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  British Colonial style is associated with mahogany furnishings, tropical prints and bamboo and rattan. Incorporating design features, such as monkeys, palm trees and ticking stripes, further brings this style into your home. The versatile British Colonial style encompasses a wide range of design elements, from the Caribbean to the Far East, India, Africa and even Hong Kong. These features echo the influence of far-off places conquered by the British as they made their way around the globe, importing their culture and shipping exotic finds home. The British Colonial style is easily achieved if you are aware of the common elements that define this look.
  
  

Fabric

• Choose fabrics such as light cottons and linens to drape your windows and complete your bed dressing. Look to the movie "Out of Africa" for inspiration. You will see that the fabrics are light and uncomplicated. Linen and light cottons replace the more traditional wool and chenille that the British were accustomed to.
  
  

Paint

• Select hues that reflect the tropical theme, such as milky sea glass, light blues or watery greens. By committing to these hues, your dark and weighty mahogany furniture will anchor the room and allow for the placement of busier prints on the furniture and throw pillows, such as floral chintz or red ticking stripes.
  
  

Furnishings

• Keep furniture in a small scale. True British Colonial style did not have the oversize chairs or sofas that we often see in homes today. Place slipcovers over your sofa, and throw down a few sisal or sea grass rugs to carry over the tropical feel. Incorporate bamboo accents throughout your home, and drape sheer mosquito netting around your beds. Keep the look casual and whimsical by placing unexpected touches around your home. Put a monkey-based light in the living room, or set a dark mahogany catch-all bowl by the front door.