Splash of Rio

How you can brighten your home’s summer style in time for the Olympics

This glazed earthenware hippopotamus, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, playfully injects a powerful dose of turquoise, an accent color closely associated with Brazilian interior style. (Courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art Store)

This affordable planter showcases two Brazilian design elements: natural colored terra cotta topped with a bold injection of aqua through the glaze. (Courtesy of Crate & Barrel)

Ranging from orange-red to bright orange to burnt orange, these three stoneware vases inject an instant pop of Brazilian color whether they’re used as pure decoration or to house some cut tropical leaves or blooms. (Courtesy of CB2)

This Cadiz stool from Frontgate showcases a graphic pattern reminiscent of the famous Portuguese pavement patterns found throughout Rio. Made from fossilized stone covering a resin base, it can be used outside or in as a side table or stool. (Courtesy of Frontgate)

At a breakfast table at the UXUA Casa Hotel, light shades crafted from indigenous clay and hung above a clean-lined wood table, feel simultaneously primitive and modern, much like Brazil itself. (Courtesy of Vern Yip)

Turquoise colored walls, reminiscent of the water color, sets the perfect tone to showcase work from a wide range of Brazilian artisans at the UXUA Casa Hotel in Trancoso. (Courtesy of Vern Yip)

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By Vern Yip (Special to The Washington Post)

RIO DE JANEIRO — Almost no other country will be dominating headlines in these upcoming months more than Brazil.

Ground zero for the increasingly worrisome Zika virus, looming concern over construction delays and preparedness for this summer’s Olympic Games, and an unfortunate turn from South America’s most promising economy to a quickly diminishing one plagued by urban crime, political unrest, bribery scandals and the recent impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff have led to an implausibly negative train wreck of events.

But on my recent stroll along the iconic Portuguese pavement of Rio’s famous Ipanema Beach, I could easily (and mistakenly) conclude that Brazil’s ducks are all in one perfect row. The seemingly carefree, famously attractive faces of this ethnically diverse and broadly mixed population are adorned with warm, easy smiles.

This is the country that bore uber-model Gisele Bündchen after all. And there is so much other well-known beauty to behold within Rio and far beyond. Towering mountain ranges, nearly 5,000 miles of coastline, the Amazon rain forest and Christ the Redeemer are all world-renowned.

You’ve maybe even read about the in-the-know vacation spot of Trancoso, a once sleepy 17th-century fishing village brimming with UNESCO-protected architecture and unspoiled beaches. What you probably aren’t hearing about is Brazil’s wonderfully fresh and rising interior style fueled by a creative spirit forged from the confluence of its diverse cultures, abundant access to natural resources and an energy that comes from living among some of Mother Nature’s proudest achievements. Naturally, it’s eclectic and reflective of Brazil’s harmonious marriage between the modern and primitive.

And it perfectly sets the stage for laid-back lounging, languorous summer meals and, of course, watching the world come together during this summer’s Games.

With vases, lamps, rugs, wallpaper and other items available from such retailers as Crate & Barrel and Frontgate, you can have a taste of Rio in your home.

Brazil’s complex cultural tapestry — woven with threads from indigenous Indian tribes, Portuguese conquerors and a wide array of settlers hailing from the likes of Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and China — might have blended uncomfortably into a cacophonous aesthetic.

Instead, it telegraphs an approachable ease that’s also palpable in its people, food and culture. It’s attractive, soulful, rustic, elegant and pulled together with an inherent appreciation for natural materials. Wilbert Das, former creative director of the global fashion brand Diesel, fell in love with Brazil while vacationing in Trancoso and never left. Now he’s the proprietor of its UXUA Casa Hotel, perhaps one of the best examples of this trending Brazilian look, and designed almost entirely with furnishings, art and decor crafted by Brazilian artisans.

“There is a rough beauty in the local artisanal work that leaves a lot of space for the natural textures of the materials without over-manicuring,” Das says. “The sincere connection to nature is very visible. Brazilian products and design have an honesty and simplicity that brings everything back to the essence of things.”

Which makes perfect sense. Most Brazilians, whether raised in the dense urban centers, the remote outskirts or somewhere in between, have a more-than-healthy respect for nature’s gifts, understanding that they are perhaps their country’s most precious resource.

Consistent with their interior aesthetic, infusing your home with elements of Brazilian style doesn’t have to be complicated — or super expensive. Here are four easy paths toward embracing this perfect-for-summer look:

Color

Brazil abundantly showcases Mother Nature’s masterpieces, so it’s no surprise that the turquoise blues of the ocean, lush greens of the rain forest and the ripe oranges of local fruits and flowers are woven into its interior style. Employed alongside these vibrant hues are a wide array of warm neutrals and plenty of black and white that allow brighter colors to command center stage.

For an easy injection of Brazilian-inspired color, look to affordable home accessories such as bowls, vases, frames, trays and candlesticks in brighter, bolder turquoises, greens and oranges.

