that right, then you can add such elements as a water feature, lanterns or statues.”
Plants and planters
Explore different wall textures and mix them with high-sitting planters. The horizontal stacked-stone walls here, paired with the vertical bamboo, creates both texture and interest. Large planters filled with tropical plants add a burst of green to this stylish outdoor dining area.
Explore different wall textures and mix them with high-sitting planters. The horizontal stacked-stone walls here, paired with the vertical bamboo, creates both texture and interest. Large planters filled with tropical plants add a burst of green to this stylish outdoor dining area.
Layered tropical-style plantings, as pictured here, effortlessly provide a serene Balinese holiday feel to this outdoor area. The large birdcage or aviary is a fantastic touch and really adds to the overall look and feel of the space.
Australian hardwood timber is a durable and attractive flooring solution for outdoors. Warm, natural brown hues also look stunning when paired with lush green foliage. Merbau, Sydney blue gum and blackbutt are all great hardwood choices for the outdoors that will stand the test of time.
Australian hardwood timber is a durable and attractive flooring solution for outdoors. Warm, natural brown hues also look stunning when paired with lush green foliage. Merbau, Sydney blue gum and blackbutt are all great hardwood choices for the outdoors that will stand the test of time.
This Balinese-style home retreat creates a sense of refuge from the neighbours with mother-in-law’s tongue, timber battens and stylised bamboo laser-cut steel screening.
Decorative outdoor screening is a fantastic way to instantly make your outdoor area noteworthy. Not only are laser-cut metal screens attractive, but they are also highly durable and work brilliantly as privacy screening, particularly when paired with plants as pictured here.
Decorative outdoor screening is a fantastic way to instantly make your outdoor area noteworthy. Not only are laser-cut metal screens attractive, but they are also highly durable and work brilliantly as privacy screening, particularly when paired with plants as pictured here.
Palms, ferns, bougainvillea, jasmine, ornamental ginger and banana plants are perfect choices for an exotic gardenscape.
How Do I… Create a Balinese Garden?
How Do I… Create a Balinese Garden?
Outdoor living
Cabanas are an easy way to create an instant holiday feel in your own backyard. They are also ideal for a comfortable, open-air room that provides protection from the sun’s rays. Statues and stepping-stone pathways leading up to your cabana can really add to the overall look.
Cabanas are an easy way to create an instant holiday feel in your own backyard. They are also ideal for a comfortable, open-air room that provides protection from the sun’s rays. Statues and stepping-stone pathways leading up to your cabana can really add to the overall look.
For Balinese ‘staycation style’, you can’t go past a poolside thatched cabana and expertly carved wooden furniture for a true holiday-at-home experience.
Tip: “The key elements to Bali style are to make you feel like you are on holidays every day. To get that you need the interior and exterior to feel as one,” says Dreyer.
Tip: “The key elements to Bali style are to make you feel like you are on holidays every day. To get that you need the interior and exterior to feel as one,” says Dreyer.
There is just something about carved wooden day beds that instantly conjures up images of relaxed Balinese afternoons spent enjoying a book and an ice-cold bottle of Bintang. Place a day bed inside or out, according to your preference and the material. Add one to a cabana or thatched hut for your own little slice of heaven at home.
Tip: “Houzz users can bring Balinese style into their homes by quite simply adding a beautiful hand-carved boat teak day bed to their back deck or lounge. That piece alone will give you an instant hit of Balinese style. Then it is a matter of adding pieces to complement the bed to create a total feel,” says Dreyer.
Tip: “Houzz users can bring Balinese style into their homes by quite simply adding a beautiful hand-carved boat teak day bed to their back deck or lounge. That piece alone will give you an instant hit of Balinese style. Then it is a matter of adding pieces to complement the bed to create a total feel,” says Dreyer.
5 Key Elements of Balinese Style
1. Outdoor bath and showers
These are commonplace in Bali, as is a mix of stone paving and pebbles for bathroom flooring. Adding pebbles, paving and treated timber decking to an outdoor bathing area doubles as a non-slip surface, and opening up your bathroom to the great outdoors looks stunning.
