THE COLORS
Hoc and earthy are two good words to describe the ethnic color palette - a smolder of vivid shades that excite the senses and give any room distinctive impact. Moroccan is slightly more sophisticated, being less broad in its color choices and often featuring of pure white to avoid an overwhelming onslaught of color. Indian style, on the other is an adventure in high contrast shades, with more not less being the driving force, and is hardly used at all.

MOROCCAN STYLE
As befits its North African origins, the rich and warming Moroccan room scheme features burnt desert tones of ochre, sand and terracotta on floors and pillars, set against the stark contrast of dazzling white walls, Jewel-inspired shades such as amber, agate, turquoise, emerald and sapphire are then mixed in, often in the form of mosaics on walls, pillars and even tabletops, to add vibrancy. Richer reds, burgundies and even navy blue may also be introduced with Persian rugs. Team it up with terracotta-tiled floors rusted metal scrollwork accessories painted glass and star-shaped lanterns particularly in beaten tin or goatskin stretched overwrought-iron light frames and decorated with henna motifs mosaic tabletops and fretwork window shutters

INDIAN STYLE
Imagine an Indian market place filled with women in exotic yet clashing saris and you have the essence of this exuberant, lustrous color palette. The beauty of the  interior style is that you can opt for a shockingly high-contrast combination of shades, such as hot pink with bold blue, or tone the look down by mixing saffron with tikka and vermilion, for example, for a warm, yet still intoxicating look. Tones like gold, turmeric, tikka red, brown hot pink amethyst teamed up with silk bed canopies and layered muslin curtains, a multitude of rugs overlapping cross on floors and dark wood furniture. Gold or brass accessories-from tables to lanterns and sari panels draped on walls or at windows go great in the ethnic style. Complete each room with just a few accessories in the bolder jewel shades, such as sapphire and emerald, for dramatic contrast. This makes it the more simple to put together and also means it is well suited to homes where lack of light is an issue. Indian style on the other hand rarely uses white or neutral shades, tending to mix clashing shades on every available surface.

FLOORING
The hot and dusty conditions typical of India and Morocco mean that practical, low-maintenance flooring, which is cooling to the touch, is the essential choice. Tiled floors are simple to brush clean or wipe, which is why they are so often used in the ethnic home. Stone and particularly terracotta tiles add richness yet are relatively informal, which is why they are commonly used in the average home, while glossy marble is more often found in top-class hotels. Adding scatter rugs throughout allows you to give rooms a layer of softness and can be used in one of two ways. For grand, opulent rooms one large rug positioned centrally is ideal, while for more laid-back family rooms a selection of three or more smaller rugs positioned slightly overlapping one another in haphazard, perhaps cross pattern is far more in keeping. If you must have carpet, look for rich paisley motifs or plain or ribbed neutral tones. Natural fibres floorings can also be used to mimic authentic rush matting.