I Tried to Explain 'Afrohemian' to My Mom and Now She Wants to Redecorate Her Entire House

I Tried to Explain 'Afrohemian' to My Mom and Now She Wants to Redecorate Her Entire House

The Conversation That Changed Everything

Mom: 'So it's like... African boho?'
Me: 'Kind of, but also Mediterranean coastal.'
Mom: 'So... beach Africa?'
Me: 'Mom, no—'
Mom: *already on Pinterest* 'I'm buying rattan chairs.'

And that's how my 60-year-old mother discovered Afrohemian design and became more obsessed with it than I am.

What Is Afrohemian? (According to My Mom)

Mom: 'What's this Afro-bohemian thing you keep posting about?'

Me: 'It's Afrohemian—African craftsmanship meets bohemian style with Mediterranean coastal vibes.'

Mom: 'So... hippie furniture from Africa?'

Me: 'No, it's—'

Mom: 'Is it expensive?'

Me: 'Well, it's handcrafted, so—'

Mom: 'So yes. Got it.' *adds to cart anyway*

Things My Mom Said While Discovering Afrohemian

On Rattan Furniture:

'This looks like your grandma's porch furniture!'
'But... fancier?'
'And €300?!'
*adds to cart anyway*

On Baskets:

'We have baskets at home.'
*looks at plastic IKEA baskets*
'Okay, we need THESE baskets.'
Buys 12.

On Terracotta:

'Isn't this just... clay pots?'
'Your grandma had these in the garden.'
'For €40?!'
*buys terracotta vase*
'It's ARTISANAL, honey.'

On Macramé:

'I made these in the 70s!'
'We called it string art.'
'It's back?!'
*Googles 'macramé wall hanging tutorial'*

Mom is now a macramé influencer. I'm not even joking.

The Transformation

BEFORE (Mom's Living Room):

  • Floral sofa (1998)
  • Glass coffee table (2003)
  • Plastic plant (eternal)
  • Vibes: Suburban time capsule

AFTER (Mom's Afrohemian Awakening):

  • Rattan lounge chair (2026)
  • Teak coffee table (handcrafted!)
  • 7 wall baskets (curated!)
  • Real plants (3 already dying!)
  • Vibes: Marrakech meets Mykonos

Mom's Afrohemian Rules (That Actually Make Sense)

Rule #1: 'If it's not handcrafted, I don't want it.'

Me: 'Mom, that's literally the whole point.'
Mom: 'I KNOW. I'm an expert now.'

Rule #2: 'Natural materials only.'

Plastic? OUT.
Synthetic? GONE.
Rattan, wood, linen? STAY.

Rule #3: 'Every room needs a basket.'

  • Kitchen: basket ✓
  • Bathroom: basket ✓
  • Bedroom: basket ✓
  • Garage: basket (?)

Basket empire established.

Rule #4: 'If it doesn't photograph well, it doesn't belong.'

Mom discovered Instagram.
Mom has 47 followers.
46 posts are photos of her living room.
She's not wrong.

The Best Part

Mom's Friends: 'Where did you get that chair?'
'What's this style called?'
'Can you send me the link?'

Mom: 'It's called Afrohemian. My daughter taught me.'

Me: *tears of pride* 😭

What I Learned

If my mom can go from floral sofas to Afrohemian in 3 weeks, anyone can.

The secret? Start with one rattan chair. End with a Pinterest-worthy living room. And maybe call your mom—she probably wants to redecorate too.

Afrohemian isn't just for millennials scrolling Pinterest at 2am. It's for anyone who appreciates handcrafted beauty, natural materials, and spaces that feel like a warm hug.

Ready to start your Afrohemian journey? Browse our collection of handcrafted rattan furniture, teak tables, and artisan decor. (And yes, you can show this to your mom.)

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