1. Outdoor bath and showers
These are commonplace in Bali, as is a mix of stone paving and pebbles for bathroom flooring. Adding pebbles, paving and treated timber decking to an outdoor bathing area doubles as a non-slip surface, and opening up your bathroom to the great outdoors looks stunning.
2. Art and ornaments
Garden art or ornaments, such as statues, umbrellas, woodcarvings and water features, can help to round out a garden design.
Tip: “Using natural materials, such as bluestone and granite, contributes to Balinese style,” says Elboz.
Garden art or ornaments, such as statues, umbrellas, woodcarvings and water features, can help to round out a garden design.
Tip: “Using natural materials, such as bluestone and granite, contributes to Balinese style,” says Elboz.
Add a little Bali to the bedroom with a large print. Ubud in Bali is a renowned arts hub and is the ideal location to source Balinese artwork to take home. Downlit, inset wall niches also illustrate how Balinese style can be incorporated into many types of homes, from modern to beach chic.
Tip: For a Balinese theme, Dreyer recommends you incorporate Indonesian solid-teak furniture, day beds, buffets, consoles, coffee tables and statues.
Tip: For a Balinese theme, Dreyer recommends you incorporate Indonesian solid-teak furniture, day beds, buffets, consoles, coffee tables and statues.
3. Carvings
The Balinese are known for the use of beautifully carved wood in their homes. The owners of this abode bought the hand-carved Balinese door pictured here while travelling and integrated it into their home design as the entrance to the master suite.
The Balinese are known for the use of beautifully carved wood in their homes. The owners of this abode bought the hand-carved Balinese door pictured here while travelling and integrated it into their home design as the entrance to the master suite.
This natural bamboo entrance gate evokes an instant holiday feel and beckons you to discover what is beyond.
Tip: Dreyer’s favourite way to bring a touch of Balinese style to an Australian abode is using antique Javanese boat teak for the furniture, then incorporating greenstone statues. “The timber and the stone together is truly ‘Bali’; they not only last generations but are unique, hand-carved pieces,” he says.
Tip: Dreyer’s favourite way to bring a touch of Balinese style to an Australian abode is using antique Javanese boat teak for the furniture, then incorporating greenstone statues. “The timber and the stone together is truly ‘Bali’; they not only last generations but are unique, hand-carved pieces,” he says.
4. Wood
Add to your Bali aesthetic with tropical-themed dinnerware and table settings. Wooden bowls, woven table runners and bamboo placemats can really enhance a holiday aesthetic when entertaining, or just enjoying an easy meal at home.
So Your Style Is: Tropical
Add to your Bali aesthetic with tropical-themed dinnerware and table settings. Wooden bowls, woven table runners and bamboo placemats can really enhance a holiday aesthetic when entertaining, or just enjoying an easy meal at home.
So Your Style Is: Tropical
Go for the look of a modern Balinese five-star resort with wooden joinery, louvres and accents. The open flow of this contemporary bathroom combines a touch of Bali with the Australian elegance of streamlined modern amenities.
See the rest of this tropical-inspired Queensland holiday home
See the rest of this tropical-inspired Queensland holiday home
5. Colour
Bali embraces colour, so don’t be afraid to go bold with wall colour, flowering plants or artwork for impact. Ground bright colours with weathered timber finishes and natural stone. According to Elboz, tropical planting with colour is a key factor in creating a Balinese-style garden.
Your turn
Have you embraced Balinese style at home? Tell us how in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to read more? Browse this story – So Your Style Is: Asian
Bali embraces colour, so don’t be afraid to go bold with wall colour, flowering plants or artwork for impact. Ground bright colours with weathered timber finishes and natural stone. According to Elboz, tropical planting with colour is a key factor in creating a Balinese-style garden.
Your turn
Have you embraced Balinese style at home? Tell us how in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to read more? Browse this story – So Your Style Is: Asian
According to Ben Dreyer of Exotic Interiors, Balinese-inspired style and decor is becoming increasingly popular as new generations continue to discover the island’s natural beauty, traditional design and artisan items. “Balinese style is popular in Australia for two reasons,” he says. “Firstly, Australians love Indonesia, especially Bali. Australians spend $10 billion dollars a year in Bali alone. Secondly, some of the products coming out of Indonesia are of such high quality they are true antiques of the future.”