Cozy Southwest Nook inspired by Moroccan Design

I loved transforming this seating nook because it is a perfect example of how you can update an area in your home affordably and easily with intentional design choices.

A major key to unlocking this design was taking elements from other parts of the house and using them in a new way. This is a trick I often use when updating my own space and often share with my clients. Believe it or not, my client was considering getting rid of or replacing many of the items pictured here. The reason was because they were “old” and my client didn’t know how they were going to “fit in” after remodeling and updating other parts of the house. This is a common issue and there tends to be a lot of waste when remodeling as a result. Because of this, I like to repurpose and salvage as much of the old as I can. I even hired a vintage specialist on this job to help sell and donate the older items we replaced, but I held onto certain items here and this is why…

The light fixture and the rug I repurposed reminded me of Moroccan design, and how they create intimate spaces with mood lighting and cozy textures. Moroccan interior design often uses archways and symmetry to create a sense of grandeur and luxury. Spanish Colonial, which is a more common influence in Southwest design also uses archways to create dramatic entries and passages.

Now back to my design challenge...

I took this “before” picture when I was texting instructions to the electrician about where the lighting fixture was going. It doesn’t show that the archway was originally painted white. Overall, the room had a stark and austere feeling that needed to be transformed.

I realized that I could define the area by painting the archway a richer color...

I chose to go with southwest inspired colors to tie it into the overall theme in the house. The color pallet I was working with in this room was terracotta and turquoise, with black and white accents for some contrast and pop. It ties well together with the warm rustic wood tones of the other furniture and trim elements. I decided to orient the rug vertically and align the central floret beneath the archway to create an inviting bridge-way into the space from the rest of the bedroom. I realized that I needed a low hanging light fixture to draw the eye up while casting focused light into the area below. I love this fixture because it provides an ambient soft glow, which encourages relaxation and connection. I hung the full length velvet curtains to create more visual drama and privacy. Adding soft fabrics to the space (curtains, rugs, pillows) creates more warmth and coziness by softening hard, cold, reflective surfaces. It also reduces booming echoes and makes voices feel softer and closer, which is perfect in a room designed for couples.

Although this was the area that required the least amount of energy and resources, it ended up becoming one of my favorite places of the house because of how intimate & inviting it became with just few intentional design choices.

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Moroccan photo credits in order:

@riadelegancia

@moroccanbazaaruk

@badiadesign

@lamamounianmarrakech

@le_maroc_athentique

@emilysummersdesign