Many foreigners dream of owning a property that reflects Balinese culture while offering the comfort of a modern style. This style is referred to as a cross-cultural living space.
With Indonesia’s recent easing of restrictions on imported personal goods, it’s now easier to blend elements of your home culture with traditional Balinese aesthetics. Interested in creating one too?
In this post, we’ll share the right design approach and practical tips to help you create a comfortable, authentic living space that reflects your global lifestyle. Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
- Cross-cultural living blends modern comfort with local Balinese charm, offering a home that feels both global and grounded.
- Pair Balinese elements with furniture or tech from your home country for comfort and familiarity.
- Need help getting started? Ilot Property’s architects can turn your ideas into a tailored design plan.
1. Start with the Bali Basics
Incorporate some core features of classic Balinese home design and materials to give your new house an unmistakable sense of place.
Teak wood floors, carved stone details, and alang-alang thatched roofing are all quintessentially Balinese elements that create an organic, tropical feel.
Invest in some quality hand-carved teak wood furniture for the living room—a stately couch, plush armchairs, or a solid coffee table.
The rich patina and craftsmanship make pieces like these exotic centerpieces. Complement the wood with plush, neutral-toned upholstery in natural fibers like cotton or linen.
In the kitchen and dining room, blend hand-carved wood cabinets and a wooden dining set with modern appliances and dinnerware you import. The mix of textures and materials layers is of visual interest.
Read More: Find Your Dream Architect for Your Bali Villa: A Simple Guide!
2. Incorporate Craft and Artisan Touches
What makes Balinese decor so distinctive is the incredible craft and intricate details incorporated into everything from wood carvings and stonework to textiles and ceramics.
Source these types of accent pieces locally from artisan makers and craft markets.
Hand-painted ceramic dishes and pots, woven bamboo containers, delicately carved “fruit bowls,” hand-stamped batik print bed linens, and intricate masks or statuary all add pops of authentic Island craftsmanship.
Look for pieces celebrating Bali’s Hindu cultural heritage through symbols, deities, or nature imagery.
These accents may seem small, but clustered throughout your home, they create a cohesive sense of Balinese artistry and make space feel curated rather than mass-produced.
3. Merge Modern and Traditional Styles
Your home should bring the Bali vibe but still fit your modern lifestyle.
Use furniture, artwork, and decorations from your home country to add personal touches.
You might want a comfy couch in the living room for watching movies. Add colorful pillows with batik patterns to keep the Balinese feel.
A hand-carved teak headboard can make a simple bed look warm and inviting. Use lamps, rugs, and pictures from home to make the space feel less like a themed resort.
This mix helps create familiar spaces, like a room with a big couch and a flat-screen TV. However, the woven bamboo cabinets and cool wall masks make it feel like Bali.
Read More: Building Your Dream Villa in Bali? Get Design Inspiration with These 5 Easy Steps!
4. Focus On Ambiance
Just like in contemporary home design, creating the right atmosphere is key to a cozy cross-cultural home.
Bring in the fixtures, lighting, and technology you need for modern living, then add natural materials, soft lighting, and greenery to create a peaceful island feel.
Good lighting is important. Buy table and floor lamps with linen or rattan shades that soften the light.
Hang rattan pendant lights over kitchen islands or dining tables for an earthy, bohemian look.
It’s also wise to create outdoor living rooms next to indoor spaces for seamless indoor/outdoor living.
These outdoor areas, designed with teak wood, sheer curtains, and comfy weather-resistant furniture, are great for relaxing tropical living.
Add lush greenery and stone accents to reflect Bali’s natural charm. When thoughtfully combined, these elements create a true sense of place—and turn your home into the perfect East-meets-West retreat.
Read More: Build a Villa in Bali: What to Know About Choosing the Right Builder
Cross Cultural Living Spaces Examples
Bali is where cultures meet, and you can see that reflected in the villas too. Here are some of our favorite cross-cultural villa designs—each one a beautiful blend of style, comfort, and identity.
Want to explore more design ideas?
Download our full portfolio here and get inspired by what Ilot Property can build for you.
FAQ
1. What is cross-cultural living?
Cross-cultural living means living with and between two or more cultures at the same time.
2. What is the difference between cross-cultural and multicultural?
Multicultural is when different cultures live side by side but don’t always mix. Cross-cultural is about how those cultures interact, compare, or influence each other.
3. What is cross-cultural accommodation?
Cultural accommodation happens when someone adapts to a new culture without giving up their own. They follow local customs in public but still keep their own traditions privately.
Final Thoughts
That’s the step-by-step guide to creating a cross-cultural living space that makes your villa feel both perfect and comfortable.
Make sure to find the right balance of lighting, greenery, and unique artisan accents to make your space truly special.
Need help bringing your ideas to life? Let our professional architects visualize it for you.
Click the button below to schedule a free session, and you can share your goals, ideas, and even personal style references. We’ll help plan your dream villa accordingly.
