Receiving foreign guests brings the opportunity to show them a little of what our country's culture is. And Portuguese culture is rich in historical decorative elements that characterize it.
Would you like to include typical national decor in your Local Accommodation? This article will highlight 8 essential items of decoration of a typical Portuguese house.
1. Tile
Azulejo has been an important support for national artistic expression for over five centuries, with Portugal being the World Capital of Azulejo.
This artefact is a piece of thin ceramic, typically square, in which one of the faces can be smooth or embossed and still contain a drawing or a painting on a certain theme.
As a decorative element of Portuguese culture, tiles work well, due to the longevity of their use, whether on the internal walls of the rooms of the house as well as on the external walls and in the gardens.
2. Cork
Portugal is one of the largest exporters of cork in the world, a product that, in recent years, has come to live in almost all divisions of our homes. Increasingly used in floor covering and in the thermal and acoustic insulation of homes, cork is the basis for numerous decorative handicrafts or a wide variety of kitchen utensils.
3. Porcelain
Portuguese porcelain is visually very similar to Portuguese tile, with the difference that it has the shape of crockery such as plates, cups, teapots, vases, jars, etc. They combine perfectly with other decorative elements of the house, especially at the meal table.
4. Calçada Portuguesa
The Portuguese sidewalk consists of stones of small size and irregular shape, polished on one side, which are most often used for paving. The stones are usually made of limestone and can take on different colors, forming a beautiful decorative pattern. Although the most traditional are in black and bank colors, they can also be found in shades of brown, red, blue, gray and yellow. The Portuguese sidewalk combines very well in the external decoration of the house, giving an elegant and sophisticated touch to the sidewalks and walls.
5. Barcelos Rooster
When talking about decorative elements of Portuguese culture, Galo de Barcelos is a must! His image features the figure of a black rooster with a red crest and a blue base. The black body of the cock is painted with hearts, flowers and spots. This decorative element can appear printed on tablecloths or bath towels, kitchen cloths and curtains, toothpicks or key rings…
6. Arraiolos Rug
Arraiolos rugs are the most beautiful pieces we can have at home. Arraiolos rugs are embroidered with wool, which have a certain pattern. This decorative element can have multiple colors and dimensions and are mainly intended for decorating bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and hallways.
7. Viana embroidery
The women of Viana do Castelo have been embellishing home textiles for many years, with towels, handkerchiefs, cloths, in a very special way. They are colorful, exquisite embroideries, inspired by natural elements, which end up taking the exuberance of nature into the home.
8. Lint
This shrub material, simultaneously resistant and flexible, is used to make furniture of different types, mainly chairs, benches and tables, not only garden. It can also be used to make baskets and boxes of different dimensions, combining the practical function of storage with the aesthetic, purely decorative issue.
Now that you already know 7 essential items in a Portuguese house, check it out: is your house a real Portuguese house? If you are not already, take the opportunity to renovate your home decor.
In addition to the decorative issues, do not forget that the LA nameplate is mandatory. Read our article about the subject.
