Mud cloth has become a hot trend in home decor and it seems that it will be sticking around for awhile! Whether you choose to buy or DIY, these beautiful mud cloth designs will make a bold statement in your home decor!
I’m a big fan of the mud cloth trend. I love the bold, geometric, tribal-inspired patterns and the contrasting colors and textures. When I shared the DIY mud cloth coasters below on my Instagram, a lot of people commented that they hadn’t heard of mud cloth so I thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce this trend to those of you that haven’t seen it/heard of it and to share some inspiring mud cloth designs with those of you who are already fans.
What is Mud Cloth?
Although this trend has gained huge popularity as of late, it’s actually an ancient African textile that carries special meaning and is passed down from generation to generation in families. The symbols woven into mud cloth fabric have unique stories to tell, whether they are documenting historical events, social status, private messages or ancient proverbs. The rich history of the bold patterns made me fall in love with this trend even more!
How is Mud Cloth Made?
As you can imagine, the ways to create this pattern have evolved over centuries but the way that mud cloth was originally created is fascinating (and also how it got it’s name):
- After the fabric was woven, it was soaked in a bath of leaves and branches to color it.
- The fabric was laid out to dry in the sun and covered in mud. Once the mud was fully dried it was scraped off, leaving behind a gray tint. This step would be repeated multiple times to reach the artist’s desired color.
- The contrasting patterns/symbols were painted on with bleach.
Since mud cloth is usually created in neutral colors, this trend is easy to incorporate into your current home decor theme to whatever extent you’d like. Here are some beautiful pieces to introduce this rich trend into your home:
10 Ways to Rock Mud Cloth in Your Home Decor
Some affiliate links provided.
DIY Coasters | DecoArt Blog
Crochet Pillow | Make & Do Crew
Dog Bed | Stacy Ellis Design
Votive Holders | Today’s Creative Life
Pouf Ottoman | Mackenzie Bryant Co
Wood Planters | Wildwood Lettering
Canvas Wall Hanging | Frost Design Co
DIY Wall Organizer | A Bubbly Life
Peel and Stick Wallpaper | Wallpaperie
DIY Lamp | Casa Watkins Living
Some amazing ideas, right?! Which one is your favorite?
Lindsey says
Mud cloth! I love the design but never knew it had a name! Must decorate in mud cloth:)
Lydia says
Another fan! Thanks for stopping by, Lindsey! 🙂
Jenn says
Thanks for the interesting tutorial on mud cloth. I enjoyed it.
Lydia says
So glad you enjoyed it Jenn! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Lydia says
My pleasure, Jenn! I’m glad you enjoyed it!