Holidays abroad may never be the same again. Adopt the universal style (brightly colored walls, gorgeous ceramic tiled floors and hunter ceiling fans gently circulating the air) in your home and your days of boredom on the sea beach will be swapped for early-morning trawls through regional markets, exciting expeditions to souks and fascinating hours whiled away in artisans' workshops. In brief, your vacations will take on a whole new meaning and may even inspire trips further afield to seek yet more exotic finds.

It's not essential to go to Disneyland to discover that it's a small world. The late twentieth century has seen the concept of the global village reflected in numerous aspects of our lives. Just as the meals we eat may feature sun-dried tomatoes from Italy, coconut milk from the Caribbean & seaweed from Japan, so this trend is echoed in the furnishing of our homes, and the opportunity to decorate with the excellent mix of sunshine, color and crafts from lots of lands becomes irresistible - together with the obligatory hunter ceiling fan in the main reception rooms.

There is nothing new in ethnic style. Throughout history, fashions in decoration are seriously influenced by the introduction of foreign elements. The popularity of the French rococo style in the early 18th century, the fad for chinoiserie in Regency times and the introduction of Greek motifs in the early nineteenth century are all examples.

Inspiration is all around - we have the world to trawl for ideas. We just have to think of the colors of an oriental carpet, the designs of West African textiles and the shapes of continental pots to realize what a rich palette we have to draw on. Materials, also, play a huge part in ethnic decoration. Terracotta, rattan, native woods, tin, bamboo, papier-mache and woven textiles of every description all contribute, as do patterns of paisley, ikat and batik.

Remarkably, mixing objects from various ethnic sources doesn't present a problem - you only need to look at the newest hunter ceiling fans with lights to see that. It might seem strange, but the colors, textures and patterns emerging from these remote locations have unexpected parallels. Maybe it is the reliance upon natural color pigments, simple shapes and forms and crude implements that produces this pleasing amalgam of disparate cultures.

An added bonus for decorators of universal style is one of cost. Based, as this style is, on more native materials of the various cultures from which it derives, items that are hand-made, often in regional workshops and of locally sourced natural materials, are unlikely to claim extremely large a portion of the decorating budget. Neither should the provision of an appropriate background for all these treasures. The expensive skills of an expert are not what is necessary here, but rather the inspiration of the creative amateur who will naturally render the style in all its naivete.

Recycling is an essential part of ethnic decoration. The conversion, for the price of a tin of paint, of everyday items is part and parcel of the tribal tradition. What better use for that discarded baked-bean can than for it to be painted an excellent color only to reappear as a plant pot?

There's not even a requirement to move out of your own environment in order to gather goodies for this colorful style. Nowadays 'trading posts' are to be found in or near most major cities. Imported in bulk, items are gathered from the 4 comers of the world, and it is the importer who has the burden of excess baggage. Other treasures might be picked up at charity shops, antique fairs and rug auctions. A visit to an anthropological museum may yield yet more contributions.

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