How to Embrace the Balinese Interior Style
As someone who has travelled extensively and now divides life between Australia, Europe and Indonesia, I’m endlessly inspired by the way different cultures approach living spaces. But there’s something timeless and deeply grounding about Balinese design. It’s the harmony between raw and refined, tradition and simplicity—something that resonates deeply with both my German love of clean structure and my appreciation for relaxed coastal living.
Balinese interiors feel like an exhale. They invite calm through texture, connection through craft, and a sense of soul through natural materials. Here's how you can create a home that carries the spirit of Bali—with your own unique edge.
What Defines the Balinese Aesthetic?
Balinese style is more than a look—it's a feeling. It’s about bringing the outside in, honouring the handcrafted, and creating calm through contrast.
Think: warm timber tones, woven rattan, tactile jute, smooth stone against rustic wood. Everything is intentional. Everything invites you to slow down.
The style merges natural textures with time-honoured spiritual and cultural design elements. Expect to see rich timber carved by hand, bamboo details, and earthy materials like volcanic stone, often balanced with airy fabrics and minimalist furniture that keep the space grounded and uncluttered.
Traditional Roots, Timeless Style
At the heart of Balinese design is a deep respect for nature and spirit. You’ll often find statues of Hindu deities, hand-carved wooden panels, or subtle architectural nods to temples—blending art and meaning.
What draws me to this style as an artist is the connection between form and function. There’s always intention behind the craft, whether it’s a door carved with stories or a water feature designed to cleanse and quiet the mind.
Homes and villas in Bali are often designed to merge with their surroundings. Expect thatched roofs, open-air lounges, textured stone walkways, and flowing curtains that flutter in the breeze. It's not about perfection—it's about presence.
Outdoor Flow and Garden Sanctuaries
Balinese design doesn’t stop at the door—it spills into courtyards, patios, and verandahs. These outdoor extensions feel like sanctuaries. Lush foliage, oversized tropical plants, trickling water features, and natural stone flooring set the tone for a space that’s grounded yet alive.
Even in an urban setting, you can bring this energy into your own garden or balcony. Choose leafy greenery, incorporate sculptures or shrines if it speaks to you, and soften the mood with lanterns or warm lighting to create that tranquil, resort-like feeling.
A Colour Palette Inspired by Nature
The Balinese palette speaks in hushed tones—warm neutrals, soft greys, sandy beiges—with earthy highlights like terracotta, rich browns, and leafy greens. These colours reflect Bali’s natural surroundings and help maintain that sense of calm and cohesion between indoors and out.
As a designer, I love layering textures—lime-plastered walls, raw concrete floors, warm timber furniture. These create dimension and contrast, especially when paired with minimal, clean-lined furnishings. It’s all about finding balance between smooth and rough, light and shadow.
Why Balinese Style Feels So Right, Right Now
In today’s fast-paced world, more and more people are craving connection to nature, to craft, and to a slower way of living. That’s what makes Balinese interiors so timeless and so current.
Techniques like lime-washing walls or using microcement have become popular in modern design, but they’ve been part of Balinese style for generations. The new “Modern Balinese” aesthetic embraces this rustic base and layers it with contemporary minimalism. Perfect for those who appreciate both warmth and clarity.
Whether in a boutique hotel or a beachside home, Balinese design doesn’t try to impress—it invites you to feel.
Design Principles to Ground Your Space in Balinese Calm
Here are four essential principles to guide your styling journey:
1. Nature-Inspired Materials
Embrace raw textures like rattan, bamboo, warm-toned woods, linen, natural stone. Add life through plants and create flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
2. Cultural and Spiritual Touches
Incorporate hand-carved art, statues, or subtle sacred elements that reflect the cultural roots of Bali. It’s about honouring tradition, not imitation.
3. Craftsmanship Over Perfection
Look for pieces with a story—artisanal furniture, handwoven textiles, carved doors, and decor that brings soul into your space.
4. Simplicity and Light
Keep your foundation neutral and your layout uncluttered. Use sheer curtains, natural rugs, and layered lighting to create serenity and softness.
Ready to Bring Bali Into Your Home?
If you’re drawn to this style and want guidance blending it into your own space—whether a cosy apartment or a sprawling coastal home—I offer personalised interior styling services that bring together global inspiration, artistic insight, and a thoughtful eye for detail.
Explore my curated Balinese Home Collection here – each piece is hand-selected or sourced by me from local artisans in Bali, with a focus on natural materials, traditional techniques, and timeless aesthetics.
Let’s create something meaningful together.