Ranging from orange-red to bright orange to burnt orange, a three-piece stoneware Amigos vase set from CB2 injects an instant pop of Brazilian color whether they’re used as decoration or to house some cut tropical leaves or blooms. The set is priced at $21.95.

A glazed earthenware statuette of a hippopotamus sculpture, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, playfully injects a powerful dose of turquoise, an accent color closely associated with Brazilian interior style. Modeled after one of the museum’s prized Egyptian artifacts, the sculpture, priced at $65, also reflects the eclectic, multicultural flavors found in Brazil and in Brazilian design.

Of course, paint is one of the most accessible and effective ways to infuse these tones, so consider applying a fresh coat to your walls or an old piece of furniture that could use brightening.

Brazilian design embraces colors inspired by its abundant natural beauty. Sherwin-Williams paint colors Aquatint, Tantalizing Teal, Talipot Palm and Determined Orange freshen up walls or painted furniture while creating that tropical, lush Brazilian vibe.

Lighting is a great way to embrace a trend because it’s both decorative and functional. The Kelton Table Lamp — a combination of an earthy brown base, natural linen shade and bright turquoise and priced at $249 at Crate & Barrel — reflects Brazilian colors abundantly found among its vast natural resources.

Pattern

Rio’s famed Portuguese pavement sidewalks are iconic and immediately identifiable. Unlike the classically patterned black-and-white pavement widely found throughout Lisbon, Portuguese pavement patterns in Rio are comparatively modern, graphic and boldly geometric.

And they fall perfectly in line with the current design trends of pattern layering and bold black-and-white color combinations. Throw pillows, rugs, drapery and small furniture pieces have all been widely spotted sporting both of these trends and are easy to integrate. Black and white, after all, virtually goes with everything.

The Cadiz stool from Frontgate showcases a graphic, black-and-white chevron pattern reminiscent of the pavement patterns. The stool, made from fossilized stone covering a resin base and priced at $299, can be used outside or in as a side table or stool.

Similarly, a Cadiz tray, priced at $129 at Houzz, has a bold chevron pattern made of fossilized stone. With its integrated handles, the

handmade tray is ideal for serving food outdoors.

The Swavelle Millcreek Outdoor Fabric, available at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store for $10 a yard, sports a wave pattern in neutral tones that’s similar to the iconic wave pattern found on Rio’s Copacabana Beach sidewalks. Manufactured for outdoor upholstery and throw pillows, this fabric is also useful for indoor applications where extra durability would be a plus.

To add a Brazilian influence through wall covering, look for patterns that emphasize the natural beauty, colors and abundant resources found throughout this lush country. York Wallcoverings’ Rainforest, Banana Leaf and Malachite patterns — priced from $47.99 to $59.99 per roll — can help dramatically transform a room through patterns inspired by natural elements that are closely associated with Brazil.

Natural materials

Much of Brazil feels ripe, lush and brimming with natural wonders. Even in heavily populated Rio, gorgeous green mountains and beautiful blue water are plentiful and easy to spot.

Consider layering your interiors the way many Brazilians do. Woven palm baskets, wooden bowls, natural clay accessories and items embellished with coconut shells all reference Brazilian resourcefulness and make great summer styling additions that are easy to change out seasonally.

Handcrafted out of solid Acacia wood, the sculptural Morela Centerpiece bowl at Crate & Barrel is finished with natural oils to showcase the beauty of the wood. Embrace of natural materials is something found throughout Brazilian design, making this an easy way to inject some Brazilian flavor during the upcoming Summer Olympics. The bowl is priced at $129.

Incorporating a few decorative items that emphasize the beauty of natural materials is key to Brazilian design. Crafted by Brazilian artisans, the Ita Large Tray from Frontgate, priced at $129.50, has an expressive free-form edge and is made from agate found inside volcanic tunnels. No two trays will be alike.

Artwork

Although many may immediately associate Brazilian art with their native Indian cultures, the nation also has a well-regarded contemporary art scene, producing some of the art world’s biggest stars, especially in the photography genre. Vik Muniz, Sebastiao Salgado and Mona Kuhn may not be household names but they are immediately recognized by photography aficionados and widely collected by major museums.

Art can be a tone-setting statement in any space. For instance, photo images from Kuhn’s Evidence series, priced from $7,500 to $14,000 at the Jackson Fine Art gallery in Atlanta, showcase the abundant natural beauty found in the Brazilian jungle and take you there whenever you look at them.

If your walls are looking bare, work from any of these artists will not only adorn them with Brazilian talent (often more affordably than you might think), but also help build an art collection worthy of passing down.

So this summer, as you’re watching Michael Phelps attempt to further cement his most-decorated-Olympian-of-all-time status, allow a few bowls, a new piece of art and perhaps some side tables to visually transport you to the Rio Games without ever leaving the comforts of your couch. Although you might not be winning Olympic medals anytime soon, why not live like you’re worthy of one.

• Vern Yip is an HGTV interior designer and host and author of the upcoming book “Vern Yip’s Design Wise: Your Smart Guide to a Beautiful Home.” Originally from McLean, Va., Yip is based in Atlanta and New York.